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As I worked, my mind kept drifting back to Kyle’s tattoo. I’d need ink, needles, a sterilization kit…the list went on. Every time I thought I had it all figured out, another item would pop into my head, and my focus on dinner waned.
“Ridge is going to love this,” I told myself, trying to stay present and focus on dinner, but my thoughts continued to wander. Would I be able to find a local supplier for tattoo equipment? And what if I needed more practice before attempting the real thing on Kyle?
The front door creaked open, and I glanced up from my mental list of tattoo supplies, realizing with a start that I’d left the salad half-chopped on the counter.
“Did you forget something, Tori?” Ridge’s voice was warm and teasing, but embarrassment flooded my cheeks.
“Uh, yeah.” I tried to sound nonchalant. “I got...distracted.”
“By what? Your next masterpiece?” He stepped closer, wrapping his arms around me from behind. I melted into his embrace.
“Something like that.” I tugged at the hem of my shirt, suddenly feeling exposed under his amused gaze. “Kyle and I were talking about tattoos, and I just started thinking about all the stuff I’ll need to get if I want to do it right.”
“Ah,” Ridge said. “So you were planning your new career as a tattoo artist. I can see how that would be distracting.” He leaned in to nuzzle my neck, and I quivered at the sensation. “But our dinner looks like it could use some attention, too.”
“Right, dinner,” I mumbled, extricating myself from his arms to survey the abandoned vegetables. “Sorry about that.”
“Don’t apologize. In fact, why don’t we forget about dinner altogether?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean...” Ridge’s fingers brushed against my cheek, sending tingles down my spine. “Let’s go out for dinner instead. And then we can let our wolves run a little afterward. What do you say?”
“Are you serious?” I stared at him in disbelief. “Right now?”
“Absolutely.” His grin widened. “Why not?”
“Okay.”
“Go get changed.” Ridge gave me a gentle shove in the direction of our bedroom. “I’ll clean this up.”
I hesitated, my fingers drumming against the kitchen counter. “Ridge, I’m not sure about all of this. It almost feels like we shouldn’t be enjoying ourselves when so many of the new packs are relying on us after having lost so much.”
“Come on, Tori,” Ridge said, his voice gentle but firm. “We’ve been doing everything we can for them, and we’ll continue to do so. But we need time for ourselves, too. Besides,” he added with a grin, “you’d be doing the mayor of the town a favor, and surely that counts as a public service to Blackwood Creek in some small roundabout way.”
I couldn’t help the smile tugging at my lips. “Fine. I’ll go get ready.”
“Great.” Ridge beamed at me.
As I turned to leave the room, Ridge caught my hand. “Hold up, Tori. Your engagement ring has some paint on it.”
“Damn,” I cursed under my breath, glancing down at the offending smudge. “Sorry, I didn’t realize.”
“Let me clean it for you,” Ridge offered, his tone warm and reassuring.
“Ridge, I am so sorry,” I babbled. “I didn’t notice I got paint on your grandmother’s ring.” I pulled the ring off my finger and stared at it, horrified. I should have taken it off before painting, but I was just so used to the weight on my finger that I never even realized it was there anymore.
“Hey, don’t worry about it.” Ridge’s voice was gentle but firm again, leaving no room for argument. “It’s just a little paint. It can be cleaned.”
“Let me clean it.” I felt terrible for potentially damaging something so precious to him.
“Absolutely not,” he countered, reaching out to gently take the ring from me. “You focus on getting ready. I’ll take care of it.”
“Are you sure? I can do it quickly.”
“Positive. Now, go get ready. I want to take you somewhere nice tonight.” He flashed a devilishly handsome smile that managed to calm my nerves a bit.
“Okay, if you insist.” Nonetheless, I hesitated. I knew Ridge could handle it, but still, the thought of having ruined his grandmother’s ring gnawed at my conscience.
