“Mace,” he groaned.
I filled my mug and brought the pot to the table to top him up. “It is what it is, Drew. I spent a lot of time in my life with people who were determined to tear me down. You were probably the only person in my life who didn’t.”
His eyes clouded with anger and sadness and his jaw clenched, but just as quickly it vanished, replaced by an arrogant smile. “Yeah, I am pretty fuckin’ great.”
“Modest too,” I joked, rolling my eyes.
“Modesty is overrated,” he answered around a grin before stealing the last biscuit. He held it up as if to ask if I wanted it.
I shook my head, watching his full mouth as he bit into the biscuit, smiling as he chewed. “So, which of your many jobs will you be doing today?”
Chapter Seven
Vandal
Steel City Ink held the familiar scent of disinfectant and ink. It was still quiet inside since we didn’t open until eleven, but Dagger was already there setting up his station and firing up the computer and cash register. I set up my station first, keenly aware of Macy hovering behind me, hesitation rolling off her so thick it filled the room. I turned on some music and kept the volume low, before turning my attention to Macy.
“What?” Her arms wrapped around her midsection as she braced for bad news.
That shit killed me, but I didn’t react. “You can sit in the room with me,” I said, already making my way back to my station.
Macy scoffed behind me. “I could have stayed at your place, Drew. I’d be out of the way at least. I don’t think your clients are gonna want someone hanging around.”
I flicked a gaze up at her, eyes narrowed to slits. “You’re not in the way now.”
Her lips closed tight and then she pulled them between her teeth. She folded her arms and stared at me.
I laughed. “I know what you’re doing, Mace, and it ain’t gonna work.”
Her brows shot up and her mouth parted slightly. “What are you talking about?”
“You,” I pointed at her. “Staring me down until I give in. This isn’t about your comfort, it’s about your safety.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I got that, but I don’t need to sit in the corner while you work like some lost puppy.”
“Or like my oldest friend who I want to catch up with,” I offered with my most charming smile.
She did a damn good job fighting the smile, but I was too charming. “And ignore your client? I don’t think so.”
I barked out a laugh. “You think a guy is gonna have a problem with a beautiful woman watching him get inked?” I shook my head. “You have a lot to learn about the world if you think that.”
She folded her arms tighter. “What if he’s a big ol’ chicken and won’t want some woman watching him bawl his eyes out?”
She thought she had me. “With big pieces, tears come with the territory.”
Her lips thinned into a straight line, nostrils flared too. “You’re stubborn,” she accused.
“Yep.”
“Fine. How about I earn my keep by manning the phones and shit? I’ve done desk work before and worked plenty of cash registers, that way you boys can just worry about the ink.”
I stared at her, trying to come up with an objection.
She stared right back, chin tilted high in the air. She was defiant and fiery, the way she was when the system—teachers, cops and even social workers—tried to tell her who she was and wasn’t.
“I can’t see you out there,” I said, my voice low and tight with tension. The image hit me hard and fast, someone walking in, grabbing her, and me being just far enough away to get to her too fucking late. It fucking gave me hives.
She sighed, flashing a half-hearted smile like she knew exactly what I was thinking. “I’m just going to greet people, answer phones, maybe put them on the books.” She turned to Dagger who stood in the doorway watching us with an amused expression. “Is that a problem?”
