Chapter Three
Wren
The shop has been open for a few weeks, and the girls and I are settling in. I’m not gonna lie—I was a little nervous about not being in a larger urban area anymore, but my old clients have no issues making the drive to Sparrow Falls.
It helps that I’m only about forty-five minutes from where I used to be. Not only are all of our regulars willing to drive down, but quite a few of the local residents have popped in to introduce themselves. It’s nice that the townspeople are curious and want to check out the new shop.
I’m heading in early today to do some cleaning and admin work. Daphne and Meadow are awesome at pitching in on cleaning duties, but when possible, I like to give my station a thorough weekly clean. River has been at a camp for genius kids since it’s summer break, but I was thinking about talking to Meadow, to see if River might want to help with cleaning and scheduling to earn extra cash. She’s more than capable of handling our booking software, and it would be nice for her to be as invested in our business as we are.
Needing caffeine to get through my admin work, I decide to head to the diner a few shops down to grab some coffee and one of their baked goods. They have a display in one of the front windows that has me drooling every time I walk past.
The shop has a classic diner feel but with all the modern bells and whistles you could want when dining out. Their booths are a bright pink that really pops against the black and white tile floors. A bar runs along the wall where a group of older gentlemen love to congregate as they sip their morning cup of joe.
The shop isn’t too busy. I snag a chai latte and a scrumptious-looking blueberry lemon muffin with crumble on the top. I also grab a few other muffins in case the girls want some when they get in. We take turns bringing in treats we can munch on throughout the long days at the shop. I love grazing, but if I keep this up, I might have to add a dedicated exercise regime to my life.
Making my way down the sidewalk back to the shop, I’m amazed at how friendly everyone is. People wave and stop to catch up with their friends and neighbors as they go about their days, which is not really something I’m used to. The buildings surrounding our old shop were typical 9-5 joints, so I never really knew anyone who worked there.
One side of Once Upon a Tattoo is a super cute craft store while the other side sits vacant. From the falling down awning, I have been able to glimpse that it used to be a bookstore. Peeking through the dirty front window, I couldn’t see much more than shelves with some books still on them. As a book lover, it’s a travesty to me that someone would leave them there to sit, but I also don’t know the story behind it. All I found out from Cash and Reid—the dynamic best-friend duo who helped do some of the renovations on our shop—is that it has been closed for a few years and the man who owned the shop no longer lives in Sparrow Falls. I went to the library to find public records on who the owner was, but I was sad to find he passed away about half a year ago, and nobody knows who owns the building now.
I love our shop, but as it currently is, there’s not really a lot of room for growth unless I nix the second-floor apartment and convert it into more tattoo spaces. Not that I’m planning on expanding any time soon, but I like the possibility of it if I decide I want to at some point. If I could buy the vacant building next door, it would give me room to open up the wall that separates the two buildings. I could maybe even add an art gallery or a spot for other creatives to exist. I suppose I should be content with what I have now and worry about all of this later.
I’m so lost in thought on my way to the shop that I plow into a solid frame that feels as if I’m running into a brick wall. I stumble back, but two beefy arms grip my own, preventing me from falling on my ass. I look up and see Reid Dalton has a concerned look on his face. I adjust the bag in my hand and thank the gods above that I somehow managed to not spill my scalding chai latte on either one of us.
“You okay, Wren?” Dalton still looks concerned but has let my arms go as I found my bearings.
“Sure am. Thanks so much for catching me. I would’ve been able to save myself from burns if you hadn’t.” I hold up my chai latte with a sheepish grin, making Reid and Cash both
chuckle. “So, what are you gentlemen up to today? Just out for a stroll on this lovely morning?”
“Actually, we’re heading to a meeting to look into renovating the old bookstore.”
“Is the new owner going to keep it as a bookstore, or are they doing something else with it?”
“Brooks is planning on re-opening. We’re here to check out the overall space and help him come up with how he’s going to set the place up,” Reid explains.
Cash nods along. “Yep. I get to do my thing and make him some kickass bookshelves. Chayse might even be able to help me, which would be great for her since the twins are a bit much.”
I furrow my brows at the mention of someone fixing up the bookstore but quickly shake it off and smile at the guys. Don’t get me wrong—as an avid reader, I’m pumped there will be a bookstore next door, but I was really hoping to snag the space.
I shrug it off as I look at Cash and smile. “How are Chayse and the boys doing? Are they sleeping through the night for you yet?”
“Chayse is a fucking rockstar. She”s back to work full-time and still kicking ass as the head nurse. The twins are down to one feeding in the middle of the night, so that”s getting a lot better for her. I try to convince her to just let me do formula bottles, but she would still have to get up and pump, so we”re in the grind there. As soon as she”s done breastfeeding, I”m making her an appointment to come see you. My girl could definitely use some ink therapy.”
”Doesn”t surprise me for a minute that she”s kicking ass. Tell her to come see me. We can just hang. I can sketch something for her while she”s here. Actually, is she a reader?”
”Yep. She and Landon can”t get enough of their smutty romances.” Reid laughs but quickly covers it up with a cough as Cash glares at him, and his cheeks flush.
I”m curious what that”s about but don”t have time to think about it as a door slams into my back, sending me flying forward.
I”m not as lucky this time around, and my chai latte goes flying out of my hand as I fall forward to my hands and knees. My black jeans tear, and pebbles embed in my hand. Before I have a chance to stand on my own, two strong hands grab under my arms and lift me to my feet.
”Fuck, that hurt.” I step back and look at my hands. The pebbles broke the skin, causing crimson blood to slowly drip out.
I groan before turning to whomever smashed into me.
A man I”ve never seen slowly looks me over—one hand grasping the back of his neck—as if he”s trying to make sure I”m okay. He has to be at least 6”, which makes him tower over my 5”3” frame. His rich brown, almost black hair is shaved short on the sides but is a crisp, clean length on the top. His face is clean shaven, and his eyes are the most unique hazel I”ve ever seen. With a furrowed dark brow, he raises his arm like he”s going to touch me but quickly drops it to his side.
”Are you okay?”
”Do I fucking look okay? Did it ever cross your mind to maybe look out the door window before you barreled through it?” I wave my hand at the antique wooden door with the delicate see-through panes.
Mister Tall, Dark, and Handsome scowls at me as he crosses his arms over his chest, which makes his muscles bulge. He”s in a plain white t-shirt but looks rumpled, like he just rolled out of bed.
”Sorry. I was running late and assumed nobody would be standing right in front of the door since this is a vacant building and all.”
”Well, you assumed wrong, and you know what they say about people who assume.” I glare at him.
I know I can be a bit abrasive, but the longer those hazel eyes gaze at me, the faster my heart beats and the need to rub my thighs together increases. I hate being vulnerable, and there”s no way I”m letting this guy see what he does to me.
”You”re right. I have my meeting with Cash and Reid right now, but can I bring you a new coffee after we”re done?”
Having forgotten the guys are standing there as witnesses to our entire interaction, I glance their way. Cash tries to cover his smirk with a hand over his mouth. He”s told me on more than one occasion that I remind him of Chayse, and after meeting her, I can see why. Reid isn”t even trying to hide his amusement as he smiles while he looks back and forth between the two of us.
”It was a chai latte, but don”t bother. I need my caffeine now, not in an hour or however long your meeting is going to take.”
He”s about to say something else, but I turn towards Reid and Cash, giving McSexy my back.
”It”s always nice to see you guys. Tell Chayse to get her butt in here and bring those babies if she wants. I could always use some snuggles from those munchkins.” I give Cash a smile, and his own grows at the mention of his wife and twins.
”I will. Penny would love to come and see you and check out the shop. I”m afraid Chayse may have made our daughter a little tattoo-obsessed by always letting her color in the ink on her arms.”
”Oh, yes! We need more badass women in the tattoo world. Bring my girl, and I can turn her into my little tattooing protégé.”
Cash chuckles at my giddiness. I”m not kidding, though. I know Penny is young, still in the single digits in age, but I love the idea of fostering her creativity, whether through her coloring her mom”s ink in or sitting down with me and a sketch pad. I know how important having an artistic outlet can be.
I step up and hug Cash then do the same with Reid, who picks me up and gives me the biggest bear hug, pulling a laugh deep from my belly.
”I”ll see you this weekend if you”re working. I have a date with Daphne to get more work done.”
”Awesome. Are you bringing Landon?” I fold my hands under my chin and give him my best puppy dog eyes as I beg him to bring his hubby.
Landon and I hit it off when he stopped by to bring the guys food while they were helping out at the shop. He saw my romance novel sitting on the table in the breakroom, and before we knew it, an hour had passed by while we both gushed about our favorite authors and books. We have quite a few in common, which is absolutely awesome. Now we talk regularly, and I love how feisty he is but turns into a marshmallow at the mention of Reid.
”I don”t know if he”s coming or not. I can”t remember his work schedule, but I will have him check in with you if he”s free. I know you two get lost in your own little world, but I know you have to work as well.”
”Sounds good.” I turn to the stranger standing awkwardly on the outside of the conversation and give him a glare. Walking past him, I head for my shop with my chin held high and shoulders back. There”s no way I”m showing him an ounce of weakness.
Inside, I drop the bag of muffins on the reception desk before examining my hands. The bleeding has stopped, but it”s going to sting like a bitch to get the pebbles out. The throbbing in my knee intensifies the longer I stand on it.
I make sure the front door is locked before snagging the muffins and making my way to the breakroom. Dropping the muffins on the table, I take the stairs to my apartment. I locked the door more out of habit than necessity, but I don”t know if I”ll ever get used to living in a small town where it”s no big deal if you don”t lock up when you leave.
In the bathroom, I turn on the shower as I gingerly peel my clothes off. I snag my shower cap from the hook on the wall then stuff my black hair up in it. My brother always laughs and teases me about being a granny, but when you really don”t need to wash your hair every day, why the hell would you?
I step under the spray, the water stinging as it hits my knee. Holding my raw hands under the spray, I let the water clean away as much of the dirt and pebbles as it can. They look much better, and I”m able to gently remove the few remaining pebbles while I wash my hands with soap. My knee stings like hell when I clean it and had a steady stream of blood the entire time I showered, but it looks clean and will be fine once I get a bandage on it.
Needing to return to the shop and get some work done before our day starts, I dry off. I snag the first aid kit out from under the sink and apply antibiotic ointment to my hands and knees before covering my knee up. Deciding to give the wound a little break, I opt for a short black pleated skirt, knee-high black socks, and an old, worn band tee that I”ve ripped and cut up to give it a rougher edge. My hair and make-up are still good, so I slide on my combat boots and head back downstairs.
I snag my muffin from the bag and grab a coke out of the fridge, then make my way to the office. It doesn”t hit the same as my chai latte would have, which has me annoyed and frustrated as I work through paying bills and my other admin duties. I hate this part of the business, but it”s a necessary evil.
I”m so lost in my spreadsheets that I don”t notice Meadow leaning on the door frame until she clears her throat. I have no idea how I missed her since the bangles and necklaces on her arm tinkle every time she moves.
She raises her eyebrows at me and smiles. ”I know you hate the paper-pushing aspect of our job, but you seem extra scowly this morning. Your vibe is way more aggressive than it normally is when you”re doing admin work. Is everything okay?”
I wave her off, forgetting about the scrapes on my hand.
Meadow gasps as she quickly makes her way around the desk. She”s a nurturer through and through, and hates seeing anyone hurt. Which makes her one of the gentlest tattooers I”ve ever met, and her aftercare is top-notch.
”What happened to you?”
”I”m fine. I was standing in front of the old bookstore when someone opened the door, knocking me over. I banged up my hands and knees, but I”m okay.”
”Someone was at the bookstore? I thought you weren”t sure who owned it.”
”I wasn”t, and now that I think about it, I”m still not. I don”t know the guy’s name.”
”Um, you didn”t introduce yourself? He didn”t either?”
”Well, I may have been a little short with him after the whole knocking me over. He made me spill my latte and said he didn”t assume anyone would be standing in front of a vacant building, which irritated me even more.” I cross my arms and pout.
Meadow”s laughter tinkles out. ”Now, that doesn”t surprise me at all. I mean, he kind of has a valid point. Why were you standing in front of the door in the first place? ”
”I was talking to Reid and Cash. They had a meeting with him to go over renovating and restoring the bookstore.”
”Oh, how exciting!” Meadow trills then cuts off her enthusiasm as she sees my brows furrow. ”Sorry. I know you wanted to buy the building, but I can”t wait to have a bookstore next door! So you didn”t get his name, but what else can you tell me about the guy?”
”I don”t really know. He”s probably in his early thirties, and he”s got close to a foot on me, but that”s really it.” I avoid eye contact when I nonchalantly describe the man who had my heart fluttering and my pussy aching.
Meadow is perceptive as hell, and when I turn to face her, she is smirking at me like she knows I”m leaving something out. ”Hmm, is he handsome?”
”I don”t know. I mean, subjectively, he”s not bad on the eyes.”
Meadow cackles at my attempt to minimize his appeal.
He”s fucking gorgeous. Even though the clean-cut look isn”t one I usually gravitate
towards, something about him has me going.
Needing to shut this down, I close my laptop and stand to leave the room.
”But he also seems like a pompous ass. I”ve dealt with enough of those as a female in predominantly male shops. I don”t feel like dealing with it when it comes to our potential nextdoor neighbor. As long as he stays out of our way, I don”t really care who he is.” My skin crawls as the lie rolls off my tongue.
I pride myself of being a straight shooter, but something about Mr. McSexy has me on edge. I can”t say I”m looking forward to finding out what that is, so avoidance is my best friend going forward.