Page 6 of The Confidant

I get him situated with a pillow and get ready. Mask and new gloves once everything is set. He doesn’t talk or flinch when I start. It reminds me of Ash in a bad way.

My thoughts go dark as I work. He seems at ease with anything I do, making that mood a little worse. No matter how many times I ask if he’s ok, it’s always yes. After a while, I look up and find him sleeping. I can't help my wince. I’m near his breastbone with the lines, which is where a lot of people start second-guessing a tattoo. This guy has a faint smile while he snoozes.

I lose track of a lot of things. Not his physical comfort, which he doesn’t seem to have a problem with. Time means nothing while I’m consumed with colors and shading. The only things I’m thinking about are does that need a pop of color, and it needs another leaf to fill a space.

I add a little surprise hidden in the leaves. A camouflaged raccoon peeking from behind a leaf. If he finds it and wants it covered, I’ll do it. But he needs a little humor in his life. Hopefully, he gets it.

The bell over the door doesn’t ring while I work. That’s good for my concentration and bad for business. Foot traffic has gotten way too light since the new shop opened a mere block away from me. Now I’ve got some randoms, a few regulars, and the women Ash sends my way as a no thanks on the dating thing. It cracks me up how many wander in with the cards I had made specifically for him, so I’d know who has their eyes on my brother.

A little touch here, and I’m done.

I stretch my back with a grimace, wondering how long it’s been. He never said a word. I startle when I catch him watching me with heavy-lidded eyes.

“You ready for this?” I raise a brow. He can’t see my pleased grin behind my mask, but the shimmy that I give my shoulders says it all.

He gives me a sleepy smile that sends my heart fluttering. Instead of acting like a fool, I guide him through sitting up, care instructions, and clean up. He focuses on me instead of the brand-new tattoo, which surprises me. He makes it seem like he came in here for me instead of art.

All that stops when he stands to get a look at it in the mirror.

The stillness he gets. His hand hovering over it, tracing along the lines without touching. He looks so reverent as he stares.

Even Ash wasn’t this bad about the first one. He gave it a single glance and walked out, not wanting to see himself. That eased up over time.

This guy looks like a huge weight just dropped off his shoulders in the space of one afternoon. He seems lighter somehow, and his smile is quick and so pleased that it humbles me a bit.

I helped him achieve that, and I’m damn proud of it.

I didn’t pick a single stem of gladiolus. There are several overlapping with each other in various shades. Leaves fill in the blanks and cup along his abs, giving them more definition and highlighting his strength. I had to shave him, so his happy trail is gone, along with a bit of the top over his crotch. I can’t take my eyes away from it for a second before I blink back to awareness.

My eyes dart up and widen a little when I realize I just got busted checking him out without any professionalism involved. He’s watching me with no sign of his previous happiness and a lot more intensity than he had before.

Way to ruin it, Addie. He’s never coming back to have a pervert tattoo him.

“I want the other side too.”

I take my gloves off with a confused frown as he tries to lie back down.

“Slow down,cher.” The mask follows the gloves so that he can see my refusal up close. “Let’s see how this one heals up first. It’s your first, and a big piece. We might tweak it a little, too. Not to mention, you might wake up tomorrow and think, What the hell did I just do to myself?”

He doesn’t like it. I can see that right off. But his intimidating, narrow-eyed stare won’t work on me.

I raise my brow and point at what he’s sitting on. “Who is in charge of this table again? I forgot. Use your manners and remind me, would you,cher?”

His eyes narrow further, but his lips curve up. Just the slightest tease of a smile. I hope I remember it just right for the sketch I’m going to do.

“Mmhmm,” I smugly smile back. “Now, pretend you’ve got some sense for a second while I go over this with you again. I don’t think you were listening before.”

I’m lying. I just don’t want him to leave.

His eyes wander over me while I go through his care instructions again. That concentration would be flattering if he didn’t give everything that same focus.

I turn and fiddle with my colors while he gets dressed again. As if I need to check they’re back in place. Getting caught peeping once was more than enough. It’s one thing to be flirty but another to be a perv.

The sun has dropped since he came in, and the lack of business is starting to depress me. I made a decent haul tonight, but things are beginning to turn.

I need to face the facts. I may have to close up shop and return to table hopping.

He walks toward the door, the back view just as good as the front.

---