Page 34 of Flare

“And that’s important?”

Kip patted my shoulder. “Honey, someone like her can propel a new label like Flare into the spotlight or drown them in a tide of apathy. Rhys eventually saw sense, and I’m still here. I know he’s trying to save money, but if Rhys is working out here or online, then he isn’t designing. And if he isn’t designing, Flare won’t be going anywhere but down the fucking toilet. So all this—” Kip swept a hand over the room. “—is pretty damn important for everyone’s future right now.”

And I’ve been pissed at him for ignoring me. Way to go, arsehole.

“He’ll definitely sleep better tonight, so you can quit worrying.”

“I wasn’t—”

“Of course you weren’t.” He shot me a grin. “You’re not as subtle as you think you are. Neither of you.” The store door opened and Kip’s smile slipped into an uncharacteristic grimace.

I turned to find a tall, striking man with strawberry blond waves and a mass of tattoos making a long-limbed beeline toward us. Clad only in jeans and an unseasonably light T-shirt, I shivered just looking at him.

“Fuck,” Kip muttered under his breath, and an unexpected pop of indignant red graced his cheeks.

The guy was at least my height or taller—which didn’t happen very often—and every exposed piece of his skin carried a kaleidoscope of colour and design, all except for his neck and face, which remained a clear canvas except for a spray of pale freckles across his nose and a cheeky smile.

“Leon.” Kip said in a surprisingly clipped tone. “How nice of you to join us.”

“Christopher.” The man returned an amused smile.

Christopher?I turned to find a scowl the size of a small planet on Kip’s face, and it looked so out of place on the normally smiling, sassy young man that I was taken aback.

“Beck, this is Leon.” Kip introduced the man. “He runs The Tattoo House next door.” Then to Leon, “Beck is Jack’s uncle.”

We shook hands, Leon’s grip warm and solid.

“Jack seems to be settling in well.” A mesmerising pair of grey eyes shamelessly checked me out.

“Hopefully.” I was surprised Leon knew much about Jack at all. “Rhys was good to give him a chance.”

Leon picked up on my frown. “Rhys is a good man and a great neighbour. We help each other out. He sent Jack across to sweep my half of the yard the other day when I was busy with work.”

“The more work, the better. Keeps him out of trouble.”

“I hear you. Teenagers, right?”

“Something I can help you with, Leon?” Kip’s irritated gaze darted between us.

Leon’s mouth curved up in a slow smile. “Yes, Christopher. Some idiot parked their van behind my bike.” He glanced around the bustling store. “I’d appreciate it moved as soon as possible.”

Kip blew out a put-upon sigh and loudly clapped his hands. The room fell silent as he relayed the problem, and the guy who’d been working on the lighting immediately peeled away and headed for the door, spouting apologies.

“There you go.” Kip’s gaze skittered on and off Leon, seemingly unable to find somewhere to land on the handsome man. “Happy?”

Leon’s gaze remained steady on Kip. “Perfectly, thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Kip muttered, then busied himself rearranging the harnesses under the glass top of the service desk.

It was... fascinating.

“Hey, Leon.” Rhys called from the other side of the room. “Sorry about that. The guy’s new.”

Leon’s grey eyes lit up and he smiled broadly. “No problem. Crazy day in here, by the looks of it. Let me know next time and I’ll put a cone behind the Harley.”

“Will do.” Rhys went back to his work while Kip grumbled something about people needing to use their own car park, and I spun to find his cheeks flaming.

“It’s not actually your parking spot,” Kip sniped, realising he’d been caught out.

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