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Why did I want to grin like an idiot over it? Probably because it was good to know she was as nervous as I was. It was just that most of the time, I was better at hiding it.
As I set about cleaning, I asked, “Is there actually anythin’ you don’t eat? Like, I was gonna just throw some meat on the barbie. You good with that?”
“The only things I really can’t stand are anchovies and olives. Other than that, I’m good. If you’ve got salad stuff, I can make one to go with the meat. Unless, with you being all tough and manly, you just want to stick with meat like a caveman would?” The little tilt to the corner of her lips was teasing.
“I got salad stuff, smartarse.”
Her laugh always made me feel light on the inside.
While I cleaned, Maya stood up and made her way around the room, looking at pictures of old tattoos, then at the newer designs I had pinned to the wall that someone could pick to get inked. It really hit me in the chest when clients came in with a concept, only to then see one of my designs and fall in love with it and choose that instead.
Scrubbing things down took me longer than usual because I kept watching Maya and pausing to answer any questions she had.
Finally, I started for the door and said, “All done. Let’s get out of here.”
“Um, Mon didn’t really show me all of your shop. Would you?”
“Yeah, babe,” I said gently, happiness fucking bubbling up.
I’d been having a good day already, but now that Maya was in my space, it got better and better. I couldn’t wait to see how damn excited I’d be with her in my house.
There was a chance I wouldn’t want her to leave.
CHAPTERNINETEEN
MAYA
Texas walked me down to the end of the hall and opened the door there. “This is the break room. It leads to the back door that opens to where Hex and Mon park.” The room was your average lunchroom. To the right was the kitchenette. The table and chairs were in the middle, but then on the left, there was the one thing that stood out most. The whole wall was covered in a print that looked like it was an image from an alleyway in Melbourne, and down the alley, the walls were covered in cool graffiti.
“That is so cool. Who did it?”
“Emmy hooked me up with a guy she knows, since her and Warden were away at the time.”
Emmy was Warden’s wife, and Warden worked as a private investigator at my aunt’s agency. “It’s fantastic.”
“Yeah, it turned out well.” When he took my hand, I shivered and dropped my gaze down to it. “Come on, I’ll show you the rest.”
We walked back into the hallway. “The bathroom is on the left.” We made our way towards the front of the shop. “My room, and then the one next to it is free, same as the two on the other side. But Mon’s doing a course in piercings, so she’ll pick one of those for herself. Might employ another couple of tattooists as well.”
“Who’s taking Mon’s job?”
“Put out an ad for the position, but so far, those who have been in for an interview weren’t the right fit.” He shrugged. “I’ll keep waiting.” He stopped at the last door at the end of the hall before we hit reception and knocked.
“In.”
Texas opened the door and the buzzing behind it stopped. A guy who was leaning over a client’s shoulder lifted his head and grinned. He was covered in more ink than Texas because there wasn’t a spot clear on his face. “Hey, you two.” Why did his tone sound teasing?
“Hex, this is Maya. Maya, Hex, Mon’s other half.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said, and glanced at the person on the bed.
Hex waved a hand. “He’s got headphones on and is asleep.”
My eyes near bugged out of my head. “He’s asleep?”
Texas and Hex chuckled, but it was Hex who said, “Yeah, it happens sometimes.”
“But… aren’t…. Everyone says they’re painful.”
