Page 4 of Inked Daddies

“Either. Both.”

I laugh. “She’ll be back before the week’s out.”

Hugo chuckles and goes back to sweeping—actually sweeping this time. It’s always so strange to see him do real work around here. After all, he helped me buy the place.

I’m ready to call it a night, and I’m pretty sure they are too. “Rebecca, let me walk you out.”

When female clients leave at night, I always make sure they get to their car. Not that Auclair is dangerous by any stretch ofthe imagination. It’s more to make sure they don’t hang around or surprise us by popping up unexpectedly. Sometimes they turn into groupies, prowling around for something extra. Then there’s the old-school attitude around here that has caught me off guard a time or two.

Dads and boyfriends either love it or hate it when the women in their lives get inked, and I’ve had my fair share of guys who harassed a woman in our parking lot. Never again.

I guide her out the door and out to her car. “You’ll be sore for a few days. Don’t go swimming until you’re healed up?—”

“You know, there are rumors about you guys.”

“Oh? What rumors?”

“You and Hugo and Trick…” Her voice goes soft when she says the last name, and I know where this is headed.

But still, I ask, “What about us, Rebecca?”

“That you boys like to share.” She turns, facing me as she backs against her car. She flutters her eyes as she arches her back to thrust her breasts forward. “I’m up for a little adventure if you three are.”

I hate this part of the job. “Tempting, but to be honest, I’m wiped out. Had a long weekend, and I’m just catching up?—”

“Are you blowing me off?”

I smile to ease her down. “The last bit of energy I had went into your tattoo, so you can’t be too mad, right? You said you loved it.”

She chuckles and rolls her eyes. “I do. It’s just…I wanted to celebrate. Thought you three could show me what it’s like with real men. Me and Daryl been together since high school.”

Damn. Just one guy her whole life? Almost a virgin, as far as I’m concerned. But still. There’s nothing there. No spark, no heat. I couldn’t get it going with her even if I cared to.

“You’re a beautiful woman. I’m sure you’ll find someone or three at The Wild Goose to celebrate with.”

She lifts a shoulder and smiles. “Too bad it ain’t you, Sam.” She tosses her hair and slides into her pickup. “Next time.”

I smile politely, knowing it’ll never happen. Time to close the shop. Inside, it feels quieter than usual. The buzz of the tattoo machines is gone, and it’s just us now—me, Trick, and Hugo—cleaning up in the glow of the overhead lights, one room after the other until it’s darker inside than outside. The old lampposts barely do their job, illuminating the front parking and the street beyond.

On the other side is the library, and that’s when I see her.

Marie Durand.

I don’t mean to notice her, but ever since she’s come back to town, it’s impossible not to. Besides, movement outside the shop always catches my eye. Situational awareness is an old habit.

She’s standing by her car in a little sundress that hugs her generous curves. She complains that she gets pebbles stuck between her toes, but she wears sandals anyway. I think she likes the heel—the girl is short as hell, but I like that. I like a lot of things about Marie Durand.

From her thick body to her smile…that damn smile is the kind of thing a man goes to war over. It’s a little crooked and skews to the right side of her face, where she has a dimple that begs to be kissed or pierced. Her wavy brown hair goes golden in the summer—natural highlights she got from her mama. She’s got big, wide, honey-brown eyes that I have no business paying this much attention to.

She’s my best friend’s kid.

Okay, she’s twenty-six, but still. Preacher would kill me. Rightly so.

I sigh as I watch her, and only then do I realize her arms are crossed, and she’s shifting on her feet like she’s trying to make herself smaller as she backs up to her dusty old car.

What the hell is she backing away from? My eyes narrow to see better in the dark.

There’s a guy with her, and he’s way too close.

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