Chapter 11
JAX
Currently playing: Scar Tissue by Red Hot Chili Peppers
I’ve been dreading this day—Soph is now officially working under me. Fuck, I mean for me. She’ll probably never be under me if it’s up to her.
When I saw her this morning, on her first day, it was such a mindfuck of epic proportions.
A part of me wanted to start shouting at her, and then another part noticed how great she looked here in my shop.
After thinking it over, I came to the conclusion that half of my brain is lusting after her, while the other half wants nothing to do with her. Fucktastic.
If my head continues fucking with me, it’ll be like I'm living my very own Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. But for now, I have to pretend that everything is fine. At least until I’m alone.
“How’s everything?” I ask when Rogue and Spade both arrive at the shop to meet Soph on their day off.
“Just waiting for the party later this month,” Rogue replies and sits down on the couch. He opens one of the binders we have for clients and skims through it.
Shit, that’s right. I should’ve remembered that, but everything that has happened lately has fucked up my head. “Oh yeah, the party. We need to discuss the last-minute details at our monthly meeting.”
Spade glances my way with a knowing look. “Did you forget already?”
“Well, yeah. The last month has been hectic as fuck.”
“That’s understandable. How about our new starter?” he wonders.
“What about her?”
Rogue snorts like I’m an idiot for asking that. “How are we feeling about her?”
“Like I said last week, act normal around her. She has no idea I told you about what she did.”
Spade puts his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t you worry about it, Jax. We’ll try to behave around her. But I bet our Red Tornado isn’t as chilled out.”
I laugh and roll my eyes at his use of Nelly’s nickname that Rogue gave her during his first week working with us. He notices my reaction and whistles. “Let me fucking guess, our dearest Nelly has already taken the new girl under her wing, and they’re having a blast while making us wait here.”
I nod as that’s what’s happening. “Correct. They’re having lunch someplace nearby. Nelly mentioned the deli, but who knows with those two.”
Spade glances my way. “How’s it going with her anyway?”
“You mean with Sophia?”
“Yeah, I do, you dummy.”
I chuckle. “What a loaded question, man. I would say she’s doing her part and spending the rest of the time ignoring me like I ignore my emails. That about sums it up.”
“But isn’t that what you wanted, boss,” Rogue asks as he finds the page he was looking for in the binder. It’s decorated with skull designs. I have one of them tattooed on my left arm.
“Sure, but not like this. It feels like Soph can’t even look at me.
” I let out a groan. “I didn’t want this in the first place, but thinking she’s miserable working at the shop I love so much makes me feel all fucked up.
That’s why I’m trying to be nicer than I have been around her since the accident. ”
My friends nod before Spade comments, “Well, at least you don’t want to fuck our receptionist again, right?”
I try to keep my expression neutral, but there’s no way to deny my feelings, even if I try my best to lie. “Sure, I don’t. That shouldn’t be an issue this time around. Working with her will be like a walk in Central Park.”
The last thing I hear before walking away is the laughter of my friends. Assholes. I guess my attraction toward the woman that pushes all my buttons is evident even to them. I can’t do anything about it as long as we’re working together.
Okay, I take it back; working with her isn’t that easy.
I’m walking my client to the front, when Soph is reaching for a pen she has dropped.
One moment, I think, damn, she looks great in those pants hugging her curves when she bends over, and the next, I remember why she’s here.
She isn’t here to keep me company or stroke my ego…
or my dick. She’s here to pay for her actions.
And let’s not forget that I’m supposed to hate or at least strongly dislike her. But how can I do that when all I can think about is how amazing my hands would feel all over that sexy-as-sin body. Or how her voice would sound like moaning my name. I feel myself hardening even thinking that.
Shit, I can’t let my dick do all the thinking. I’m her boss, not some random guy she can hook up with. Mixing business and pleasure shouldn’t be on my agenda after what happened with my ex. So why can’t I stop ogling Soph’s body? Her skin-tight leather-like pants will be the death of me for sure.
Those happen to be the same ones she wore the night we met. I remember thinking that someone that perfect and too good to be true has to have some flaws. I spent the entire night waiting for the shoe to drop, but it never did. Everything we discussed that day drew me closer to her.
Yet, how things turned out, I never saw Soph again until Rose’s graduation party this summer. And I was in a committed relationship with Tiff by then. I don’t know if that’s how it was all supposed to go, but I can’t change the past.
Once Dom finishes with his client and the girls return from their lunch, I make the official introductions between Soph and the rest of my crew. As expected, Spade flirts and tests the waters.
“Lovely to meet you, Soph.” He shakes and then kisses her hand. “I’ve heard so many fine things about you and can’t wait to work with you.”
Based on her reaction, Soph isn’t taking the bait, even if she enjoys the little gesture. “Oh, have you now? I bet nothing Jax said about me is true.”
“Well, he has talked about you more than any other new starter during my many years knowing him.”
“I doubt it, but thanks for lying for him, Spade. Where did you work before moving to Brooklyn?”
Spade shrugs with a smile, dismissing her comment about him lying. “I started in Chicago and moved here with Jax when he and King decided on the extension and needed talent.”
“Cool. And is that a local accent I hear?” Soph wonders. Her accent matches the locals, as expected.
“Yeah, my parents still live in Staten Island. You can take the guy out of New York, but you can’t take New York out of the guy,” he replies with a wink.
She giggles, and it ticks me off, making my next words blunt. “Okay, that’s enough for today.”
“But you were the one who wanted us to meet,” Rogue comments, glancing at me speculatively.
Soph catches the exchange between him and me. “Yeah, you can’t just have me to yourself.”
The guys laugh, and Nelly hides her giggles behind her hair. I thought we were all adults here, but apparently, my team is like a bunch of middle schoolers during the first school dance—socially awkward and laughing at everything, even if it isn’t even remotely funny.
Dom’s laugh turns into a chortle. “Oh, I like her. She’s a little firecracker.” Firecracker. How fitting. I have to remember that one.
“Just wait and see until you’ve tested my patience.
” She winks, glancing my way when saying that.
“It was lovely to meet the rest of you, but it’s time to get back to work.
Nelly, your next appointment should be here in 10, and Jax, your two-thirty was moved to three.
You didn’t have other appointments after, so I thought it was okay. ”
I nod. “Sure. It shouldn’t take long anyway.”
“That’s what he says to all the ladies, and then leaves after five minutes,” Rogue jokes, and Soph’s eyes widen for a second before she laughs. She doesn’t realize I noticed all that, and her body’s reactions fascinate me. I wonder how she would react if I touched her the way I wanted.
“As Sophia said, time to get back to work,” I tell my team and walk back to my office.
Trying to think of anything other than my new employee, I get back to designing a tattoo for tomorrow’s client.
They want something special to remember their mother.
As I’m someone with apparent mommy issues, I didn’t think I was the right person for the job.
But after talking with my client more, I got a clear idea of what they were after.
The tattoo design will be a tree showing the deep connection between the family members.
It’ll have a detailed design and small additions you can’t see immediately. I’m sure my client will love it.
While adding a lily flower to the design, as my client mentioned it as their mother’s favorite flower, I wonder what it must feel like to have a close bond with your parents.
Something so substantial that it makes you want to tattoo your skin to honor the feeling—I can’t even imagine that.
My father is dead, and my mother is something else.
Now that I’m already on edge with Soph, thinking about Trisha I-have-no-idea-about-her-current-last-name-is makes me even angrier.
“What are you doing, boss?” I hear someone sing-song behind me. Nelly.
I spin around on my chair to face her. “Curling my hair and getting my nails done…what does it look like I am doing?”
“You aren’t fooling anyone with that attitude.” Nelly leans back against the door frame, crossing her arms.
I shrug dismissively and turn back to what I was doing. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You like her, don’t you?”
I know where this is going, but I still act like I have no idea. “Who?”
“Soph, who else? Everyone can see that when we’re around you two,” she responds matter-of-factly.
I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms and inhale a deep breath before speaking. “For fuck’s sake, she’s my employee. Nothing less, nothing more. Can you give me space to finish working on this design, or do you want to keep gossiping about nothing important?”
“Keep telling yourself that, Jackie boy. But remember, I know you too well and can smell lies floating around you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Get out of here, now.” I wave my hand in a dismissing gesture.
“You can’t hide your feelings much longer.”
“There are no feelings to hide.”
“I won’t stop until you admit I’m right.”
“Get. Out. Now.”
All I hear are her giggles as she leaves the room, and I’m left wondering if King made a colossal mistake hiring Soph.
There’s a knock on the door as I finish cleaning my client’s new ink.
Today was all about touch-ups. It’s taken us close to seventeen hours over four sessions, and I’m beyond relieved that Banks loves my work as much as I do.
He hasn’t stopped looking at it with awe in his eyes.
It never gets old seeing my clients admire my art.
Checking the time, I realize it’s past five. I look up from where I’m working to call out towards the door. “Come in.”
The door opens, and as expected, my newest employee walks in, smiling and swaying her hips.
I swear the air around us gets thicker when she comes closer to me, and the faint smell of her perfume or body lotion makes me want to do bad things.
“Hi, boss. I was wondering if there’s anything else you want to go through before I head home for the night? ”
Fuck me—Soph calling me boss does something to me. I don’t want to think exactly what, but I’m sure my dick can’t grow any harder without my skinny jeans feeling way too tight. Maybe it’s time to get new clothes with more crotch space.
It’s impossible to get any wise words out with how I feel, but I still try my best. “That’s all for today, thanks.”
“Okay then,” she says nervously.
I try to shift my focus back on Banks and his ink, but it’s nearly impossible with her standing in my space. “I’m going to finish cleaning this up, and then I’ll cash him out and close the shop. See you tomorrow, Sophia.”
“Are you sure there isn’t anything else I can do before leaving for the day?”
I stop cleaning the art that looks even better than two hours ago and glance at her. “You’re free to go home whenever you want. You did well today.”
She laughs. “Oh, wow, I had no idea you could say something nice.”
Banks snorts next to me, and I give him a shut the fuck up look before turning back to her. “Don’t get used to it.”
“I’ll try my best to remember that.” Smartass.
Soph finally leaves the room, and I notice Banks checking her out. I don’t blame him—her outfit today was marvelous, hugging her magnificent body. Those damn pants will haunt my wet dreams for a while.
“I like her, Jax. You should keep her around.”
I scoff. “You’re married, dude.”
“It doesn’t mean that I don’t appreciate the beauty of different people who aren’t my wife…and if I had to guess, you aren’t immune to her spell either.”
“Whatever, I can’t get involved with someone who works for me...again,” I remind him. Banks met Tiffany when she still worked at King Tattoo, so he knows what I mean by that.
He chuckles at my reply. “But I bet you want to, right? I don’t blame you if you do, Jax.”
“No way. I’m not repeating my mistakes. Anyway, let’s get that ink covered, then we can both leave.”
Once Banks’ tattoo is covered, he gets up from the chair, stretching his arms, and we walk toward the front desk.
The first thing I notice is how Soph has reorganized everything.
Then I see her post-it notes next to the screen.
Slowly reading them, I realize they’re cheat sheets for daily things she needs to do. I like that she’s prepared.
Marking the price of today’s session in our system, I smile after another successful session.
My standard rate is $250 an hour, depending on the design and size, but I give discounts to returning clients.
Today’s session was relatively cheap because we only did some touch-ups and planned his next piece.
This guy has spent thousands on my talent, so I like to give him a discount whenever possible.
He’ll tip me anyway, so I don’t lose too much cash by doing that.
Having agreed on the price before the session, Banks hands me the cash. “Thank you, Jax. See you in January for my next piece.”
I try to give him some change, but he doesn’t accept it. “Thanks, man. Say hi to your lovely wife from me.”
“I will,” he says and leaves me alone with my thoughts. Before I do anything stupid, like write a note for Soph, I leave the shop.