Page 21 of Jimmy

“I am,” he said.

She fluttered her hand. “Never mind. I’ll schedule the tattoo later.” She left the shop with the second woman in tow.

“What was that?” Karey asked. “Is she scared?”

“She wanted a date.” He saved the information in case the woman returned. “It happens often. Kurt gets most of the offers.”

“And you?”

“Not as much. Besides, I have a date tonight.” He left his stool and kissed her. “You handled that like a pro.”

“I was blind to what she was doing.”

“Just know this: I’m coming home to you. Yes, I’ll tattoo all sorts of people, but you have my full attention.” He nuzzled her cheek.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” She slid her hands over his chest. “When can we go home?”

“Midnight.” Right now worked for him. He should count the take and check the receipts… but he could do that in the morning. Christ, he’d never been so caught up in someone before. All he saw was Karey. She made him feel again. Made him want to be with someone again.

The speed of his feelings worried him. He’d known her for two days, but he couldn’t imagine not being with her. He should ask her more about the spell -- if it was real, if it’d wear off and if it was going to trash his life. Right now, he wanted to get her home and indulge in every inch of her body. No, he needed to.

* * *

Karey helped him lock up and count the register, then lock the cash in the safe. She liked how he’d worked her into his life. Like they’d always been together, and this was their thing. She loved the feeling of belonging. She liked how he looked at her, too. Like she was beautiful.

The woman Kurt had tattooed paid and left, then Kurt locked the front door. He switched off the neon sign, then dropped the security gates. “We’re closed, people.”

“There’s no one out there, drama queen,” Jimmy said. “Just do the count.” He closed and bolted the metal door, shutting the shop off from the street.

“It’s like being in jail,” she said. “Do you have to do this every night?”

“For the safety of the shop, yeah.” Jimmy locked the gates. “It’s best.”

She wouldn’t argue. “So now what?”

“Done,” Kurt said. “We had mostly card sales. You can count it again, but there’s not much in cash, as you can see.”

Jimmy took the additional money to the office.

Kurt shrugged. “We always count two or three times.”

“Sure.” She knew that from the bookstore. She yawned. “It’s late.”

“People come out late for ink.” Kurt bolted the second set of locks. “Want to see the garage?”

“Garage?” She gathered her purse. “Where?”

“Here.” He led her through the building to a garage with a car and Jimmy’s motorcycle.

“You showed her the garage.” Jimmy caught up with them and rubbed her back. “It’s the only way we’ll keep the shop here.”

“Can’t trust anyone not to dick with our rides,” Kurt said. “Do I get the deposit?”

“I left it in the safe. Go home and enjoy your Sunday.” Jimmy clapped Kurt on the shoulder. “Rest. It’s been a good day.”

“Then make it a good night, too.” Kurt waved, then slid behind the wheel of his car. “See ya, Karey. Don’t hurt him.”

“I won’t.” Unless the spell wasn’t real… then they’d both be hurt. She would be hurt because she’d have to admit she’d fallen in love with someone who didn’t love her. In just forty-eight hours, she’d fallen for him. She liked him a lot and loved being around him.

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