Chapter 20
TWENTY
ryder
After dropping Noia off, I head to the shop.
My body is still vibrating with energy from what went down in the bookstore.
The way she blushed when I read that sex scene out loud—fuck, I almost took her right there between the stacks.
Just the memory alone makes my cock twitch, and I have to adjust myself before climbing out of my truck.
The sights and sounds are even more familiar today when I push open the door to Skin & Ink. Claire waves at me from the front desk, and I return her greeting with a nod as I make my way to my station.
There’s a client coming in at three for a cover-up—some ex-boyfriend’s name that needs to disappear.
“You gonna tell me what’s going on with you, or do I have to beat it out of you?”
I look up to find Jax leaning against the wall, arms crossed, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
A grunt is my only response as I start to gather my inks together for my afternoon appointment.
“Nothing’s going on,” I mutter, focusing on wiping down my station. “Just didn’t get much sleep last night.”
Jax snorts. “I’ve seen you work on three hours of sleep after multiple weekend benders and you were never this distracted.”
Keeping my eyes on my work, I concentrate on laying out my equipment. “I’m fine.”
“Bullshit.” Pulling up a chair, he turns it around and sits, resting his arms across the back. “You’ve been acting weird for days. Showing up late, leaving early, walking around with this dopey-ass grin on your face.”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
“Claire thinks you’re using again.”
My head snaps up. “What? That’s fucking ridiculous.” My hands clench at my sides. “I’ve been clean for years and she knows it.”
Jax raises his hands in defense. “Hey, I’m just telling you what she said. We’re all worried about you, man.”
“Well, don’t be. Like I said, I’m fine.”
“Then tell me what the hell is going on.”
Setting down the machine, I run a hand through my hair and sigh. “Look, it’s not a big deal. It’s just... I met someone.”
His eyes go wide, and a slow grin spreads across his face. “No shit? You’re actually dating someone? Like, an actual woman who tolerates your cranky ass?”
“Very funny.”
“Who is she? Where did you meet her? And why the hell haven’t you mentioned her before?”
I hesitate, trying to figure out how much to say without sounding completely insane. “Her name is Noia and she’s a writer.” I clear my throat, knowing I’m going to catch shit for this one. “She writes spicy romance novels.”
My best friend barks out a laugh. “A romance writer? Seriously?”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Just that you’re not exactly the hearts and flowers type.” He leans forward, suddenly interested. “So how’d you meet her?”
“It’s... complicated.”
“I’ve got plenty of time.” He glances at his watch. “My next appointment isn’t for thirty minutes.”
Knowing he won’t let it go, I give in and lie my ass off. “Fine. She was parked on the side of the road, in the rain, trying to change a flat tire, and I stopped to help her out.”
“And?”
“We started talking, and... I don’t know. There was something about her.”
“Wait, is this why you’ve been staying at that lake cottage instead of your apartment?”
I nod, relieved he was the one to come up with a reasonable explanation. “Yeah. My place is... getting renovated.”
Jax eyes me suspiciously. “You never mentioned you’re doing any renovations.”
“It was a last-minute decision.”
“So you’re shacking up with some writer chick you just met? That doesn’t sound like you at all.”
“It’s not like that,” I say, even though it kind of is. “We’re just... figuring things out.”
“She must be pretty fuckin’ special to have you this twisted up.”
I can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips. “Yeah, she is. Smart as hell. Stubborn as shit. Drives me crazy most of the time.”
“Holy shit.” Jax rests his chin on his arms. “You’re actually into her. Like, really into her.”
“Don’t make a big deal out of it.”
“This is a huge deal! You haven’t been serious about anyone since Melissa, and that was what, over ten years ago?”
Suddenly, I remember. Melissa is my ex-fiancée. The one who left me for someone else before I came back from my second tour.
Jax’s face falls when he sees my expression shift. “Shit, man. I’m sorry for bringing her up. That was a dick move.”
I wave him off, trying to shake off the memory of the Dear John letter and the all months I drank myself stupid over it. “It’s fine. Ancient history.”
“No, it’s not. I know better.” He shifts in his seat, and quickly changes the subject. “So, when do we get to meet her? Claire’s gonna want to give her the third degree, you know.”
“Not happening,” I say firmly, turning back to my station.
“Come on,” Jax persists. “You can’t keep her hidden forever. Bring her to the shop’s anniversary party this weekend.”
“I’m not hiding her. It’s just…” My brain screeches to a halt. “Anniversary party?”
“Dude, seriously? The ten-year anniversary bash we’ve been planning for months? Saturday night? Ring any bells?” Jax looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “We rented out The Brew for the whole night. Everyone’s coming—clients, artists, friends. It’s gonna be epic.”
Another memory slams into me out of nowhere.
Shit.
“Right,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck. “That party.”
“So? Are you gonna bring her, or what?”
The idea of Noia in a room full of tattooed, hard-drinking shop regulars makes me hesitate. But the idea of showing her off? It makes something warm and possessive flare in my chest.
“I’ll think about it,” I finally say.
“That’s not a no,” Jax grins, clapping me on the shoulder as he stands, spinning the chair back around.
I pull my phone out of my pocket to check if there are any messages from Noia.
Nothing.
Disappointed but resigned to give her a chance to stew over what I might have planned for her after I get home from work, I slide my phone back into my pocket just as my client walks over, looking nervous.
“Hi,” she says timidly. “I’m Jess. I have an appointment for a cover-up?”
“Hey, Jess,” I smile and gesture at the chair. “I’m Ryder. Let’s talk about what we’re going to do with that name on your wrist.”
As I work, I stress about Noia and bringing her to the party this weekend.
This could be a chance to see how she fits into this new part of my life that’s becoming more real every day. It’s also another chance to show her that what’s happening between us is so much more than what goes down in some fictional romance novel.