The Unexpected First (The Unexpected Series Book 2)

Chapter Forty

It’s been a few days since I opened up and spilled my guts to Grey. Once I started, the words wouldn’t stop coming out. I knew if I stopped, I would never find the courage to start talking to him about it again. We’ve both been sleeping better now that I can handle some closeness. The mornings are the worst for both of us. I can always feel his length when I first wake up and need pools in my core that I’m just not ready to address.

I’ve been spending most of my days at the shop with Grey--photographing Dixie as she tattoos clients and filming videos for the shop”s social media--while he works on the business side of things. Now that Grey has made it his own, he’s trying to bring everything into the digital age. With a name like Inkognito, it’s too easy to play into that to get new clients’ attention.

Grey smiles at me from the desk. It doesn’t quite meet his eyes though. I walk over and lean against the counter looking down at him.

“What is it?” I look down at him, concern etched across my face.

“Nat hasn’t been answering my calls. While I may have made certain that I only purchased the physical building and not the business itself, I’d still like to have an idea of what the numbers looked like since I took on his artists.” He pauses. “Artist,” he corrects.

“Have you ever heard back from Shaun on when he was getting his stuff?” I ask at the mention of only having one artist.

“Nope, my calls go to voicemail for him too.” He shrugs. “Benny is aware, if I have to I’ll pack up his stuff and drop it off on his doorstep.”

“What do you think of me reaching out to artists on behalf of the studio to take guest spots like you did to get more people to come in who may have avoided it before?” I ask, the wheels turning in my head.

“Kitten, you are my social media manager until you tell me otherwise. If you want to reach out to artists, go for it.” He grins up at me, allowing a beat to pass. “As long as you understand, no one is marking your skin but me.”

I giggle as I turn away, finding my spot back on the couch. Opening my laptop, I pull up Instagram and begin searching for tattoo artists. I come across a person who seems to have a fairly large following, over fifty thousand followers, and as I scroll through picture after picture, I note the breathtaking art they’ve created on so many bodies.

I slide into their DMs like I have every reason to be there.

@Inkognito

Hi, I’m reaching out on behalf of the owner of Inkognito, Greyson Mancini. We were wondering if you would be interested in doing a guest spot for a couple of weeks out of our studio.

@LowkeyInkz

Are you kidding me? Fuck yes! Do you have room for three artists?

I pause for a moment, confused they want to bring more artists? I walk over to the desk and peer down at Grey.

“Yes, Kitten?” he asks as soon as he feels my eyes on him.

“Could you house three guest artists at once?”

“What? You have three people wanting to take guest spots at once?” His question is full of confusion.

“What can I say, my man’s name holds weight.” I giggle.

“I love you,” he chuckles, shaking his head. “Yes, we’ll make it work.”

@Inkognito

Sure, how do the last two weeks of August sound?

Knowing that is only a couple of weeks away, I suck in a breath waiting for a response.

@LowkeyInkz

We’ll be there. Tell the boss man we’ll see him soon. (wink emoji)

Boss man?

I open up the artist’s page again and look at the name, it doesn’t ring a bell but as I scroll further back into the pictures I notice a picture of Jack watching the Great British Baking Show with a man I don’t know on a familiar looking couch.

“Uh, Grey, what are the names of the artists at Urban?” I call over to him from my spot on the couch.

He looks up at me, his brow furrowed in confusion. He tells me their names and I start giggling, unable to control myself.

“Kitten?” The question barely passes his lips when the front door of the studio swings open.

A woman who looks strangely familiar walks in.

“Anya?” Grey smiles at her like they’re old friends.

“Hey! I didn’t expect to see you here.” She flashes a bright smile at him. “How did everything turn out with,” she doesn’t finish when she sees me sitting on the couch.

Grey grins at me, “It’s great. Ryan, this is Anya. Anya, Ryan.”

I stand and cross the room, taking her in.

Anya, why does that name sound familiar?

“Do I know you?” My voice comes out harsher than I intended.

“No?” She looks between Grey and I. “I have an appointment with Dixie.”

“Hey, bestie! Come on back, I can’t wait to work on this poly piece. It’s going to be beautiful!” Dixie pops her head out from around the corner, and they walk off together.

“How do you know her?” I stare at Grey nervously. I know he has a past, but I’m used to the past that lives here. My heart begins racing in my chest like I’m being chased by Freddy Krueger. What if he slept with someone else while I’ve been incapable of being close?

I fight the tears trying to prick their way from my eyes.

“Baby, no. We met at a bar months ago when I first got back,” His voice is calm as he rushes to me like he immediately senses where my mind has gone. “I went out with Jack. We just chatted. Nothing happened. She’s involved with someone, and I want you. Only. You.” He enunciates the last two words slowly.

I nod, unable to speak, my heart still mid-marathon. Grey cups my cheek with his hand, tilting my chin so that my eyes meet his.

“I am yours. I will always be yours.” He wraps his free hand around my waist holding me flush against his hard body.

I close my eyes, pressing my forehead against his chest, inhaling his magnificent, masculine scent.

I really need to find a way to bottle that up.