Chapter 24
Falcon
It was killing me having her legs spread wide around me, I just wished I wasn’t facing the other direction. I did know one thing: having her wrapped around me on the bike made me wish I could take her everywhere with me. The long run up North wasn’t going to be easy now, having to leave her behind. But we planned to be back up there in a couple of weeks, and we had to keep it tight. I wouldn’t be able to take her. She certainly couldn’t go out for our middle-of-the-night shakedowns, but that was only a few hours at a time and easily explained. Hopefully she’d feel settled enough by then to hang back. And it was only a couple of days.
We stopped at a diner and grabbed some food to go. Soon, I’d take her somewhere nice for dinner, but for now, we just needed to eat, and I had to get to the shop. When we got there, Eagle had already opened up and Lacy met us at the door .
“Hey, I made some coffee,” Lacy said as she held the door open.
I jammed my foot in it and nodded for her to let go. “We got a few biscuits and shit in there. The pancakes are mine.”
Daisy turned around and snatched the bag out of my hand. “What if I want the pancakes? You didn’t ask me what I wanted, you just ordered.”
“Do you want the pancakes?” I needed a shot of sugar, but if she wanted them, she could have them.
Her face softened and she playfully rolled her eyes. “I guess you can have them. But next time, ask me what I want before you order, okay?”
I wasn’t used to having someone else around, but I was keeping her, so if letting her order her food was going to make her happy, I would try to remember to ask. “Fine. Keep going straight back. There’s a fridge and a table back there.”
She took the food and followed Lacy. Eagle was at the desk logging in. Keys had set us up with a fancy new system a while ago to track everything: appointments, payments, bills, all of it.
“Hey, man. You got a big piece coming soon,” he said as he tapped away.
“Yeah, it’s a long sitting. But a nice piece. Got you food.”
He nodded and looked up, tucking his brown hair behind his ears. “So, uh,” he looked around to see if anyone was in earshot then said, “you really think it was an inside job?”
I shrugged, noticing his brand new Vice President patch. “ Makes sense. I hope I’m wrong. Let’s just keep our eyes peeled and our ears open.”
I tapped the counter twice with my knuckle, then walked to the back of the shop. The ladies were eating as I grabbed a mug and filled it with coffee. I was adding my sugar when Daisy started laughing. “Do you like a little coffee with your sugar?”
“There’s nothing wrong with liking sweet things.” Under her hard shell, I knew she was sweet underneath.
Their chuckles turned to giggles so I went on with adding my normal amount of sugar and glanced over. “You drink coffee?”
She wiped at her mouth with a napkin after swallowing a bite. “Yeah, I’ll get it in a minute.”
I grabbed another mug and poured some coffee. “Cream and sugar?”
“I can make it–”
“So can I, you stubborn mule. How much cream and sugar?”
“You sure know how to woo the ladies,” Daisy deadpanned.
I poured a little creamer in then added about two teaspoons of sugar and dropped a plastic spoon in the mug and handed it to her. “If that’s not good, tell me how to make it right.”
Her eyebrows were nearly at her hairline, but she took a sip and nodded. “It’s perfect. Thank you. ”
“See? Not that hard to let me help you.”
Lacy shot her a wide-eyed look and she stared back at her, motionless for a moment before she grabbed her bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit and continued eating.
I poured the four plastic containers of syrup over my pancakes and wolfed them down. After that, I swirled my sausage in the remnants left in the container and popped the whole piece in my mouth.
After pushing my chair out, I stood up fast, threw my trash away, and refilled my coffee. “My booth is right there,” I said as I pointed out the door to the hallway. We called them booths because our old shop had cheap cubicle walls separating us, so when we moved here and got actual rooms the name stuck. “We have nameplates so you can’t miss it. I need to get setup.”
“Can I come watch?” she asked.
“Should be fine. She’ll be here in about half an hour. If it’s not cool with her, I’ll let you know. Finish your breakfast.”
Her eyes flashed for a second. She was quick to drop her brows back down, but I didn’t miss the look. She was jealous. My chest puffed out, but she looked back down at her food, so I walked out. She could simmer on that for a few minutes.
I spent some time getting ready for the long sitting. We finished the outline a few weeks ago and we’d get at least a large section done today, and she’d come back, maybe twice more, for the rest. It was an intricate Chinese dragon that wrapped from her ribs to her back with lots of colors. I was still setting up my ink when Daisy walked in and propped herself on the doorway.
“So, this is what you do for money?” she asked.
“Among other things. Did you do anything besides dance? ”
She shrugged. “Not really.” She stepped inside and looked around, checking out the photos on my wall. “Did you do all of these?”
“Mmhmm.” I kept setting up my tray and rolled backwards when I needed to grab something from the cabinet.
She was still looking at the wall but said, “So, do you work on a lot of women?”
With a groan, I stood and walked up behind her. Her neck was exposed since her hair was pulled back. I dipped my head down, stopping just short of her skin. “Does that bother you, darlin’?”
Goosebumps rose on her neck and her chest filled with a deep breath. “No, just making conversation.” She sounded like a kid who acted like they didn’t care when you took their favorite toy away, just so you didn’t get the satisfaction.
I let my breath land on her skin, then drew in her sweet scent. Whatever she got at the mall, I needed to keep replenished. “Do you intend to keep dancing?”
She turned and glared at me, her brows pinched tight. “Why wouldn’t I? I need money and that’s what I’m good at. And what do you care?”
I balled my fists and pressed them on the wall, boxing her in, still careful not to touch her. “What do you care if I tattoo women?”
She was trying to keep her tough act up, but she squirmed under the heat of my gaze. “I don’t. ”
“I care if you dance.”
Her signature eye roll was going to get stuck one of these days. “Well, that’s too bad.”
I leaned in closer, taking in that sweet, fruity smell. “I didn’t say I’d stop you, I just said I cared.”
She licked her lips and her breath hitched. “But why?”
“Do I need a reason?”
“Eh-hem. Do I need to come back?”
I didn’t move my arms from around her head but looked over to see my appointment. “Nope, I’m ready for you.” I glanced back down at Daisy and looked into those big blues for a few beats before I finally pushed off the wall. “This is Daisy. Do you mind if she sits in?”
Rhonda shrugged. “I don’t mind. Probably better conversation than you.”
“You don’t pay me to talk, you pay me to do artwork. Have a seat. I’m gonna grab her a chair. You want a water or anything?”
“Nope. I don’t wanna have to pee before you’re ready for a break.”
The brunette with short hair sat in the chair and Daisy watched me walk away. I was getting under her skin. She was definitely already under mine. “You good?” I asked before I rounded the door.
She nodded. Yep. Now I just had to remind her to use her words, but I wouldn’t do that to her in front of a stranger.