Page 82 of Beautiful Lies
“I’m here to see Connor.”
“He’s busy,” Claudia said.
Too fucking bad I wasn’t invisible. Too fucking bad Jason wasn’t a mute. “That chick is here for you. She’s coming over,” he said, giving me a play-by-play of the train wreck headed my way. As if I wasn’t fully aware.
“Connor,” she said. “I…wow, it’s really you…here you are.”
“What are you doing here?” I asked sharply.
“I came to see you. I have so many questions…so much I want to tell you. We need to talk.”
“I’m with a client. Go sit in the waiting area.”
“Hell no, you stay right here. Pull up a seat,” Jason said. “I don’t mind.”
“I do,” I gritted out. “I need you to get out of my space and go sit on the sofa. Or better yet, take a walk.” And don’t come back, I silently added.
“These artist types are kinda touchy,” Jason said, winking at her.
Keira ignored his comment. “I’ll wait on the sofa.” Her gaze flitted around my space—my space—and landed on my leather-bound portfolio on the shelf. Jason watched her every move as she sashayed past him, picked up my portfolio and carried it to the sofa. Shrugging off her coat, she pulled the portfolio into her lap and flipped through the pages. Not only was she in my shop but now she was poring over my artwork. Even though I let clients browse it for ideas, it felt like an invasion of privacy that Keira was doing it. I swiped the sweat off my forehead with my forearm, repeating my mantra in my head but that sinking feeling of dread pooled in the pit of my stomach. The roller coaster was picking up speed and it was about to jump the fucking tracks. My heart raced and sweat beaded my forehead. I needed to get out of here. The walls were closing in on me.
I peeled off my gloves. “Let’s take a break. My hand’s cramped up,” I lied.
“Sure, man. Whatever you need.” He hadn’t taken his eyes off Keira who was studying the photos in my portfolio as if she wanted to commit them to memory. I slipped away, undetected, and bummed a smoke off Lee who was in the break room sketching before I exited through the back door. Leaning against the wall, I lit the cigarette and took a deep drag, assaulted by memories of Miami. The Shaughnessy’s’ Spanish-style house in Coral Gables with the security gate, manicured gardens, and pool. My mother’s face when she’d opened the door and saw me standing there. Ronan Shaughnessy in his tailored suit and crisp white shirt. Movie star handsome. Feared as much as he was admired. Charming. Charismatic. Dangerous. The devil in disguise.
“I protect what’s mine. You shouldn’t have stuck your nose in where it didn’t belong.Go back to Brooklyn and keep your mouth shut about everything that happened down here.Have I made myself clear?”
I eyed my Harley, tempted to hop on it and drive away. Take Ava on that road trip I’d promised her all those years ago. I paced behind the shop and smoked my cigarette down to the filter, trying to reason with myself.
What was the worst thing that could happen?
They’ll call you out as the liar you are.
Shaughnessy will come up here to haul Keira’s ass home.
Just when Ava and I had found our way to someplace good, the whole fucking sky had to fall. She’d walked out on her family Thanksgiving. For me. I’d lied to her again and it was too late to make it right.
Asshole. You should have told her. I went back inside to face whatever was headed my way, knowing damn well it wouldn’t be pretty. I washed my hands, popped a few pieces of gum into my mouth and returned to Jason. Tattooing usually calmed me and forced me to focus, and I tried to get in my zone and block out everything else around me.
The bell over the door chimed again and Jason let out another low whistle.
As bad luck would have it, Ava had just strolled in, her cheeks flushed from the cold. Dressed in black from head to toe, her pale hair and cherry-red lips in stark contrast, she looked stunning.
“I need to hang out here more often. You get some hot chicks in here.”
I was tempted to shove my fist in his face to shut him up.
“Hey babe,” Ava said, giving me a little wave and a sweet smile. I forced a smile, but my face felt tight and the most I could manage was a grimace. Like I was in pain. Which I fucking was.
I tried to swallow past the lump in my throat. “Hey babe. What are you doing here?”
She planted her hands on her hips. “I’m unwelcome. Again?”
Fuck. “No. You’re always welcome. I thought you had things to do at the bar, that’s all.”
“It’s my Forever Ink time. Keep up with the schedule, Rocket Man,” she tossed over her shoulder. I watched her walk over to the desk and chat with Claudia.Get back to the office area. Since when had Claudia and Ava become besties? You’d never know that Ava had threatened to scratch Claudia’s eyes out. Keira was watching with interest and her eye caught mine. I averted my gaze.
“Who’s the other chick?” Gavin asked from his station.
