“Did you pick up some extra charm in the Army?” Her tone was teasing but those soft pink cheeks told me my words had hit their mark.
“Nah, came by it naturally. You like it?”
She shrugged. “I’m starting to.” Her gaze locked on mine for a long, intense moment. There was attraction there and happiness, but underneath there was something else I couldn’t quite figure out.
That look stayed with me for the rest of the fucking afternoon. By the time the day was over, I was exhausted from all the thoughts that clouded my mind. “Ready?”
Macy nodded, closing down the computer with a sigh. “Yeah,” she answered before turning to Dagger. “I did everything you said but you should probably double-check it just to be sure.”
“Thanks for your help today, Macy.” Dagger’s smile was friendly and warm.
“It’s literally the least I could do.” She let out a soft laugh. “Besides I’ve never worked in a tattoo shop before. Maybe next time I’ll get to pierce someone,” she joked.
“Maybe after the first week,” Dagger grinned.
At six on the dot, we locked up and headed to the parking lot. I didn’t let Macy out of my sight, wrapping my arm aroundher in a protective gesture. She noticed and she didn’t let me get away with it.
“You know,” she said, helmet tucked under her arm, “if you glare any harder at the parking lot, it might file a restraining order.”
I snorted despite myself. “You had a good day?”
She shrugged. “It wasn’t bad. It was surprisingly normal.”
Normal. That word was a double-edged sword but today it felt right. “That’s good. Right?”
She threw her head back. “What the fuck do I know about normal? It felt good not to be scared and on edge for hours on end, so I’m considering it a win. Maybe a draw.”
“One day down,” I started but my words died as my eyes went to her long, denim covered legs. They looked long as fuck as they climbed onto the bike, straddling the seat like a pro. “Who knows how many more to go?”
She laughed again. “I’ve learned to take it one day at a time and today was more good than bad. Let’s just leave it at that.”
I wanted to say more but she slid the helmet down, effectively cutting off all communication, at least until I started the bike and the mics inside the helmets kicked in. “We can do better thanjust leave it at that, can’t we Mace?”
She gasped and smacked my shoulder. “Not funny.”
“Hilarious,” I told her, still chuckling as I moved the bike onto the road and headed home. I kept my head on a swivel, watching for anyone who followed too closely or who tried too hard to look casual.
We made it home without incident.
Today it felt like a big fucking win.
Chapter Eight
Macy
“Mind if I shower first?” I inhaled the bare skin on my forearm and frowned. “The smell of ink is a lot thicker than expected.” The truth was, I needed a few minutes alone to reset. The shop had been busier than I expected with back-to-back appointments, plenty of walk-ins and the constant hum of conversation and machinery. It was a nice and welcome distraction, but by the end of the day I was just exhausted. I wasn’t used to being surrounded by people all day.
Okay. That wasn’texactlytrue.
I wasn’t used to being surrounded by people who gave a damn about me all day.
Drew and Dagger had checked on me at least once an hour, subtle enough that the clients wouldn’t think they had a fucking basket case working the register. A water bottle I didn’t ask for slid my way. A casual, “You good?” murmured as one of them passed.
They made sure that everything looked—and mostlyfelt—normal to anyone on the other side of those giant windows at the front of the shop. Those fucking windows. They took up the entire front of the shop, letting all the gorgeous late afternoon sun filter in and bathe the place in a soft golden hue. As beautiful as it was, it also made me feel like I was inside a fucking fishbowl. Anyone who walked past could see straight in. They could watch.
I told myself I was being paranoid, but I knew the truth; I’d be a sitting duck if anyone was actually out there watching. Waiting.
“Yeah, sure. Go ahead.” Drew’s deep voice pushed through my thoughts, and I forced my gaze to his. “You good?”
