MidnightInk-epub Page 3

  “Honey, we’re all fucked up around here.” Sassy reassured him.

  “We’ll make it work.” Shep confirmed. “It’s tricky to tattoo scar tissue, but not impossible. Don’t worry.”

  “You’re the expert.” Burke put his head in the crook of his elbow, grateful for the cover given his stinging eyes.

  Chavon. She’d always be with him now. Optimism allowed him to dream about more than her name on his mangled hide as the buzzing began. The minor irritation of the needles were nothing compared to what he’d lived through, the emotional suffering worst of all.

  Maybe he could finally fix the internal damage he’d wrought. To himself and to Chavon.

  This could be the best Christmas gift in the history of the universe.

  Chapter Four

  Sassy kept her lips zipped as she listened to Burke offer to rummage through Shep’s records if it would speed along the process. She couldn’t resist giving the soldier a hug when they sent him on his way with aftercare instructions and a promise to call him once they had info.

  As soon as he’d left the shop and disappeared down Canal Street, Sassy smacked Shep on the shoulder. “Why didn’t you tell Private McHandsome that Chavon’s boutique is right around the damn corner? He could have been there in less than a minute. You were testing him, weren’t you?”

  “Yeah.” The artist grimaced. “I guess I remember the night I tattooed her cute ass too well. She cried through the whole fucking thing. That girl ain’t no wimp, either. I’ve inked her a bunch since then—including work over her spine and across her ribs—and she never flinched once.”

  “After two years and at least a half-dozen pieces, you remember that first one?” Sassy wiggled her brows. “I always wondered if you liked her.”

  “If you mean like a damn little sister, yes. Shit, most men seemed invisible to her for a long time.” He sighed.

  “Yeah, but she’s been seeing a few guys on and off lately. Nicolette was teasing her about it last time we had lunch together.” Sassy tapped her pursed lips.

  “Without knowing where she stands now, I ain’t gonna blast her with the past. Want to do some recon? If you think it’s a good idea, we could set them up to bump into each other at the New Year’s Eve party where we can supply some backup in case she needs it. At least this way if she’s not interested, we can make sure she doesn’t have to see this fucker again. She can get away without him knowing any more about where she lives or works or whatever.”

  “That sounds like a plan.” Sassy high-fived Shep. “I was supposed to be off the clock an hour ago. Let me run over to the boutique and see if I can catch her now.”

  “Good luck, kid.” Shep tossed her a mock salute then went to finish cleaning his station.

  Sassy whistled as she practically skipped around the block, checking herself out in a few of the plate glass windows along the way. The blue in her hair had stuck around almost a week now. Maybe she’d swap it tomorrow. Green, in honor of Chavon.

  She couldn’t help but cross her fingers for her friend and the lonely, broken man she’d met earlier. They could make each other so happy. At least she tried to believe in destiny. It gave her some hope about her own future and the perfect man she believed was out there waiting for her.

  Bells tinkled as she stepped inside the store that gobbled up its fair share of her paycheck. She never once managed to stroll through without something or other catching her eye. Nicolette and Chavon were a dream team when it came to stocking and merchandizing the boutique.

  “Hey, lady.” She called out as she approached Chavon, who had her back turned, arranging a pile of vintage scarves into some tantalizing display.

  “Sassy!” Chavon hugged her, always generous with her affection. At least when it came to her friends. With the guys they’d tried repeatedly to set her up with, she’d seemed cold and so unlike the woman they adored. It was clear her heart still belonged to someone else.

  A fine man with her name freshly tattooed on his butt, Sassy guessed.

  “Did you come for dinner?” Chavon tucked her gorgeous emerald hair behind her ear. She really committed to that color. It looked fabulous on her, but Sassy couldn’t imagine sticking with a fashion statement that long. Then again, it seemed that once Chavon made up her mind about something she liked, she wasn’t fickle. “Nicolette had a date so I’m covering by myself. If you want to order in, I’d love the company.”

  “Sure.” Sassy rummaged through the stack of menus until they settled on shrimp gumbo from their favorite local hole in the wall.

  While they waited, she decided to start digging. “So, it looks like the shop is going ahead with that benefit thing I mentioned for New Year’s Eve. Do you guys have anything going on here?”

  “Nah.” Chavon shrugged. “That’s not a night we’re open. No one really shops our stuff then. Do you need help?”

  “Well, kind of.” Sassy nibbled one of her fingernails. Good thing she wasn’t a spy. She’d never hold up under pressure. Lying sucked. And she sucked at it. “It’s a charity thing. We’re letting the artists donate profits to their favorite causes. Shep picked Wounded Warriors.”

  Chavon hummed and concentrated double on her folding.

  “Shep’s looking for some supporters. Didn’t you tell me you dated a military guy once? Kind of a serious thing?”

  “Yep.” Chavon paused. She sighed hard enough to flutter her pretty bangs then rested her hip against the table nearby. “His name was Burke Levine.”

  Bingo!

  “Even his name sounds sexy.” Sassy prodded.

  “Mmm.” Chavon nodded. “Everything about him was hot. Except the fact that he dumped me.”

  “What happened?” Sassy tried not to be too obvious since she’d never normally be this nosy about something Chavon clearly found painful.

  Her friend rubbed her temples then sat cross-legged on the old hardwood floor, as if she didn’t have the strength to discuss her lost lover standing up. “I think he freaked out when he got deployed. He tried to protect me or some bullshit by cutting me out of his life. Stupid man. Idiot pride.”

  Sassy’s commiserating groan was genuine. She could see him doing something like that. The man who’d walked tall, if not evenly, into the shop earlier seemed like one to have a misplaced sense of gallantry. “Well, I guess this is your chance then. The New Year’s Eve party is all about new beginnings. It’s kind of our theme. Shep said if you wanted to get the tattoo he did on your ass covered up, he’d do it for a donation to the charity.”

  “Cover Burke’s name?” Chavon’s brows knitted. She considered it for a while. Long enough that Sassy wasn’t certain she’d answer.

  Then she shook her head. “No. I don’t want to do that. He’s part of me. One I’ll never forget. And honestly, one I regret. I should have fought harder. I shouldn’t have let him run because he was scared. We both were young and stupid. If I had it to do over again…”

  Sassy had to bite her tongue to keep from screaming out, “You can! He’s here! I saw him. He’s extra fucking hot! And in major need of a hug, too.”

  Her inner devil rubbed its hands together, thinking of how awesome they could make New Year’s Eve for Chavon and Burke. The whole shop could get in on it and maybe make a real difference in one soldier’s life.

  Then again, the whole thing could explode like a rotten pile of manure seeped in methane gas, covering them all in doo doo.

  Either way, she had to talk to Shep first.

  “Maybe I’ll get Shep to touch that tattoo up, though.” Chavon rolled her eyes. “I was such a basket case. I cried while he did it. There are some jacked-up lines. My fault. Not his.”

  “What will that guy Nicolette set you up with think of that?” Sassy made extra sure her instincts were on point. “Won’t he mind some other dude’s name on you, freshened up?”

  “Uh.” Chavon blushed. “I kind of got rid of him. Don’t say anything. I haven’t confessed to Nicolette yet. She’ll just assign me some o
ther innocent victim. A few of her picks were decent and a couple were good in bed, but…”

  “Yeah, when your heart’s not in it, there’s no point is there?” Sassy could relate.

  “Exactly. I think there might only be one perfect person for each of us. And sadly, I think I’m sitting on mine.” Chavon confirmed. “What a waste.”

  She was saved from further inquisition when their food arrived.

  It was the first time Sassy cursed Mama’s Gumbo for their speedy delivery to a couple of their favorite ladies from two doors down. But at least she had what she’d come for.

  Operation “Report for Booty” was in effect.

  Chapter Five

  Chavon studied the amber light spilling onto the aged pavement of the historic district. It was impossible not to think of a night almost three years before when she’d stumbled along the same path, nearly drunk on her misery. Had she made progress in that time? Certainly she’d rebuilt her life. Mostly. Minus a companion to share it with.

  The boutique had been a major success. Now that she and Nicolette had those first rocky years under their belts, she’d yanked her head out of the sand and begun to search for…more. If she were smart, she’d take Shep up on his offer and have her past obscured by the future. But she had given up lying to herself around the time she snuck out of an unfamiliar bed to shame walk home after a one-nighter with the last guy Nicolette had sent her on a blind date with.

  Even impulsive, sweaty sex with a gorgeous near-stranger hadn’t compared to the high she’d experienced during the nights she’d spent with Burke Levine. Damn him.

  So she would let Shep touch up her past then brainstorm a design to represent her bright prospects. A new beginning. After tonight, she promised to let her dream guy go, even if that meant settling for someone attainable though less explosive. A perfect spot on her thigh waited for a motivational design, as opposed to Burke’s name on her rear.

  Laughter and good intentions warmed the December air as she joined the community of friends she’d become part of in the past several years. Many of the smiling faces and welcome embraces were familiar.

  Sassy ran up to her, dressed in an outrageous tinsel dress that sparkled. It matched the platinum blonde streak in her hair, blinged out with holographic glitter.

  “Nice touch.” Chavon pointed to the lock.

  “Thanks.” Her friend grinned. “It’s a big night…for the shop, I mean. I figured I should put some effort into my outfit.”

  “I feel kind of underdressed.” She tugged on the hem of her black satin skirt, but she hadn’t had much choice knowing she’d need to bare her cheeks for Shep’s machine. With a crowd milling about, that could be intimidating, but she felt comfortable enough with them not to ask for a screen.

  “Nah. You look hot, as always.” Sassy led her to Shep, who was prepped and ready.

  “Sorry, we’re on a tight schedule tonight if we’re going to get everybody inked before midnight.” He waved her over, talking loud to be heard above the din. The place was packed.

  Without much ceremony, Chavon climbed onto the now-familiar table and got comfy. “Go ahead, do your thing.”

  In her peripheral vision, she caught Sassy checking her watch. “You have about ten minutes, Shep.”

  “No problem. You’re sure you want this touched up, not covered up, right?” The artist who’d become her friend got to work when she affirmed his suspicions. After more sessions than she could count, a quickie ten-minute job on a body part that wasn’t ultra-sensitive would be a walk in the park. For her at least.

  Shep seemed to be struggling to concentrate. After she thought he should be mostly finished, he paused and stared at her.

  “What, Shep? Did you fuck up or something?”

  “Not likely.” He huffed. Usually he was content to curse at his tools or his cohorts in the shop while he worked. He always set her at ease, joking around or making idle conversation about nothing weighty while he tattooed her.

  Tonight, he surprised her. He stared straight into her eyes as he asked, “If this guy—Burke—walked in the shop right now, what would you say to him?”

  It must be the holidays making everyone sentimental.

  “I guess I’d tell him he really fucked up. He lost out on the unconditional love of a loyal woman when he turned away from me.” She got on a roll, reenacting the righteous fury she’d flung at him in so many imaginary rants since then. “I’d tell him I understand that he was afraid, but that I would have stood by him, no matter what. And that by leaving, he chose to make me a war widow instead of fighting to come home to me. To the special bond we had.”

  Exhausted by the outpouring of emotion, Chavon rested her head on her arms and went limp. That’s when she noticed Shep had stopped tattooing entirely. “Shit, did I screw you up again?”

  Shep shook his head then lifted his chin as if pointing to something on her other side.

  Chavon turned her head.

  She shrieked and probably would have crashed to the floor if Burke Levine’s quick hands hadn’t braced her, pinning her in place on the table. Electricity arced from his firm grip. It struck her core with a lightning bolt of desire and shocked her heart into stopping then beating double time.

  His gaze roamed over every inch of her face then jumped to the damning evidence—fresh and colorful—on her cheek. Great. Reunited with the man of her dreams, she’d been caught with her skirt up and her pitiful lust for him written all over her ass.

  “Burke.” She couldn’t stop saying his name.

  “Hi, baby.” He blinked kind of fast then cleared his throat. He tried to crouch down, but when he wobbled, it seemed as if his leg wouldn’t quite support him, so he bent at the waist instead. She could relate. Her knees were weak too. “God, I missed you.”

  The hell with half measures. His face was so close. His skin smelled of cloves and vanilla from the old-fashioned shaving cream he preferred. Everything about him called to her. Even the traditional stick he had wedged up his ass sometimes kind of turned her on.

  Chavon bucked his hands and lunged across the tiny space separating them. She scrambled to her knees and fused their mouths. Her skirt fell over her butt and her refreshed tattoo. They made out in the middle of the party as though it were an everyday occurrence.

  His lips were suave yet desperate when he nudged his tongue inside. He spread warmth and delicious craving with every press of his muscles. They went at it for some unknown amount of time, enough to have stars dancing in her eyes, insisting she fill her lungs properly. He tasted so good she considered ignoring the demands of her body. Well, some of them. Others, she would gladly indulge.

  Around them people whooped and clapped, unaware of how significant their reunion was. Probably they figured they were celebrating her tattoo.

  Except for Sassy, who hovered nearby, next to Shep. Her eyes were easily twice as big as usual. Soon, they might bug out.

  Because that’s when Chavon reached up and smacked Burke across the face. “You bastard. You think you can walk away when it’s convenient then stroll back into my life whenever you damn well please?”

  “I had no idea you’d be here tonight.” He didn’t bother to rub the sting she must have left sizzling on his cheek or the red handprint developing there. The pain in his steely eyes when he looked at her proclaimed he’d known his own brand of suffering. “But I’m sure as hell not sorry you are.”

  “Burke? How?” Chavon gripped the edge of the table, hoping the spinning of the room was just lack of oxygen after that fantastic kiss. If she woke up after passing out from her tattoo or whatever else and found this to be some sick hallucination, she’d never recover from her heartache.

  “I’m pretty sure they set us up.” Burke pointed to Shep then Sassy.

  “Merry belated Christmas.” Sassy winked at them.

  Chavon dropped her face in her hands while Shep deftly applied ointment and plastic wrap to her fresh ink. Burke held her close the whole time, secure with
her head resting on his shoulder while she knelt on the table. In shock, she began to shiver. She didn’t want to move. If she did, they’d have to talk about hard subjects. She’d much rather soak in every ounce of the bliss their connection generated instead before complications could ruin it.

  When Shep finished, he patted her then rose to whisper in her ear. “It’s your choice. Ain’t looking like you’ll take me up on my offer, but I’ll escort him out if you’re done with him. Otherwise, Sassy put together some private space upstairs that you can use to talk or…ahem…whatever. It’s yours for as long as it takes to sort things out. We’ll be down here if you need us.”

  Chavon wriggled from Burke’s grasp then hopped to the ground. He wobbled for a second when she lurched from his hold. Could he be as off-balance as she was? She jogged to Sassy and pinched the woman’s cheek. “Thank you.”

  Then she nearly bowled Shep over, embracing him in a bear hug. “Thank you, too.”

  “Go ahead. Put the man out of his misery.” Shep nudged Chavon toward the staircase at the back of the shop.

  She climbed a few stairs, checking over her shoulder when she didn’t hear the matching clomp of Burke’s boots.

  He looked up at her, hesitating.

  Was it because he knew as well as she did that the moment they were alone they’d be unable to resist communicating on a plane far more instinctual and pure than speech? They’d never been able to keep their clothes on long in each other’s company. He tended to possess more traditional moral standards than she did, so maybe he objected to the idea of getting naked and sweaty to celebrate bumping into each other. Why deny the pheromones drawing them together again as strongly as rare earth magnets?

  Every day in between this New Year’s Eve and the last time they’d set the sheets on fire had proved to her that their brand of passion didn’t come along often. Wasting a chance to finally chase away the chill in her soul wasn’t on her agenda, even if it meant she got burned in the end.