Page 18 of Huge Dynamite
“Just be careful. Please. You’ve, uh, you’ve got protection?” This big brother stuff is still new to me, but I think that’s something I should double-check.
“Yeah, Seth, of course, I have protection.”
“Good. Then use it.”
Shaking his head, Colt runs from me and over to Tracy. Putting his arm around her shoulder, he rushes her over to his bike. I can’t help but smile as he gives her a helmet and the two of them hop on Colt’s bike and speed off together.
“Use it!” I call after him. “The hell with it.” Deciding to text the guys later, I hustle back to the car and to Holly.
“Everything okay?” Tilting her head, she looks concerned.
Climbing into the driver’s seat, I answer, “Yeah. Fine. Tracy seems to have found love with my kid brother—Colt.”
“Well, let’s be happy for them.” Turning to me, she smiles.
“Okay.” One look at her, and I forget everything else. “So, Dr. Boling.” I press the button to start the car and listen to the quiet hum of the engine. “Are you ready to continue your night of firsts?”
“Why, yes, Mr. Hardy. I think I am.”
Putting the car in reverse, I begin to back up but she reaches out and puts her hand on my arm.
“Hold on.”
“Everything okay?”
She picks up the key fob resting on the console between us and shakes it in her hand. “Look at what I just found out this car can do.” Pressing a button on the fob, the top of the car opens.
“You have a convertible.”
“Why, yes, I do.”
Smiling, she plops back against the seat. Turning her gorgeous face up into the cool air and bright moonlight, she whispers, “Let’s go, Seth. Let’s go.”
Revving the engine, I pull out of the parking lot, and with the cool Arizona air brushing against our faces, we rush off into this night of firsts.
For both of us.
Chapter Five
Holly
“This is a tattoo parlor?”
Holding open the door of the shop for me, Seth grins as I step inside. Looking around, I’m surprised by what I see. Okay, yes, it’s dark and kind of “vintage-looking” like I anticipated, but everything is so clean and sterile.
“What were you expecting?” He lets the door close behind us.
“Honestly? The inside of Hoppa’s Taphouse—a place filled with bikers and beer and maybe even with wood shavings on the floor. But this…” Walking in a circle, I take in a cute, small room that could just as easily double as a coffee shop—and smells like one as well. The wood floor is worn in a cool, trendy way that looks like someone paid a bunch of money for reclaimed wood to create their perfect floor. In the middle of the floor is one large reclining chair with black cushions. That must be where I’ll sit. Or, uh, lie. On one side of the room, long, purple velvet curtains cover the windows that look out onto the street, and on the other, a brick wall showcases about a million framed photos of tattoos on various body parts. Walking closer, I study the pictures showing tattoos on arm after arm, leg after leg, lower back after lower back. Each is more beautiful than the next.
Damn, it’s getting warm in here. Pulling my shirt away from my chest, I blow down into my stretched collar, hoping to cool myself off. Reaching around, I loosen the shirt from my lower back, but the sweat building there, along with the slight tremor in my normally steady hands, confirms what I worried about on the whole ride here: I’m about to chicken out. Like I always do.
“See anything you like?”
Seth’s voice is a deep purr, and it sends shivers up and down my body—and the combination is now causing cold sweats. Walking over to me, he’s standing so near I can feel the energy coming off of him. Closing my eyes for a moment, all I want is to get even closer.
“I like them all,” I whisper. “Each one is so beautiful. It’s hard to choose.” In my mind, I recall some of the tattoos I’ve just looked at. “The butterfly, the crescent moon, the dandelion, the star—how do you choose?” Opening my eyes and reaching out, I run my finger over the glass covering the picture of a tattoo of birds flying across a girl’s wrist.
Letting my hand glide down to my side, Seth moves even closer now. Shifting my weight to the foot closest to him, our bodies are nearly touching, and a light prickling feeling rushes up and down my extremities.
