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“Aw, come on, Kyle,” I teased, dipping the needle back into the ink. “You’ve got that macho, tough guy act to maintain. I thought you said you could handle it?”
“Shut up and just get on with it.” He rolled his eyes, a blush creeping into his neck.
As I continued tattooing the delicate heather flowers onto his wrist, I let my mind wander to Audrey and what was about to unfold between her and my brother. Their mutual attraction was so painfully obvious, it was almost comical how they refused to acknowledge it. If my plan worked, they’d finally confront it head-on.
I glanced at the clock on the wall. It wouldn’t be long now before Audrey arrived, and I couldn’t wait to see the sparks fly between her and Kyle. Maybe, just maybe, something might grow there, something they both deserved. With steady hands, Iinked my brother’s skin, determined to create a lasting reminder of our mother for him, no matter what happened next.
The door to my tattoo studio swung open, and Audrey sauntered in right on cue. She stopped in her tracks.
“Kyle? What are you doing here?” she asked, genuine confusion coloring her words.
“Getting a tattoo.” He gritted his teeth as I continued to work on his wrist. “What’s it look like?”
Audrey shot me a questioning glance, and I feigned innocence, my hand steady despite the giggle bubbling up inside me. “Oh, Audrey, I thought I’d be done with Kyle by now, but it’s taking a little longer than expected.”
“Really?” She smirked, her gaze flicking back to Kyle, who was trying his best not to squirm under my needle. “Never had a tattoo before, huh?” she said to him.
“Shut up,” he said, then glared at me. He was putting two and two together now.
“Sorry,” I said to Audrey, injecting a note of false apology into the word. “I didn’t mean to keep you waiting. You can have a seat over there. There are some books with tattoo ideas in them. You can have a look through, and I’ll be with you as soon as I reach a stopping point with Kyle.”
“Take your time.” She settled into the other chair with a sly smile. “It’s kind of fun watching Mr. Tough Guy here squirm.”
“Hey!” Kyle barked, but his indignation was undercut by a barely suppressed wince as the needle pierced his skin once more.
“Aw, don’t be such a baby,” Audrey said, leaning back in her chair and crossing her legs. “If you ask nicely, maybe I’ll kiss your boo-boo all better when Tori’s done.”
“Ha, very funny,” he growled, his cheeks flushing as he stubbornly tried to hide his discomfort. As I inspected the tattoocoming together, the sight of my handiwork filled me with happiness for a job well done, and not just for the tattoo itself.
“Really, Kyle,” Audrey said with playful mockery. “I didn’t think you were this big of a wimp.”
“Enough about me.” He tried to regain some semblance of control over the situation. “Why are you even here?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” she asked coyly, a gleam in her eye.
They continued to bicker back and forth, their voices taking on an increasingly heated tone. I listened, amused, as they danced around the obvious chemistry between them.
Finally, it was time to step in and stir the pot a little more. “Okay, I think that’s enough for now.” I put down my needle and wiped off Kyle’s wrist with a damp cloth, then covered it in Saran Wrap to keep it sterile. “Let’s give you a quick break,” I said to him with a teasing grin. “I’ll continue your tattoo in a few minutes. Audrey, yours should be faster since you won’t be such a crybaby about it.”
I saw annoyance flash across Kyle’s face, but he didn’t make any move to leave. Instead, he stood and propped himself against the wall. His attempt to appear casual was undermined by the stiffness in his body.
“Fine,” he said, his eyes narrowing at me. “If you’re not tattooing me now, then I’ll just come back later.”
“Don’t even think about leaving,” I said. “We have to get the line work finished tonight, or you’ll have a half-done tattoo for the next twelve weeks till it heals and I can continue. That would be a terrible look for my business.” I turned my attention to Audrey. “So, tell me more about this date you’re going on tomorrow.”
Kyle’s eyes darted to Audrey, and I saw him tense. He tried to act disinterested, but his agitation grew with each word she spoke.
“Well, it’s nothing fancy,” Audrey said nonchalantly, leaning against the counter with a casual shrug. “The guy didn’t really have any specific plans. He suggested maybe getting a beer at the bar, running around as wolves, or watching a movie in his room at the B&B.” She paused for a moment before adding, “You know, just to see if it leads to anything.”
I hid a smirk as Kyle’s jaw clenched and his eyes darkened. This casual date was getting under his skin, and I relished the fact that my plan was working.
“Sounds interesting,” I said, trying to keep my tone neutral. Inside, though, I was doing a happy dance.
“Doesn’t it?” Audrey said with amusement. She glanced over at Kyle, who was doing everything in his power to keep his emotions in check. “What about you, Kyle? Got any exciting plans for tomorrow?”
“None of your business,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Aw, don’t be like that,” Audrey said playfully. “I’m just curious, that’s all.”
