Page 133 of The Baby Bargain
Chase: You think you'll be able to keep your hands off me that long?
Ariel: I didn't say we'd start with dinner.
Fuck, this girl is going to kill me.
* * *
It takesmy entire afternoon break, but I manage to compile the paperwork we need to start this process.
After my last appointment, I meet Brendon in the office. I drop the stack of papers on his desk.
He only owns a quarter of Inked Hearts, but he does the majority of the owner duties.
His dark eyes flit to the front page. He reads the words carefully. Like his life depends on it.
I try to keep my posture strong and sure, but it's hard. I'm the same age as the owner. We're about the same height and size. Same general level ofdon't fuck with me.
But he has this confidence I don't. Like he knows he's destined to run this shop. Like his twenty-five percent ownership grants him magic powers.
Maybe it does.
I want that.
I really fucking do.
He looks to me with an impenetrable expression. "You're bringing us this out of goodwill?"
"No. I want a cut."
He nodsfair. Picks up the stack. Flips to the second page. "You do good work, Chase."
"Thanks." It doesn't sound like a compliment, but I don't know how else to take it.
"You're to the point. I appreciate that." His voice softens. "I used to be the same."
"You're not exactly going into a soliloquy."
His chuckle is low, deep, knowing. "You've been here a year now."
"About that."
"You do good work, you have your own clients, you show up on time."
"And…"
"Do you want to be here?"
Fuck, how am I supposed to answer that?
"It's not a trick question." He sets the papers on the desk. Looks me dead in the eyes. "We'll check this out. See if it's a good deal. If it is, we'll need someone to manage the new shop."
"You want to do it?" My chest gets light. This is good. Great. Fucking fantastic.
He nodsyeah. "We've been talking about buying another shop for a while. Just have to figure out the name."
"Inked Souls," I tease.
He chuckles. "Inked Love is the frontrunner."
