Page 105 of Delivery After Dark
“Same.”
“Then let’s go be happy, shall we?”
“Yes, please.”
Chapter 22
After her last appointment of the day, Sierra went next door to Duke’s tattoo studio and found him working with a female client. She did a double take when she realized the woman was McKenzie. “What is happening here, citizens?”
McKenzie had been steadfast in her refusal to let Duke give her a tattoo out of fear that it would hurt.
“My love decided she wants her unicorn after all.” Duke beamed with pride. “So while our little Jax is visiting with his new best friend, Lily Harris, we decided to go for it, and here we are.”
Sierra stretched around him to see McKenzie.
Her grimace made Sierra laugh. “You’ve got this. It doesn’t hurt that much.”
“You’re a couple of lying liars.”
“Did you give her the numbing stuff?” Sierra asked Duke.
“Yep. Just waiting for it to kick in.”
“Let me see the design.”
Sierra would know a Duke Sullivan original drawing anywhere, but this one was truly special. She wouldn’t have been able to find the words to describe the unicorn drawing that somehow managed to convey unity, love and acceptance. “It’s beautiful, Duke. Truly.”
“The drawing is what changed my mind,” McKenzie said. “I saw what he’d done, and I wanted that gorgeous image to be part of me forever.”
“Aw, you gals are gonna make me misty.”
“Can I watch for a minute?” Sierra asked. “Or is this one of those intimate, couples-only moments?”
“You can watch if you hold my hand,” McKenzie said.
“I’d be happy to do that.” Sierra walked around to the far side of Duke’s station and pulled up a stool to sit next to McKenzie.
“Can you feel that?” Duke asked her.
“Nope.”
“Great, then let’s get started.”
She immediately went tense.
“Don’t do that,” Sierra said as she began to massage McKenzie’s hand and arm. “Focus on me. We’ve got this.”
“Do you guys charge extra for the tattoo and massage package?”
Duke grunted out a laugh. “This is our first package deal.”
“I feel special.”
“You are, babe.”
“Thank you, Sierra.”
“My pleasure. You’re doing great.” Sierra was happy to be sharing this special moment with Duke and McKenzie, who’d become a good friend in the months since she started keeping Sierra’s books—and making her best pal happier than she’d ever seen him.
