Page 24 of Ivy

Chapter 12

Ivy

It has been a week since Luke asked me to meet his family at his nan’s party. I’m nervous because it’s a big step in our very new relationship. But you have to live your life, not fear it, because you never know what’s around the corner. Things progressed quickly with my mother’s illness. She told me time and time again to leave Tim and live my life the way I wanted it, but I was stupid and didn’t listen.

The door to Castle Ink opens and in walks a young girl with the most beautiful head of hair I have ever seen. Long, dark, and thick… Bloody hell, she is stunning, like model stunning. The two men that step in behind her should be walking on the runway with her.

Holy cow.

They are both tall. One has short dirty-blonde hair and a small amount of stubble covering his jaw, and the second is a little taller than the first, but not by much. He’s the type that can have any woman. He’s wearing a man-bun like he was the one who invented it, and his facial hair is a full beard, the colour of melted chocolate. Both men have tattoos, Mr. Man-Bun more that Mr. Handsome.

I offer a polite smile and greet them. “Hey, welcome to Castle Ink. Can I help you with anything today?”

Mr. Handsome speaks. “Hey, I’m Ford, this is Cleo and my boyfriend, Damon. Dex and Jay are expecting us. Cleo will be starting work here soon.” I smile at the girl, who looks super shy.

“Oh, I remember Dex saying something. Okay, take a seat and I’ll let him know you guys are here. He’s with a client at the moment.” They nod their thanks and take a seat on the couch. So the two men are a couple. Bugger, the hot ones are always either taken or gay.

I keep staring until Damon winks at me, making my blush rush to my face. I walk back to Dex’s room and tap on the door.

“Come in.” I push the door open and poke my head in. The client is laying on his stomach, sans jeans or any bottoms. He’s having the back of his thigh tattooed. “Hey, what’s up?”Dex asks, raising up from his position over the client and putting the ink gun down.

“Ford, Damon, and Cleo are out front, waiting for you.”

“Blushing again I see. Yeah, Ford and Damon will do that to women.” The client chuckles.

“Shut it, both of you.” They keep laughing when I leave the room.

“Whatever,” I mutter under my breath.

“Put them in the backroom, sis. I don’t want them to get any shit from people knowing they’re here,” Dex yells after me. I don’t reply to him but do as he says. I reach the three people and smile politely at them. The men make me nervous—all good-looking men do—that’s why Luke made me super nervous when I was around him for the first few weeks.

“If you guys will follow me, I’ll show you to the backroom. You’ll have more privacy back there.”

“Thanks, hun,” Ford says. They follow me into the lounge and Damon settles into the couch. The girl, Cleo, sits on one of the chairs. I notice she’s carrying a sketch pad under her arm.

“Can I see?” I ask her. She nods and slides the book in my direction.

“You okay if I make us a cuppa, hun?” one of the men asks as I flip open the book and stare at the artwork.

Holy cow on a stick. She isepic.

I flick my hand at him, letting him know he can make his own tea. The drawings are out of this world. No wonder my brothers want her working here. I’m good, but she is phenomenal with the way she makes the design come to life, and the shading is on point. I flick through and my lungs tighten with each page turned. Her artwork is actually breath-taking. She will fit in perfectly here at Castle Ink.

“Here you go. I didn’t know how you take it, so I winged it.” I startle from the page as a cup is placed next to my hand.

“Damn, Ford, you scared the crap out of her.” I spin to where the voice is coming from, and smile at the guy on the couch.

“Sorry,sweetness,” Ford chuckles. I blush when he winks at me.

“Oh, handsome, will you stop making her blush, before her man comes in here.” A chuckle escapes me when I hear the nickname for Ford.

“What?” Ford asks, smiling. God, he really is handsome.

“I didn’t know your names straight away, so in my head you were Mr. Handsome and Mr. Man-Bun.” The three of them laugh with me.

“What are you lot laughing about?”

“Nicknames. It’s all good. How are you, Dex?” Ford steps forward and hugs my older brother.

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