I ignore the way my body lights up from his words and say, “Um… you guys… I’m not getting a tattoo.” I look between the two men, giving them an incredulous look.
The man with the beard stands off to the side and bites back a smile. He’s just as good-looking as Preston and Declan, and his ice-blue eyes seem almost fake. They’re a little unnerving, to be honest.
“And who do we have here?” The brunette who was talking to Declan just moments ago sidles up next to us. She looks me up and down, and for half a second, I think she’s checking me out… sexually. But I shake the thought from my head because I saw the way she was looking at Declan, and it seemed like they were into each other.
Not that I care.
Preston is the first to speak. “This is Penny. She works at the coffee shop next door. I’m going to give her a tattoo.”
“No one is giving me a tattoo.”
“Don’t let either one of them tattoo you. Let me do it. Better yet, can I pierce you?” The look I saw on her face returns. Okay, maybe my gut was right. She’s checking me out.
“Stop flirting, Becca. You know how your girlfriend gets,” Declan says dryly.
She gives me a playful wink and says, “Fine. But you are seriously stunning. If I didn’t have a girlfriend, I would definitely take you out.”
I think I’m blushing because I can feel my cheeks heat. I’m not completely oblivious to the way I look, but hearing someone tell you you’re stunning is a compliment you can’t ignore. It doesn’t matter if it comes from a male or female.
“Um, thank you. I’m flattered. I’m Penny, by the way.” I stick out my hand to shake hers.
“Becca,” she says and smiles back at me.
The man with the beard reaches his hand out, too. “I’m Jude. We work here.” He nods to Becca.
Now it makes sense. These are Declan’s co-workers, or are they employees? I’m pretty sure Declan hand-picked these people out of a modeling catalog, though, because they’re all so… pretty.
I plant a warm smile on my face. “It’s nice to meet y–”
“Mommy, mommy. I have to go to the bathroom. My tummy hurts,” Autumn interrupts.
Declan’s hand gently lands on my shoulder, and my stomach flips at the contact. “The bathroom is straight back and to the right. Take her there.”
I give him an appreciative smile, grab Autumn’s hand, and turn to the others. “It was nice to meet you. Come stop by the shop sometime. I would love to see you again.”
My eyes meet Declan’s as I say the last part, and I turn to make a hasty exit towards the bathroom with Autumn in tow.
As we walk away, I can feel the heat of four sets of eyes on my back.
Just great.
Chapter 6
Declan
“You like her,” Preston sing songs like an asshole.
“She doesn’t have a ring, so she’s not married, but is she single? Because I have a few friends who would love to take her out on a date,” Becca says, watching Penny’s retreating form and biting her lip like she would also like to take Penny out.
“Will you two stop? I don’t like her. She has a kid, assholes.”
Becca pops a perfectly manicuredeyebrow. “And…”
“Yeah, dude. She’s fucking hot. And her kid is pretty cool too. If you don’t like her, maybe I’ll ask her out. She’s a definite MILF.”
Jude smacks Preston on the back of his head, giving him a look, and I can’t help but be grateful to the man I just hired two weeks ago.
Preston’s antics shouldn’t surprise me, though. I’ve known him for almost a decade, and his childish ways haven’t changed in all that time. My only regret right now is hiring him to work here. Seems like Penny has enamored everyone.
