Page 33 of Texas

I’d hoped to Christ she did, because I was enamoured by her.

She’d always been a bright spot in a gathering—smiling, laughing, and sharing her love around the room. Yet, if she was pissed at something, she’d let you know. She got fiery when protecting those she cared for. Admittedly, when my infatuation started, I stalked the shit out of her, just for a glance or a word from her. What helped was how our families were close.

Christ, I sounded like a creep.

Did she still see something in me?

Could the crush she’d had when she was younger still be there under the surface?

Fuck, I hoped to Christ it was.

Hoped that I hadn’t screwed it up by acting like a dick around her, by unconsciously flaunting my exes around her.

A throat cleared. I looked up from tattooing my client’s shoulder to see Dodge standing in the doorway.

“Yo, old man.”

“Shut it, kid. We’ve got the rest of your stuff. Give me the keys, and I’ll start shifting it in.”

I waved towards the bench in the corner. “They’re on there. I’m nearly done here, which I’m sure Nick is grateful for.”

“Hell yes,” Nick said with a grimace. He’d been sitting there for four hours already.

Chuckling, I went back to work on the last of the shading. “Give me five,” I told Dodge.

“You got it.” He walked out of the room.

“That your dad?” Nick asked and then hissed.

“He’s my uncle, but he’s been around since I was fourteen, so yeah, he’s also my dad.”

I caught Nick’s wicked grin. “He’s hot.”

Chuckling, I shook my head. “I’ll let him know. But you might want to run if his woman hears about it. She’s possessive as fuck.”

“Then maybe keep it to yourself or at least wait until I’m far away from the shop.”

Snorting, I wiped over the tattoo. “I’ll give you a head start.”

“Thanks.”

Tipping my chin towards the mirror, I told him, “Go check it out before I wrap it.”

He climbed off the table and stood in front of the mirror, shifting slightly to the left and right. The bright smile and happy eyes were what I loved about this job. People wanted my work. They loved my designs, and it meant so goddamn much that clients were waiting and willing to have my ink on them.

“Man, this is the fucking best. Damn lucky you moved here.”

“Glad you trusted my work to put it on you.”

“Just wait, you’re gonna be sought after. I give it another month, and you’ll have bookings coming out of your ears.”

Chuckling, I shrugged, feeling a little bashful at the damn praises. Though, word was already starting to get around, and the shop was picking up enough that I’d have to employ a third artist soon. Also, the girl who took care of the bookings was finalising her piercing course and taking up a room here for it, so I’d need to find another front person.

“Thanks, man.” I wrapped his ink and gave him the instructions on how to take care of it. Nick headed out to pay at the front desk with Monnie. Nick had been the last client for the day, so after I cleaned up, I made my way towards the front of the store.

“Texas, that dude has a hard-on for you.”

Grinning, I shrugged. “As long as he comes back for more work, I don’t mind.”

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