Chapter Twenty
“All right, I have you on the books with Elle for another tattoo in three months. Thanks for coming in!” I tell the customer as I hand them a card with their appointment date written on it.
“Thanks.”
Elle waits until the customer walks outside before she speaks.
“Okay, spill,” she demands.
“Spill what?”
She rolls her eyes. “Girl, don’t think I don’t know a freshly-fucked glow when I see one. Have you and Bullet finally stopped fighting it and decided to give it a go?”
I feel my cheeks heat. “Maybe.”
She hops up on the counter next to me. “Tell me about it.”
“I think I’ll pass.”
As much as I like Elle, I don’t know her well enough to tell her everything. Maybe someday, but not now.
“You’re no fun,” she groans, tipping her head back.
“Sorry. Hey, I think I’m going to order some food. Do you want me to get you anything?”
“Way to change the subject. I’ll let it slide, just this once. What were you thinking about getting?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“What about the café down the street? They will let you call ahead and pick up.”
“Cool. Write down your order and see if Jerico wants anything.”
“Do I have to?” she whines, making me laugh.
“He’s not that bad.”
“If he’s not so bad, why don’t you go ask him then, huh?”
“Because I’m going to go ask Midnight.”
Smiling, I walk away from her and head to Midnight’s space. I knock on the door.
“Come in.”
I open the door and peek inside. He’s got a dude lying face down with no pants on as he tattoos his hip.
He looks over. “What’s up?”
“Sorry for interrupting, but I’m going to order some food for everyone from the café. Would you two like anything?” I ask.
Midnight shakes his head. “Don’t order yourself anything.”
I frown. “Why not?”
“Because I was told that someone is going to come grab you for lunch.”
He doesn’t have to tell me who the “someone” is. It’s Bullet.
“But I’m working,” I point out, even though excitement rolls through me.
“We will be fine for an hour without you. You are entitled to a lunch break, you know?” he says as he wipes at the dude’s tattoo.
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“Okay, well, do you want me to pick you guys up anything before I go?”
“I’ll wait until I’m done, unless he needs a break. Do you want anything, Hendrix, or are you good to keep going?” Midnight asks the guy on his table.
“I’m good,” Hendrix mumbles, making me suck in a breath.
Holy shit.
I recognize that voice.
He’s Hendrix fucking St. James from Three Bad Habits. One of my favorite rock bands.
I knew that Midnight had a famous client today and that everything was supposed to be hush, hush, but damn.
Midnight looks over at me and raises a brow. I bite my lip to stop myself from gushing.
Holy shit. Would it be too much to ask for his autograph?
“You good, Harlee?” Midnight asks, pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts.
“Yep. Solid. Happy tattooing.” I rush out of the room, slamming the door behind me.
Leaning against it, I cringe, mortification rushing through me.
They say never meet your heroes, and now I know why. Not because Hendrix was rude or anything, but because I just made a fool of myself.
Jerico rounds the corner and stops when he sees me.
“Whatcha doing, Harlee?” he asks in a teasing tone.
“Oh, just getting lunch orders.”
He chuckles softly and shakes his head. “Let me guess. You got a little-tongue tied with the customer in there.”
“Maybe a little bit.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m pretty sure it’s happened to all of us when we see him for the first time.”
“For some reason, that makes me feel better.”
“You’re welcome. Now I came back here to get you. There is a guy out front waiting on you.”
I can’t help but smile. “Cool. Thanks.”
I head out front, and my smile grows when I see him.
Mine.
He’s all mine.
The other night might have been our first date, but it was a long time in the making. Everything about it was perfect. Somehow, Bullet knew exactly what I would want in a date and delivered.
He must feel my eyes on him because he looks up at me and smiles, taking my breath away.
“Hey,” he rasps.
“Hey.”
Elle’s eyes ping pong between us. “Aw, aren’t you two so cute? All tongue tied around each other.”
I roll my eyes as I feel my cheeks heat. Bullet drops his head, and his shoulders begin to shake as he laughs.
“I hate you,” I tell Elle with no heat.
“I know. Most people do. Did bossman and his client want anything from the café?”
I shake my head. “They said they are good for now. You could have warned me who was back there.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Elle laughs.
“Who’s back there?” Bullet asks.
“A certain rock star,” Elle tells him.
Bullet nods. “I should have known.”
“Wait, you know him?”
“I mean, yeah. I’ve been here before when he’s come in. Nice dude.”
“And you never told me before?” I gasp.
“It didn’t seem important.”
Unbelievable.
I scoff, shaking my head. “You and I are going to have to talk one day about what’s important and what’s not.”
“Whatever you want. Are you ready to go?” he asks, changing the subject.
“Yeah, let me grab my bag.”
I walk over to the counter and grab my bag from the shelf. “I’ll be back in an hour,” I tell Elle.
“Take your time. My next client won’t be here for two hours. Have fun, kids.”
Bullet grabs my hand and pulls me out the door.
“Why are we in a rush?” I ask as I try to keep up with him.
Bullet rounds the building and pulls me into him. His hands go to my hips, and he leans down. I sigh as his lips touch mine. Only when I’m breathless does he pull away.
Damn, I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to that.
“Hi, baby,” I murmur against her lips.
“Hi,” she says breathlessly, making me smile.
“I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
She pushes up on her toes, covering my mouth with hers. We kiss until someone catcalls us like a fucking douchebag.
I raise my middle finger in the air, making her laugh.
“I thought you were taking me for lunch,” she teases as she steps back.
“That was the plan, but now I’m hungry for something other than food.”
Harlee’s eyes widen as her face turns red, and she slaps my chest. “Bullet, you can’t say shit like that out loud.”
“Pretty sure I just did,” I quip, making her laugh.
“Come on. Feed me carbs.”
I take her hand in mine and we head down the street. “I heard you mention the café. Is that where you want to go?”
“I honestly don’t care as long as I’m with you.”
I squeeze her hand.
Damn. For a while now, I’ve dreamed about how things could be between us. About what would or wouldn’t change if we could date openly. I never knew it could feel like this, though. I never knew she could make me feel ten feet tall with just a few simple words.
We make the short walk to the café, and I open the door for her. As she passes by, I slap her ass gently. She looks over her shoulder and glares at me.
I shrug. “Sorry, I’ve been wanting to do that for a while now.”
Her glare turns into a smile. “I don’t mind. Do it whenever you want.”
My cock twitches at the thought.
“You shouldn’t say shit like that to me,” I warn her.
“Pretty sure I just did.”
“Hi, find a seat wherever, and someone will be with you when they get a moment,” one of the waitresses says as she passes by.
“Do you see an open one, or do we need to sit outside?” Harlee asks quietly.
I scan the room and spot a table in the back. Reaching down, I thread her fingers through mine. “Come on.”
I lead her to the booth. She moves to sit down on the side facing the wall, but I stop her.
“Sit on this side with me?”
“You want to sit next to each other?” she asks with humor in her voice.
“Harlee, I’ve had to keep my hands to myself for longer than I would like to admit. Now that I don’t have to, all bets are off. Take this as your warning that I’m going to touch you every chance I get.”
“Noted,” she says as she slides into the booth.
I get in after her and rest my hand on her thigh.
“Do you need a menu?” she asks as she plucks one from the holder.
“Nah, I’m going to order the burger and fries.”
“That sounds delicious.”
As she scans the menu, my thumb begins to move along the seam of her jeans on her upper thigh.
“We’re in public,” she says quietly, still looking at the menu.
“I’m not doing anything wrong. Keeping it strictly PG.”
She shoots me a look that says I’m full of shit before setting down the menu.
“Hi, I’m Brit. What can I get you today?”
We place our drink and food orders at the same time. Harlee gives her orders for the shop too, telling her we will need them as we leave.
“I’ll be back with your drinks in a bit,” Brit says before she rushes off.
“I would hate to be a waitress,” Harlee says, making me chuckle.
She narrows her eyes. “What’s so funny?”
“The thought of you being a waitress.”
“What? You think I couldn’t do it?”
“Babe, you would be downright terrible. You like maybe three people, and that’s it. You aren’t a people person at all. All it would take is one person telling you that you got their order wrong and you would flip your shit.”
She opens her mouth, but nothing comes out.
“See, even you know I’m not wrong.”
Harlee huffs and changes the subject. “Have you gotten the DNA back yet?”
“No, not yet, but we should soon. Have you talked to her anymore?”
Her shoulder raises. “A little. Nothing too deep or anything. Mostly memes and funny videos we’ve found that we think the other would like. Is it wrong that I don’t want her to be on his side?”
I shake my head. “No, not at all. Hell, even I don’t want her to be the enemy.”
“She and I really got along, and I would hate to have to hate her.”
“Have faith Harlee. I know it might be hard, but it will all work out. Trust me.”
“I do. Trust you, I mean.”
Her admission makes my heart clench.
Fuck yes.
Having trust in a relationship is half the battle. The fact that she trusts me means everything.
“Are you coming over tonight?” she asks.
“I have to go to the clubhouse, but maybe after if it’s not too late.”
“You know it’s never too late for you, right?” she asks softly.
“I’ll text you, and if you’re still awake, I’ll come over. How about that?”
“Sounds good.”
The rest of our lunch goes by with only an interruption from the waitress. Before I know it, I’m dropping her back off at the tattoo shop.
“Have a good rest of your day.”
“I will.”
Leaning down, I kiss her softly. All too soon, I pull away. “I’ll see you later.”
“Later.”
I watch as she walks into the tattoo shop. As she steps through the doorway, she looks back at me and smiles, making my heart race.
I love her so fucking much and she has no idea.
Soon. She will know soon enough if I have anything to say about it.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, reminding me that it’s time to move and that the club waits for no one. I look one last time at the shop and watch her behind the glass as she gets comfortable behind the check-in counter.
Yeah, soon enough, everyone will know she’s mine, and I can’t wait.