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The client chairs are rich wine-hued leather and look extremely comfortable.
“Are you ladies ready?”
A large man with a salt and pepper beard, beer gut, and kind eyes is standing at one of the stations.
“We sure are,” Leona answers.
“My name’s Eddie and this is Pete,” he says gesturing to his partner who looks like one the four members of ZZ Top.
They get both of them settled in a chair and show them the art they drew up for their session.
They love the sketches.
“Let’s get started then,” Eddie declares.
Sara-Beth brings her apprehensive eyes to mine.
“Can Maxi sit with me and hold my hand?” she asks.
Pete pulls a chair over for me.
“Taeli?” Leona calls.
Eddie pulls a chair up for her as well and the two of us hold their hands as they get inked for the first time.
“Thank you,” Sara-Beth mouths to me as she clutches my fingers tightly.
“You’re welcome. Don’t worry you’re gonna do great.”
Sara-Beth gasps through the entire experience while Leona giggles like the tattoo gun is tickling her. Which is insane. However, a little over an hour later they are standing in front of a mirror looking at their finished tattoos and they are as excited as school girls.
“They look amazing,” Taeli praises.
“Very cool,” I agree.
The two of them are beaming as they pay the girl and then offer to take Taeli and I out for dinner and celebratory cocktails.
I pace as I wait for Corbin to pick me up. All I’ve been able to do for the past four days is obsess over these new feelings that have been bubbling up since the last night we spent together.
I don’t do this. I don’t worry, and I don’t stress over men.
I’m not sure when our little facade became more. It wasn’t supposed to.
It’s this place. Balsam Ridge has somehow worked its voodoo on me, and I’ve been seduced by the people, by the mountains, and by Corbin fucking Tuttle.
I need to get out of here fast and go as far as I can.
I look out the window when I hear his truck pulling up out front.
One last performance.
Tomorrow morning, my listing goes live, I’m giving Reed my notice, and I’m getting the hell out of here.
He comes to the door, and I open it. He’s standing there in a pair of jeans and a BRVFR T-shirt.
In his hands are six boxes with a red ribbon tied around all of them.
He holds them out to me.
