Page 88 of Dylan
“Wait a minute, you knew about this?”
His cheeks start to glow, and he looks away, turning his gaze anywhere but toward me. I fold my arms across my chest as I look at everyone around me. They were all in on this.
It hits me what this all means and tears fill my eyes. I love working at the gym now that there’s no drama. I feel like it has helped Dylan and me grow closer. However, this.
I used to dream of being a tattoo artist. For Dylan to create a place of my own for me where I can learn and grow means more than he could ever know.
I’ve been looking into the idea and have found a whole culture and community of ex-fighters who are now tattoo artists. This is something I’ve been thinking can become a real thing. However, this man has gone above and beyond to ensure it is a real thing without a doubt.
As the shock wears off, I run into his arms and wrap myself around him. He places his hands on my butt as he buries his face in my neck. I don’t think I can love him more than I do right now.
“Thank you,” I breathe. “Thank you so much. I love you.”
“I love you too, baby. Do you like it?”
“I love it. Why C&D Irish Ink?”
He releases a laugh. “Ciarán thought I should name it after you and me. Taegan chimed in and said I should add my nickname since she calls you Tiny Irish behind your back.”
“Ciara and Dylan Irish Ink. It’s perfect. You’re perfect.”
“Come on. Let’s show you to your suite so I can tell you what I want you to ink for me as your first client.”
I look him in his eyes and beam at him. “You’re going to allow me to put ink on you?”
“I’m your blank canvas. Do as you want with me. I’ll even let you touch up my gloves.”
“That piece is amazing. I don’t think I’m ready to touch that one.”
He pecks my lips. “When you’re ready.” He winks at me and starts to walk farther into the shop with me still wrapped around him.
I’m in complete awe. By the time we’re finished with the tour, I’m stunned into silence all over again. I will never forget this day.
I wish I could put into words how this has made me feel.
Dylan
“Yeah,you can call the guys off. I’m going to use another way to find her. Taegan is sure she skipped town at this point,” I say into the phone as I walk out of the bathroom with a towel around my waist and sit on the side of the bed.
“Got it, boss. I’ll call you back if I have any updates. Oh, I meant to tell you. Hanson wants to talk.”
I grunt. “Set it up. I’m gone,” I say and hang up.
Nothing can ruin my mood after today. Not even that crazy bitch Cadlha. I knew four weeks ago that she was going to run for it. Around three weeks ago, I was pretty sure she was already gone.
However, I was banking on her arrogance to bring her back to her place—one more time—where my guys have been sitting. What Cadlha doesn’t know is that we’re not going to risk reporting her to the cops and putting Ciarán’s custody at risk. This is a situation I’m going to deal with directly, so there’s nowhere for her to run that I won’t find her eventually.
I push all thoughts of that shit aside. I haven’t been able to stop smiling all day. Dinner with Ciara and Ciarán was the icing on the cake. I took them to this place Ma and Da used to take us for special events or to celebrate certain occasions.
It felt good to have my little family there with me. It felt right, like they’ve always belonged in my life. I couldn’t have asked for a better reaction from Ciara.
The place came out way better than I had planned. Once I hired Kary, I was able to put on the finishing touches and make it the kind of shop I thought would fit Ciara.
Seeing her so happy made my day. I’m going to miss having her as an assistant. Taegan and Ciara have worked together to make my life flow better than it ever has.
It’s become so much easier to stand in when Brooklyn needs me to and also run my own businesses and handle my responsibilities. The two have a way of finishing my thoughts and getting things done before I can ask. If not for Taegan working with Ciara the last few months, I wouldn’t have been able to pull off the opening of Ciara’s shop.
I never thought about how my best friend and Ciara would get along once I found my girl. However, now that Ciara is here, I know I don’t have to worry about that. Taegan loves Ciara and I get the feeling Ciara feels the same way.
