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He laughs, shaking his head. “If you say so.”
I ignore him because he’s right. Every time I see a Swallow tattoo it reminds me of Leah and that isn’t something I need. She’s become competition I never expected, and I hate it. I never expected her to be as successful and popular as she is. Not to mention having her shop around the corner from mine.
She did that on purpose. She says she had no idea I was here, but she’s full of shit. She wanted the competition, and she’s got it.
She thinks she’s got me fooled with her fake smile and flirty ways but she’s the fool. I know exactly what she’s doing, and I know damn well I get under her skin like no one else. Just like she gets under mine.
“Tonight is looking to be a good one,” Harry says.
I nod, pulling out of my thoughts. “Yeah, doing these bi-monthly private parties was the best idea you’ve ever had.”
Every other month we close the shop early on Friday night and have private parties. They aren’t actually private, anyone can come, but it’s not advertised so we consider them private. We supply the drinks, which wasn’t easy getting an alcohol license, it took a lot of work, but with Harry’s connections, we were able to obtain one. We hire a DJ and before anyone is drunk, we give tattoos. Once they all start getting drunk, we stop tattooing and join the fun.
We’ve made a lot of extra income because they pay to get in and pay for the tattoo. It’s a win-win for us.
Harry kicks his feet up on the receptionist's desk and grins. Harry’s real name is Harrington and he comes from a very wealthy family. They were not happy about his decision to become a tattoo artist instead of following in his father’s footsteps. He didn’t care though; he followed his dream and I’m certain with his success that his family second guesses their decision to cut off all ties.
He said when he walked into the house with his first tattoo, they told him he needed to have it removed. He laughed and told them to go to hell.
That’s what I liked about him. He never acted like some rich boy. Everything he has, he’s earned and that’s something I respect.
Waylen is more like me. We come from families that worked multiple jobs just to pay the bills. We didn’t have easy childhoods and I think it’s what gives us so much drive now.
“You ever think about inviting Leah and her friends to a private party?” Harry asks, pulling me back to the present.
My eyebrows dip as I cross my arms. “Hell no.”
He lifts his large shoulders and the grin on his face never slips. “Just a thought.”
“Well, it’s not something that will ever happen so stop fucking thinking it. She’s our competition, our enemy. She’s not going to get a close-up of what we do.”
He looks around at the desk and shakes his head. “When the hell are you gonna hire a receptionist? Don’t you think it’s time we had someone sitting here full-time?”
I laugh at his randomness and knock his feet off the counter. “No, we don’t need someone else. The three of us run this place like a well-oiled machine. We don’t need to throw a wrench in it.”
The private party is in full swing. I’ve tattooed ten people. Waylen and Harry tattooed five more each. It’s been the most active tattoo scene since we started.
Now, however, the drinks are flowing, and the tattoo guns are put away. It’s time to have some fun.
“Corbin, this is a great party.”
I glance over and grin when I see a beautiful blonde smiling up at me. I have no idea who she is but she obviously knows me.
I tilt my beer toward her and grin. “Thanks.”
“How long have you been tattooing?” she asks.
“Almost seven years, but I opened this shop just over two years ago,” I answer.
She moves closer and presses her tits against me. “Do you have a girlfriend?”
I step back and grin. “Nope.”
She steps closer and smiles up at me. “Would you like one?”
A laugh just slips out of me, and I don’t even care. This chick went from cool to crazy in two seconds.
“Darling, let me give you a little advice. A man likes a challenge, not a certainty.”
