Page 12 of Jay

jay

“Jay,”Dex bellows from the front of Castle Ink. I’m sitting in my room, chilling after doing two large tattoos today. They’re my thing. I love doing big and detailed tattoos, but they’re a bitch on my back and hips. I keep my eyes closed and blow out a big breath, dreading to think what my brother wants. I don’t move from my chair; he can come to me if it’s so important. “Jay!” he screamsagain.

“WHAT?” I yell back. Fuck him, he has working legs, he can fucking walk to me. I adjust myself on the chair, making sure to take the pressure off my neck. Maybe I can get a small IKEA couch in here. The door swings open and my brother, Dex, fills thedoorway.

“I fuckingcalledyou.”

“And?” Ireply.

“I need you up front with a client.” Huffing, I climb to my feet. I stretch up and click my back, every muscle aches right now. I need a soak in my bath when I get home. Dex doesn’t wait for a reply, he just storms back out of my room towards the reception area. I shake my head and follow him out, bending my neck back and forth, trying to loosen up the muscles. I lift my head up and stop dead in my tracks. Cassie stands there with Dex looking as beautiful as ever. She’s wearing a black dress with black-patterned tights, a brown leather jacket, and brown-heeled ankle boots. And she looks completely fuckable. Damn it, I’ve been trying to get her out of my head. It’s only been three weeks since Rachel took off. Should I be feeling like this? Fuck me, I need to man up. I need to decide if I should try and move on or just fuck around for a bit. But even as I think those last words I know I could never do that again. Yeah, I flirt like fuck, butthat’sit.

I force my feet forward and make my way to where they’re standing. My eyes flicker between the three adults standing there, all with different smiles on their faces. Addy’s wearing a smile that’s screaming at me to make a move on Cassie, Dex’s face is telling me to get some action, and Cassie is the girl to do it with. Then there’s Cassie. Cassie Dawson. The girl who’s been running around my mind, wearing her running gear. All that tight lycra clinging to every curve of her body. I shake my head as I come to a stop next to them. I offer them a polite smile, but I see Addy’s face scrunch up. She knows I’m feelinguncomfortable.

“Hey, Ads,” I say, and lean in and kiss her cheek. I pull back and shake my head a little at her. My eyes land on Cassie, and a new smile forms without me giving my damn mouth muscles permission to smile at her. “Hey,Cassie.”

“Hello, Jay.” She smiles at me and fiddles with the zip of her leather jacket. Is she nervous? Why would she be nervous? I see a huge ugly-arse smile cross my brother’s face, like he knows a secret that I don’t. Addy pulls on his arm and he looks downather.

“Come and make me a cupoftea.”

“Why?” Dexasksher.

“Because I want to talk to you aboutsomething.”

“Baby, what do you need to talk to meabout?”

“Dex, please.” She nods her head towards the back room, still pulling on his arm slightly, but my brother is a brute, and he isn’tbudging.

“Addy,baby.What…”

“Oh, for fucks sake, Dex. We need to leave these two to talk for a bit without you being an interfering twat. Now move.” She places her hands on her hips and waitsforhim.

“But I was going to have Jay help Cassie and me with herdesign.”

“Move it, Dexter Castle, or so help me God, I will withhold this from you.” She gestures down her body. Dexgasps.

“You wouldn’t?” Addy nods her head. “Oh, fuck that. You are on your own, bro.” He picks Addy up and throws her over his shoulder, her laughter fills the studio. I hear Cassie laugh behind me and I spin around to face her. Her smile drops a little when our eyes meet. She bites the corner of her bottom lip and my dick jerks toattention.

Down boy.Fucker’s got a mind ofhisown.

“So, what can I help you with?”Iask.

“Ummm…” She looks around the room, forcing her eyes not to meet mine anymore. She’s acting super nervous. When I saw her in town, and while hiking, she seemed confident in herself. But this Cassie looks like the shy girl who hides at the back of the classroom. I reach up and use my thumb and forefinger to grip her chin, making her lookatme.

“Kitten?” Where the fuck did thatcomefrom?

I know she works as a dog groomer, Dex brought it up one time in conversation, but I couldn't really call her ‘dog’ or ‘puppy’. I drop my hand like her skin has burned me. Her gaze drops from my eyes to my hand, and she frowns at the suddenmovement.

“Umm, it was nothing. Yeah, um, never mind. Tell Dex I’ll call him later in the week for our chat. Bye, Jay.” Before I can even respond, she bolts from the studio, leaving me gob-smacked. I turn around to see if anyone else saw her reaction. A young lad is sitting on the reception sofa, and he just shrugs at me and goes back to his phone. I walk back to the lounge room and find Addy straddling Dex on the sofa. They’re only kissing, but fuck, I like to rile mybrotherup.

“Room for one more?” I ask, as I start removing myshirt.

“Fuck off,” my brother growlsatme.

“Where’s Cassie?”Addyasks.

“She left. Why was she here again?” I ask as I walk over to the fridge to get myself a can of 7UP. I close the fridge and open my drink, taking a big gulp. Addy climbs off Dex and marches over to me, the look of a pissed off woman clear onherface.

“What did you say to her? Did you upset her orsomething?”

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