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“Thanks,” I said, truly appreciative. I nodded at Garrett in thanks and led the way back to the office so we could eat. “Give me a second,” I said apologetically to Lena and Kieran, scrambling to clean the desk off enough that we’d all have space to eat.

When the desk was cleared, Lena placed the paper bag on the desk and they both sat down, Kieran still relatively quiet, looking around and taking everything in. He looked more curious than judgmental, which wasn’t what I’d expected.

As I ate, Lena chattered on about her day, the idiots she worked with, that sort of thing. Then, halfway through my second taco, she looked at me and grinned.

“So, do you have time for a walk-in after this?”

I glanced at the time and grinned at her. “What were you thinking?”

With a little shrug, she grabbed the flash book that was sitting on the corner of my desk and started thumbing through it.

Kieran peered over her shoulder at the three-ring binder I kept my flash sheets in. “What’s flash?”

I raised my eyebrows, pleasantly surprised at the curious, non-judgmental tone. “Pre-drawn art. Not custom. Some tattooers will change small elements, but for the most part, what you see is what you get.”

“So you could have the same tattoo as a stranger?” he asked.

I nodded. “That’s the gamble you take with flash.”

“Ooh, I like this one,” Lena said, pointing at a small sketch of an angler fish.”

With a smile, I took the book from her and removed the page so I could make the stencil. “Let’s do it.”

As soon as the tacos were gone, I led Lena and Kieran to my station and had her sit on the table while I washed up and made the stencil in several different sizes for her to choose from.

“Where are we putting her?” I asked as I offered the stencil sizes to Lena.

“How about just above my left ankle?”

“Perfect. Size?”

“I like this medium one. What do you think, Kier?” She looked over at him and his eyes widened, as if he were surprised to be included.

“Oh, uh…” He took a look at the three stencils as Lena held the medium-sized one up to her leg where she wanted to place it. “I think that looks good.”

“It’s a plan, then,” I said. It didn’t take me long to get my machine and supplies set up and place the stencil. Lena continued to chat, cheerful as always, while the stencil dried. The drying always seemed like the longest part to me, because there was nothing I could do except wait. I liked being busy with my hands. After what felt like an eternity, it was time to get started.

“Ready?” I asked as I hovered the machine over her leg.

She nodded. “Do it.”

I worked carefully, deliberately. I always took my job seriously, but for some reason, every time I paused, I found myself glancing up at Kieran, rather than my sister. He was watching my hands intently, and more than one time, when I stopped, our gazes met and he flushed.

“Do you get a lot of impulsive clients like this?” he asked, nodding at Lena. He had a playful smile on his face, but the question sounded sincerely interested.

“Not too many. Mostly walk-ins.”

“Do they ever regret getting it?”

I laughed a little. “Sometimes. When they come back for a cover-up of their now-ex’s name, for example.”

“Hey, now,” Lena protested. “That was one time.”

Kieran’s eyebrows shot up. “You got a partner’s name tattooed on you?”

“I was young,” was all she said.

Kieran continued his questioning. “Can you tell they’ll regret whatever it is before you start?”