"Right...." I'm somehow more uncomfortable now. Iwant to ask her how, but that's so inappropriate. Raina and Arlo would eat me alive if they found out I was hitting on a client. They’re already going to give me so much shit for my earlier comments that I guarantee Arlo overheard. They've taught me a lot about the female perspective, and it's really shaped me into the man I am today. I know that just because I perceive a woman to be flirting with me, it doesn't necessarily mean she wants me.
"This is the part where you ask me out," B says.
I guess in this case she does.
"Is that right?"
"Mhm. But then I'd tell you that I'm emotionally unavailable and that I don't date."
"So then, where would that leave us?"
"Then you'd say that it doesn't matter to you."
This girl gets more and more interesting every second. "It doesn't?"
"Nope. Then I'd have to crush your dreams by telling you that my tattoo artist told me to take it easy, so we can't fuck rough."
"I did hear that come out of his stupid mouth."
"And unfortunately, I only fuck rough. So..."
"Seems like I'm out of luck then."
"Afraid so."
She slips her shirt on and carefully slides the wrap that was around her chest out from under it. She collects her things from the bench and starts walking toward the door. I watch her walk away, and my dick twitches in my pants at the thought of grabbing that ass and making her mine. I usually don't objectify women like that, but right now she wants me to. I know she does.
As if she can feel my stare heating up her backside, sheturns around, just before she reaches the front door. "Maybe I'll see you around some time."
"Maybe you will."
"Already starting to brainstorm my next tattoo idea."
And just like that, she's gone. As if she didn't just show me a glimpse of her cards. As if she didn't just crawl under my skin with the threat of seeing her again, but in a professional setting where I'm not allowed to touch her.
Chapter Six
B
"Alright, class. I just want to remind everyone that Liam will be back for next week’s class since I'll be out of town for myrealjob. But don't get too excited, he's still in new parent jail, so you'll be stuck with me the following week and for the remaining five sessions of this 8-week class."
"Where are you going?"
Doloris, the oldest student in the class,alwayshas a question or a comment for everything I say. Sometimes I swear she's just here so she has someone to yammer at. She must get very lonely at home.
"I'm going to be in the Napa Valley area for a couple of weeks."
"Ohhh, I went there once with my late husband." Doloris continues on with a story that I'm only half listening to.
I glance around the room for anything to save me from the rest of her boring story and happen to make eye contact with Clover. Doloris is so focused on her canvas and her story that she doesn't notice me turn my back to her so I canmake a face at Clover. I pantomime my impression of Doloris, and Clover starts to giggle. Then she responds to me by faking falling asleep on her canvas. When she pulls her face back from her painting, she has a glob of red paint on her forehead.
"Doloris, I'll be back in a bit. It looks like Clover needs my help."
"Oh, of course, of course. You go help that little sweetie. Gosh, it's so amazing how talented..."
Her yapping fades as I turn off my ears and walk across the room toward Clover. On my way over, I make a slight detour to the sink where I grab a clean rag and soak it in warm water.
"Hey, you've got a little…" I hold out the rag and point at the paint on her forehead, but she clearly has no idea what I'm talking about.
