Page 2 of Inked By the Mountain Man

I walk over and place my hand on her shoulder. “Do you want me to slash Marx’s tires?”

She looks at me with a soft smile. “No.”

“How about keying his truck?” The jerk Marx broke up with Lana, then has the nerve to buy the property right next to hers and turn from a city guy into a mountain man.

“How about I put itching powder in his underwear?” That comment finally earns me a genuine smile from Lana.

“How would you even get his underwear? Forget it. I don’t want to know.” She holds up her hands and waves them back and forth to emphasize her point.

Lex walks in just as I’m getting ready to suggest another punishment for Marx. “Liv.” I let out a loud groan, knowing he’s going to add more work to my already busy schedule. “What is that all about?” His eyes narrow.

“Nothing.” I mumble, knowing there is no way I’m going to be able to get out of whatever he needs me to do.

“I need you to connect with the bourbon wholesaler and ask about our next shipment.” Lex hands me the contact information, then rushes out of the room—I’m sure he's on his way to see his girlfriend.

That’s it. It’s time I do something for myself, for once. I pull out my phone and search for tattoo shops in Temptation Ridge—like I don’t already know who that is. Keanu Reed, thirty-three, co-owner of Temptation Ink with his younger sister, Kira, and my secret crush.

Before I change my mind, I dial the number. Lana glances up from her laptop. “Who are you calling?”

“My salvation,” I mumble.

“What?”

The phone rings, and a woman answers after the second ring. “Temptation Ink. How can I help you?”

“Hi. I’d like to book a tattoo. Something small.” I glance at Lana to see her reaction.

She mouths, “What are you doing?"

I turn away before I laugh at the shocked look on her face. “I was thinking my hip,” I tell the woman on the phone, who I’m almost positive is Kira.

There is silence behind me for only a heartbeat before I hear Lana whisper, “You’re getting a tattoo?”

And for the first time in weeks, I feel like my old self again.

two

Keanu

My sister, Kira, says I scare customers–I disagree. I don't scare customers. I simply don't smile unnecessarily—there's a difference.

"You scared another one," Kira says.

I glance up from the sketch I'm working on to see Kira standing in the doorway of my station. "I said hello."

"You grunted," she accuses, placing her hands on her hips.

"Same thing." I shrug, returning to my drawing.

"It isn't."

I raise my head and stare at her—she stares back. Unfortunately, we're related, so she isn't intimidated. “Anything else?" I ask.

"Yes." She holds up the appointment tablet. "We have a walk-in consultation at eleven."

"I'm booked,” I add a butterfly to my drawing, completely ignoring Kira.

"Your eleven canceled." She points at the tablet.