Hearts Line (Heartstruck #2)

Chapter 1

one

“When I asked you to help, I didn’t mean get drunk and supervise,” I grumble, shoving another handful of tank tops into a box.

My best friend Noia is sprawled across my bed holding a glass of wine, looking far too comfortable for someone who’s supposed to be helping me pack.

Boxes are stacked like skyscrapers throughout my condo, labeled in both my and Noia’s handwriting. Within the past few hours, the whole place has gone from feeling like home to smelling like packing tape and cardboard.

She grins, raising her glass. “Moral support: It’s a serious job, but somebody’s gotta do it.”

I snort.

“Aww, come on.” Noia’s laugh is light and bubbly.

She’s been so much happier since she hooked up with her hot, tattoo artist boyfriend Ryder Blackwood.

The guy tends to have that effect on women, apparently.

My best friend, the ‘Queen of Steam’ herself, is disgustingly in love.

“I just want to celebrate the fact that my bestie is now going to be living just twenty minutes away, instead of a couple of hours.”

“So,” she drawls, her eyes glinting at me over the rim of her glass. “Are you excited about moving to Lakeside?”

“Excited about the new Summit Studio and being closer to you. I’m… ready for a new start.”

“Uuuh-huuuh.” Stretching her legs, she gets up from the bed. “A small lakeside town with fresh air, cute shops and restaurants. Maybe even a certain sexy tattoo artist wandering around…”

I stop mid-fold and groan. “Come on. Will you let up already?”

“Oh, I’m definitely never going to let up about that.” She sets her glass down on my dresser with a smirk. “We’ve talked about this. Did you actually think you were going to move to the same town as Jax and not run into him? Please. It’s destiny.”

“It’s not a big deal. And in no way is it destiny.”

“It’s cosmic foreplay,” she tosses back.

I throw a rolled-up pair of socks at her head. “You’re an evil bitch.”

“Yeah, but I’m your evil bitch,” she sing-songs as she ducks, causing the socks to bounce off the wall and fall to the floor instead.

“Get your mind out of the gutter. Out of all the times I’ve visited you since ‘the-night-that-shall-not-be-talked-about’, I haven’t run into him. Not once. Just... saw him from a distance a couple of times.”

The last thing I’m going to tell her is that anytime I did happen to see Jax, I would turn and high-tail it in the other direction.

“Pure damn luck. You know, setting up a Summit Studio right across the street from Skin she just nods her head as she stares up in adoration at Ryder. My best friend has got it bad for the bad boy tattoo artist, and we just happen to be at his tenth anniversary party for his shop, Skin & Ink Tattoo.

Wanting to make the most of my weekend and hopefully get laid, I take a look around, my gaze locking onto a possible target across the room.

Leaning against the exposed brick wall next to the DJ booth, he has one foot kicked up behind him.

The colored lights flash across his face as he scrolls through his phone, looking completely unbothered by the chaos around him.

His dark brown hair is styled in that perfect just-rolled-out-of-bed way everyone knows takes actual effort to achieve.

My breath catches in my throat as my eyes travel over the full length of his body. A tight black T-shirt stretches over well-defined muscles, and his jeans fit like they’re custom made.

I’ve never been into tattooed guys before—always preferred the clean-cut business types—but there’s something about the vibrant artwork covering both his arms that makes my stomach flip.

Colorful designs start at his hands, working their way up to disappear under his sleeves.

There’s even one peeking out from the collar of his shirt, curling up his neck.

Courage and curiosity flood my veins, and I straighten my shoulders, my black dress clinging to every curve as I weave my way through the crowd.

I can feel the eyes of several male partygoers following my every move as I make my way across the room, but I ignore them, keeping my focus locked on my intended target.

The music pulses around me, bass thumping in time with my heartbeat as I advance.

“Slow and steady, Sasha,” I murmur to myself. “No need to rush. You want this guy to see you coming.”

As I get closer, I notice even more details: how the fingers from his other hand tap against his thigh to the beat of the music and how the small black gauges in his ears catch the light when he tilts his head.

I’m only a few feet away when he finally looks up from his phone and does a double take. Our eyes lock, and everything else fades away. The music bleeds into the background and the crowd disappears as time seems to stand still.

His eyes go wide for just a moment before his gaze, slow and deliberate, travels over my body, taking me in. I can almost feel the heat of his stare as it traces the neckline of my dress, lingers on my waist, following the curve of my hips all the way down to my silver heels.

When his eyes finally make their way back to mine, his lips curve into a wicked smile. It’s one of those dangerous grins, the kind that makes my stomach flip, sending heat pooling low in my belly.

Somehow, despite the flutter in my chest, I manage to keep my voice steady. “Hey.”

“Hi.” His voice is deep with just the right amount of rough around the edges. “And who might you be, beautiful?”

I tilt my head and smile. “Sasha. You?”

“Jax.” He pushes away from the wall, standing to his full height. He’s taller than I expected, forcing me to look up despite the height achieved with my heels. “Jax Riley.”

“Well, Jax Riley.” I take a small step, my proximity putting me so close I can actually feel his body heat as I look up into his chocolate brown eyes. “You looked a little lonely over here. Thought I’d come over and see if you’d like some company.”

His grin widens, flashing a dimple in his left cheek which nearly knocks me off my feet. “That’s mighty generous of you, Sasha. I was just thinking this party could use some livening up.” His eyes slowly travel over my face before focusing on my mouth. “Looks like it just arrived.”

The laugh that escapes me comes out husky. “Is that a line that typically works for you?”

“I don’t know.” He leans in a little closer, and I get a whiff of his cologne. Woodsy and clean, it makes me want to lean in and run my tongue up the side of his sexy, tattooed neck. “Not sure. Did it?”

Damn. This guy’s good.

“Maybe.” My smile spreads wider. “But I might need a little more convincing.”

“Well, then. Let the convincing begin,” he says. Taking my hand, he pulls me against him. “Dance with me?”

Linking his fingers with mine, he leads me to the dance floor. The DJ switches to something slow and sultry, and suddenly Jax’s hands are on my hips, pulling me in close.

“You’re not from around here, are you?” he asks, breath hot against my ear.

“Just visiting a friend,” I reply, fighting the urge to press myself fully against him as I wrap my arms around his neck. “You?”

“Born and raised. Well, a few towns over.” His hands slide lower, resting just above my ass as we sway to the music. “I also co-own the local tattoo shop.”

My eyebrows shoot up. “Wait, you’re one of the owners of Skin & Ink?”

“Guilty.” That dimple appears again, and my heart trips.

Four shots of tequila and two hours later, I’m laughing harder than I have in months as Jax pulls me toward the back door of The Brew. The cool night air hits my flushed skin as I stumble on my heels.

“Careful there, beautiful,” he murmurs, wrapping his arm firmly around my waist.

I can’t stop giggling as he walks me backwards over to the side of the building, his body a solid wall of heat pressing me up against the rough brick. His mouth finds my neck, and I tilt my head, giving him better access.

“God, you’re fucking gorgeous,” he growls against my skin as his hands slide up my thighs, bunching my dress up around my waist.

Memories flash one after the other. Calloused fingers finding their way between my legs. Me gasping and Jax groaning when he discovers how wet and ready I am for him. The sound of his zipper. The feeling of being more than completely filled when he slid his cock inside me with one hard thrust.

“Sasha. Hey! Sash!”

Noia’s voice snaps me out of my sex-riddled haze, and I shake my head to clear it. “Shit,” I mutter, dropping the shirt I was folding but now twisting into a wrinkled mess back into the box.

As if she can read my mind, she smirks and sits back down on the bed, nearly causing the box I just finished packing to topple over. “You were thinking about him, weren’t you?”

Grabbing a folded pile of clothes, I throw them into the box and start taping it shut. “Nope.”

“Liar.”

Arching a brow, I meet her gaze. “Remind me why I’m friends with you again?” I ask, reaching for my water and downing half of it.

“Because I’m fabulous, and you love me,” she says, clinking her newly filled glass against my half-empty bottle.

I sigh, smiling in surrender. “Sad but true.”

She’s right. I haven’t for the life of me been able to stop thinking about Jax. Not that I’m going to admit it.

Because no matter how hard I try to forget about what happened that night in the alley outside The Brew, it’s all branded into my skin—the soft concerned tone of his voice when I stumbled, the heat of his mouth, and the way he groaned when he came with his face tucked into my neck.

Shit.

There’s no way around it. I’m going to run into Jax Riley at some point. It’s inevitable.

“You okay?” Noia’s teasing tone is gone, replaced with concern.

“Yeah, I’m good.” I force a smile. “Just remembered I forgot to call the utility company about setting up service at the new house.”

The lie doesn’t land the way I want it to. I can tell by the way her eyes narrow in on me, but she doesn’t call me out on it.

“So, what time are you leaving tomorrow?” she asks instead, mercifully changing the subject.

“Early. The movers will be here at eight.” I fold another shirt, focusing on making the edges perfect even though I know they’re going to get tossed around in the move.

“I want to get settled in before I check out the studio space. I can’t believe getting the paperwork for the purchase took almost as long as I thought it would take to rehab it.

Four months behind schedule isn’t a great start. ”

“Don’t worry. I believe things happen for a reason. You’ll get that empty space fixed up in no time, and the grand opening will be here before you know it. Oh, and don’t forget, I’m throwing you a housewarming party with just us girls. You, me, Lizzy and Claire.”

“I don’t know...”

“Nope. It’s happening. Gives you a chance to let loose in the comfort of your new home and have some fun before you have to get back to work.”