Chapter 26
Zoe
“Are you sure you don’t need anything before I go?” Riggs looks like he’s attending a funeral instead of a meeting at Titan. It’s the first time we’ve been apart since we got married, and neither of us is excited about our honeymoon ending.
“I’m going to work on unpacking more of my things before I go to my job interview later.”
He frowns. “You know you don’t have to get a job if you don’t want one.”
I roll my eyes. “We’ve been over this. I need to have something to do while you’re working, and I want to contribute. Plus, I’ll get bored sitting around your big, empty house.”
“ Our big, empty house,” he corrects. “Just say the word, and I’ll fill this house with little kids for you.”
That comment earns him a swat. “I’m not even remotely close to thinking about filling anything with children.” Although, the thought of a miniature Riggs running around does make me smile.
He puts his arms around me, sliding his nose along my neck. “Can we at least practice making them?”
I snort. “I’m still sore from our practice round last night and the one this morning.”
He flashes me his devilishly handsome grin. “Want me to kiss it better?”
As much as I do, neither of us has time for another round. “Get out of here.”
“Fine,” he pouts, making me grin. He’s too cute for his own good.
“I’ll be home after the interview unless they want me to start right away. If they do, I’ll text you.”
He grows serious. “I don’t like the idea of you working so late. It’s not safe.”
“Stone got me this interview with Bull at his new shop. I don’t think he’d have me working somewhere that wasn’t safe. Plus, it’s not like I’ll be there alone. Either Bull or Mason will always be there. Not to mention the other tattoo artists.”
He sighs. “Just promise me you won’t be there alone at night. I know it’s a good neighborhood, but I still worry.”
I groan. “Okay, Dad.”
His face changes, and I instantly realize my mistake. “Don’t ever call me that.”
“I didn’t mean anything.”
“Yes, you did. You were telling me I was being controlling. That’s not what I’m trying to do. I want you to be safe.” What he doesn’t say is that the joke makes him feel like us being together is wrong.
“I know. I was trying to lighten things up. I know the idea of me working at a tattoo shop at night bothers you, but that place is very upscale. You have nothing to worry about.”
He drops his head to my forehead. “I know. I just. . . You’re so. . . never mind.”
“No, what? Say it.”
“I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“You can’t keep me in bubble wrap,” I tease, needing to ignore how his worries make me feel like I should reconsider. What if it upsets him and he decides to leave me?
“I know, but if I could, I would.”
I move my mouth to touch his, kissing him deeply. “Go to work,” I say, pulling away. After that declaration, if he doesn’t leave now, I won’t let him. For as worried about me as he is, I’m doubly fearful. I’ve already lost the most important man in my life once. Losing my dad was hard enough. I don’t think I could survive losing my husband, the man who holds my entire heart.
For as many times as I’ve been around Bull, I’m still nervous when I sit down to interview with him and Mason. The guy is intimidating with his larger than life stature. He resembles a lumberjack more than a tattoo artist. Stone did me a huge favor by recommending me for the position of their evening receptionist. I don’t want to disappoint him, so I try to keep my nerves under control.
Bull smiles when I sit down in his office, helping to relax me. His daughter sits in the corner playing with a tea set and stuffed octopus. When she looks up, she seems surprised to see me. I give her a little wave. She waves, then turns back to her toys. Bull goes to her and kneels down, moving his hands as he whispers to her. It’s not until she moves her hands back that I realize they’re signing to each other.
Mason must register my surprise because he leans closer. “She had a bad fever a few years ago and lost most of her hearing. It caused her to withdraw a bit.”
Tears sting my eyes when I think about how different this little girl seems from the one I first met when Mom and Stone started dating. She was so loud and bossy. Now, she seems subdued and almost sad. “I’m so sorry to hear that.” I clear my throat, hoping I don’t cry.
He shrugs. “She’s okay now. We’ve all adapted and learned to sign. She’s also one helluva lip reader, so keep that in mind.” He gives me a conspiratorial smile. “Avery knows all the cuss words.”
Bull pats Avery on the shoulder, then moves back to his desk. “Why do you want to become a part of the Vintage Ink family?” he asks, starting the interview right away.
His question surprises me. I didn’t expect him to start off so direct. “I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “I mean, I guess I, uh, well, I’m trying to figure out what I want from life.” My face warms and my heart pounds.
Mason chuckles next to me. Bull just nods. Crap. I’m bombing this interview, and he hasn’t even asked for a resume yet. Not that my resume will earn me any points. It’s an empty white page with a few college activities and an inflated job at my mom’s boutique.
I clear my throat. “I mean, Stone told me this would be a good way for me to learn useful office and management-type skills in a laid-back environment. He said I might find a place where I belong, and uh, I haven’t really had that since. . .” I trail off, not wanting to bring up my dead dad in a job interview.
Bull strokes his beard, nodding. The silence stretches between us, and I start to worry. How will I face Stone if I don’t get this job?
Mason clears his throat. “Basically, we’re looking for someone to answer calls, set up appointments, field walk-ins, start the pre-tattoo process, and take payments. Do you have any experience with any of that?” His reassuring smile and nod do nothing to calm me.
I look down at my hands, picking at one of my cuticles. “Well, I’m good with talking to people and I’m a quick learner. If someone shows me what the pre-tattoo process entails and how to take payments, I’ll be able to do that too.”
“Do you have any tattoos?” Mason asks.
I bite my lip, feeling my cheeks heat. “One.”
“What is it?”
I look to Bull, who’s still silent, but leaning forward, waiting for my answer. “I have my husband’s name on my side,” I whisper.
Mason’s eyes widen at the mention of a husband, but Bull doesn’t look the least bit surprised, telling me Stone told him the story.
“Are you dependable, Zoe?” Bull asks, staring straight into my eyes.
I nod. “Yes. Very.” Okay, so that’s a bit of a stretch lately, but I would be if I got this job.
Avery wanders over to me, purple plastic teacup in hand. She hands me the cup with a smile. I sign ‘thank you’ and pretend to blow on hot liquid before taking a sip. I set the cup on the table, then give her the sign for ‘more, please’. She nods, smiling as she races to grab her teapot to come pour me seconds.
Bull’s eyes widen in surprise. “You know how to sign?”
I shrug. “A little. Instead of a foreign language in high school, I took ASL. I know the basics.”
“I’m going to be honest with you, Zoe. I don’t think you’re the right fit for our receptionist job. You don’t have any visible ink, and we’d have to train you. All of our other applicants have experience working in tattoo shops. I don’t think you’d be happy here.”
“I understand.” I unhook my purse from the back of the chair and stand.
Bull raises his palm, stopping me. “Now, hold on. I’m not finished.”
I sit back down, dropping my purse to the floor. “I’m confused.”
“I have a different job in mind for you. One I think would be a better fit.”
“Okay?” I hope he can’t tell how skeptical I am.
“My wife’s business has grown, meaning she has more responsibilities taking her away from home. She really loves what she’s doing. The only problem is she can’t pick Avery up from kindergarten. I can, but I have to bring her back here for a few hours, and a tattoo shop isn’t really a good place for a kid.”
I frown. “Are you asking me to pick Avery up from school?” Surely, that’s not a real job. Is it?
“That, give her a snack, work on homework, and keep her happy until Tarah or I get home for dinner. Our son Ollie usually hangs out with his other dad or some friends until we get home, but there may be some days you’ll need to watch him as well. Change is difficult for him, so before that happens, we’ll want to make sure you’re both comfortable around each other.”
I nod, excited at the prospect of being a nanny. “I can do that.” Nannying sounds a lot better than working at the tattoo shop.
“Don’t you want to know what it pays?” Bull asks with a chuckle.
“Oh, um, right.” That’s probably something I should have asked, but I’ve always liked working with kids. In high school, I was a camp counselor in the summers. This seems like the perfect job for me.
While Bull goes over the details, I take notes. I can’t wait to tell Riggs about this when I get home. Not only will I get to do a job that sounds fun, but Riggs and I won’t have opposite schedules like we would’ve if I’d gotten the receptionist job.
Everything is falling into place.