Barber Shop Ink: Always Blue in Memphis

by Penny Blush

  I hadn't realised how much of the business I'd been neglecting until she came along.

  My staff, suppliers, and bills are getting paid on time, mostly. It’s not like I have people chasing me for money, mostly.

  I’ve been making ends meet, mostly.

  Hedge had pointed out that the barber shop itself was looking a little ‘tired'. She was just saying that to be polite; the shop looked like shit. It needs a total work over. It needs painting, new lights, rewiring, and the kitchen is the size of a broom closet. The place looked haggard and run down. If you didn't know our reputation, you would either think that the shop had closed down or was about to be.

  Shitty looking shop or not, Barber Shop Ink is a family, and our family looks out for each other. I'm happy that Cassidy and the boys made Hedge feel welcome and part of the group. I had half thought that Cassidy would make her life difficult, she'd been the only girl working here for so long, and I didn't want things to get bitchy. I didn't have time to deal with that shit, but I had nothing to worry about, the girls clicked straight away and had become tight in such a brief period, more like sisters. Sisters, with very protective, very opinionated big brothers.

  Hedge hadn't even come on full time yet, as she has been dealing with the remodel of the apartment. The woman was a machine I have no idea where she found time to sleep. What with the work she did for me, project managing the construction, dealing with the fallout of what happened with her old job and apartment plus fending off Davis and Bishop every God damned second, her day remained fully occupied. She didn't seem to have any time for a social life, which both made me happy and pissed me off at the same time. The thought of her having a ‘social life' with anyone but me made me incredibly punchy.

  It had been three weeks of not seeing her for more than a few moments at a time, and I was officially sick of waiting. I decided to go up to the apartment under the guise of wanting to see how things were going with the construction.

  “See ya boys, I’m out,” Jax said, walking past my station.

  “Yep, I’m done,” Bear followed him towards the back door as a large bang reverberated off the roof, coming from the apartment above. We all stood there looking at the ceiling, waiting to see if something or someone was going to fall through.

  “What the fuck was that?” Jax asked eyes still fixed on the ceiling. “Memph, do you know what she’s doing up there?”

  "Nah man, I told her she could do whatever she wanted. She said that she wanted to redo the kitchen and the bathroom and that she'd pay for it," I shrugged, "I told her to go for it." I figured that because they were so close, he must have checked it out at some point. “Have you been up there?" I asked looking at Jax.

  “Not yet, I just haven’t had the time.”

  "Yeah, me neither, I mean I've seen the plans and had an idea of what she wants to do, but I haven't been up there."

  Come on, one of you guys take the bait.

  "Plus, she's been super busy between working here and up there." I looked back up at the roof, "I didn't want to interrupt her, you know."

  "Who cares?" Jax scoffed. "I could turn up at any time, plus, if she's a bitch, I'll kick her off the couch." He laughed.

  We all knew that would never happen. Jax told me that when Hedge turned up, he had offered her his bed and the use of his room so that she could have some privacy, but she had refused, she didn't want to inconvenience him. They had argued about it, but Hedge's pigheadedness won out. Jax would walk through fire for that girl.

  "Besides, I genuinely want to see what she's doing," Jax added.

  “Well let’s go up there now.”

  Thank you, Bear!

  “She’s probably busy,” I said lamely, but secretly loving the idea.

  “Yeah, right-o,” Jax said, clapping his hands together agreeing with Bear while completely ignoring my piss-poor argument. “Let’s do this,” he said walking to the stairs that led to the apartment. When he noticed that I hadn’t moved, still staring at the shops cracked ceiling tiles he added, “Memph unless you have developed x-ray vision, which if you have you totally have to teach me, bro,” he said, rubbing his hands together again. “Dude think about the social applications of a skill like that!” He nodded at Bear with an ‘am I right’ look on his face, “you’re not going to be able to see anything standing there, let’s go.”

  Shrugging my shoulders, I added, “If she gets pissed, I’m telling her it was your idea.”

  Smooth Memphis, real smooth, ‘Operation Getting into Hedge’s apartment subtly’ has been completed. Mentally patting myself on the back for a job well done, I followed the boy’s upstairs, almost walking into Jax who had stopped dead just inside the door.

  What. The. Actual. FUCK?

  Hedge was standing with her back to us in a room filled with big, burly, dangerous looking guys. Jax and Bear just stood there with their mouths hanging open.

  “Hedge?”

  One word, that’s all I said, and in the room full people and noise, she reacted like I had been standing behind her whispering in her ear. She turned, making her way over to us, her face lighting up with a brilliant smile.

  "Hey boys!" She sounded tired but happy.

  “Oh Lucy, you got some ‘splaining’ to do," Bear growled, folding his arms across his broad chest.

  "You guys knew that construction was going on up here at night so that I wouldn't disrupt the shop during the day. What are you talking about?" she looked puzzled; she apparently couldn't see the problem we could.

  Jax stepped forward waving his hand around the chaos in the apartment, “What the fuck is this?”

  Hedge arguing with Jaxon caught the attention of the construction crew and one guy in particular. A Paul Bunion, lumberjack looking guy.

  “What’s going on here? Cupcake, you okay?” The lumberjack asked.

  Before I could even move Jax reacted, “What the fuck did you just call her?” His angry words cut through the cacophony of construction noise.

  “Jaxon!” Hedge yelled, grabbing his arm “Enough!”

  At Hedge’s raised voice all the construction and background activity came to a halt, the work crew downing tools, coming to see what had caused the disturbance. The group of men approached our little circle.

  "Fuck this," Bear mumbled under his breath, before grabbing Hedge and flinging her, fireman style, over his shoulder.

  His actions were the catalyst for the room exploding into an angry testosterone fuelled shit-fight. Seething rage filled threats were called out; bodies pushed, men, squaring off against each other.

  I don't know who the fuck these thugs thought they were, but one thing was for sure, I was getting my girl out of here, and I didn't care who I had to walk through to make it happen. I had no time to digest the fact that I had just called Hedge, the girl that I hadn't even kissed let alone done anything else with; MINE when an ear-splitting whistle pierced the air.

  “ENOUGH!” Hedge yelled, still hanging upside down over Bear’s shoulder. “BEAR.PUT.ME.DOWN!”

  Reluctantly Bear slid her off his shoulder placing her right-side up feet on the floor but keeping a protective hand on her shoulder that she immediately shrugged off. Scowling Hedge stepped between the two groups.

  Holy hell she was hot when she was pissed and man, was she pissed! She gave every man in the room the evil eye letting them know that if anyone did anything stupid, she would start collecting balls.

  I stood there dumbfounded as she walked up to Paul Bunion, concern laced her voice as she ran her hand up and down his arm, “Henry, I’m all right, thank you, sweetie, truly. Are you okay?”

  WHAT THE FUCK?! Is he okay? I was so pissed that I couldn’t form words. A growl rumbled through my chest and up my throat as Bear huffed disgustedly. Jaxon muttered, “Please,” under his breath.

  “I’m fine Cupcake,” Henry replied softly.

  I saw red as Henry the lumberjack raised his big meaty hand, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "Don't you touch
her," I snarled, the sound making Hedge glare at me over her shoulder. Bring it Sweetness, if I can't touch you, then this douchebag sure as shit can't either.

  “I was just worried about you. You know how it kills me when you get hurt.” The way he spoke to her, almost fatherly, made me think that they had history, which pissed me the fuck off.

  "I appreciate it, I truly do. I'm okay guys," She said, addressing the construction crew in a gentle calming voice, before turning back to us with fire snapping in her eyes, "You can ALL stand down."

  Jax started to protest, “Zip it,” she said, her voice heavy with frustration. Her hands went to her hips with an ‘I am not taking your shit' look on her gorgeous face as she introduced us to Henry while giving us all, including the construction boys a stern warning. “You are in MY home I will not have any of you starting shit.”

  “Whatever mum” Jax replied lightly bumping shoulders with her as he walked past before going over to Henry to shake hands and as quickly as that crisis averted. It's surprising how quickly things can get sorted out with a handshake.

  After everyone kissed and made up, Hedge walked us around the apartment showing us what she'd been doing and formally introducing us to the crew members. I had no idea how she had managed to do everything that she had done. The place looked amazing, and it looked like it was almost finished. I could not have come up with a design anywhere near the home she had created, and that's what it felt like ‘Home'.

  The vacant space had been expertly transformed into a luxury apartment. The guest room with ensuite bathroom was at one end of the space, with the front door opening into the large living-dining room area with the kitchen rounding out the open plan space.

  Hedge looked radiantly happy as she took us through her home. I stopped short as she was pointing out something in the master bathroom. How did she get so much in the space she had available? The master bathroom was bigger than the shitty place I'd been living in, and the master suite was large bright and airy.

  I had to shake myself from the daydream I’d been having about being alone with Hedge in this room on a huge bed, to follow the others. Bear and Jax were acting like nothing had happened, asking questions and joking with the workers.

  I was so not okay with any of this. I hung back silently observing the way she interacted with everyone. She was so relaxed, excitedly talking about what they had accomplished so far and what had to be completed. I was happy to see that all the men treated her with friendly respect. I didn't want to have to punch someone's spine through their throat for acting inappropriately or being disrespectful. I still wasn't happy, though.

  Jax and Bear took off after coercing an invite to the construction wrap BBQ out of Hedge. I hung back, hoping to talk to her alone. I stood leaning back against the stair railing, my eyes locked on my feet. I didn’t know what she would see if she looked in my eyes and I couldn’t trust my mouth to contain all the ‘feels’ if I looked at her.

  “I don’t like it,” I said honestly.

  "You don't like what?" She asked, leaning against the wall beside me. I could feel the electric heat zinging off her skin, and we weren't even touching.

  I turned to face her, leaning my hip against the railing, still not looking at her. "You in there with all those men, alone," she shifted turning towards me causing the edge of her tank-top to rise slightly, exposing the lightly tanned skin at her hip. I couldn't stand not-touching her anymore. I raised a hand reaching out tracing my fingertips against her warm skin. “I don’t like it.”

  Hedge reached out, hooking her fingers through the belt loops of my jeans lightly tugging to bring me around to stand in front of her, her back pushed against the wall.

  "You don't have anything to worry about just so you know," she whispered as I rested my forehead against hers. We were in a little bubble all our own, and I didn't want to leave. "I don't like it when you have to spend hours with half naked women while you tattoo them."

  I couldn't help the small smile that twitched the corner of my lips at the trace of jealousy I heard in her voice. Hedge had been working for Barber Shop Ink after the shop closed for the day when she wasn't dealing with the apartment so that she could do her thing without disturbing any of the staff. Since things were moving a lot faster than she planned with the remodel, she had spent more time hanging out in the shop observing. She clearly was more observant than I’d realised.

  Hedge had been spending a lot of time with Cassidy, going over the computer systems, appointment schedule and discussing ways to make things easier and more efficient. She had been quizzing the boys about things to make their lives easier too, but she was always in when I had a client, so we didn't talk. Nonetheless, the fact that she had been paying attention to what I'd been doing even when it seemed that she was ignoring me stirred something in me that I couldn't explore with a room full of fucking people!

  Shit, fuck, damn it! I’ve got to get out of here. I couldn't stay because if I did, a room full of sweaty construction workers would get to see Hedge naked as I fucked her senseless. But then I would only get to see Hedge for conjugal visits because I would have to murder everyone in the apartment for even getting a glimpse of what is mine.

  Yes, damn it, MINE!

  I wanted to go full Neanderthal possessive on her, complete with chest beating claim staking. Hell, at this point I may just have to drag her off somewhere just to get a moment alone. I want to mark her as mine so that everyone knew and so no one else would touch what is mine. I wonder if she will let me tattoo ‘I belong to Memphis Blue - all other fuckers back off’ on her somewhere. Just thinking about it makes me hard as fuck.

  But that’s not what I want from Hedge. Yes, I want her to be mine, but not as a possession, not as something to own. I want her to make a conscious decision to be mine. I want her to choose me. At the risk of losing my man-card, I want the full fairy-tale romance.

  I am a hopeless romantic at heart. I love, love. I love all the sweet, tender moments between two people, the talking, hand holding, the kissing, the private jokes, the secret looks, and cuddles. Yes, I, Memphis Blue, all six-foot-six, tattoo covered, full beard having, manliest of men, am a cuddler and I want to cuddle the shit out of her, amongst other things.

  Dear Universe,

  Please stop hating on me and my highly sensitive moody dick and grant Hedge and me more than five minutes of uninterrupted alone time.

  Cheers

  Memphis

  Unfortunately for both of us, the universe did not seem to have its listening ears on, today.

  “Noted. I have to go,” I whispered.

  “You always do,” she said sadly, gripping me tighter.

  God-fucking-damn-it! Why was her apartment not finished? I didn't want to leave her. I wanted to fuck her brains out, and then, I just wanted to hold her. I liked having her in my arms. I also loved having her ass in my hands, but it was cold comfort for the fact that I couldn't stay and I wanted her to know.

  "Does it help that I don't want to go?" I asked pulling her closer into me.

  “Does it help that I want you to stay?”

  Fuck no, it doesn’t help! I want you to beg me to stay. I want you to say that you’re going to kick everyone out so that we can finally be fucking alone!

  Putting on my big-boy pants, I lightly kissed her forehead, before groaning, "I have to go, or I'm going back in there and kicking them all out."

  She had her head resting on my shoulder, her lips grazing the side of my neck as she spoke. "I need them to finish. I have to move out of Jax' place, and I need to get off the couch. I need space of my own, private space. I need a bedroom and a real bed."

  “You do. You really, really do. Sleeping on the couch can’t be good for your back.”

  Oh-my-fucking-God yes, she needs an actual fucking bed, and I need to be able to fuck her in it, on it, bent over it!

  Just as I brushed a light kiss on her lips, that bastard Henry called out, “Cupcake!”

  “God, damn it.” Fuc
k my life and all these cock-blocking assholes. “That’s my cue.” I kissed her forehead “Yeah, I better go too,” she said sadly, kissing me on the cheek

  “All right you lot. Get back to work!” I heard Hedge calling back, to which they responded with the sound of catcalls and wolf whistles.

  Fucking bastards, now I’m back to being punchy, as well and horny and pissed off I thought as I sulked down the stairs.

  At least I didn't have to wait forever to see her again. The construction crew had powered through the work and were on schedule to finish by the end of the week. Hedge would be moved in, in time for the wrap BBQ on the weekend.

  Having nothing to do in the apartment and the shop stayed fairly quiet all day, so Hedge was hanging out watching me show Bishop, how to draw an American Indian Wolf girl tattoo. His speciality being traditional Japanese, and he had wanted to expand his portfolio.

  I was trying not to let Hedge, who was leaning over the tattoo bed watching, distract me. American Indian Wolf girl tattoo was one of the first styles that I mastered and drawing them was second nature to me, but having Hedge bent over my tattoo bed with her dark denim clad ass in the air and her blood red Tee barely containing her cleavage right at eye level was very fucking distracting.

  The only thing that saved me from cutting Bishop’s eyes out was that from where he was sitting he didn't have the same view straight down her top that I did, but I swear to God, Bishop is going to get a nut punch if he doesn't stop staring at her ass.

  I was just about to tell him to fucking-well concentrate, again, when the bell above the shop door rang.

  “Can I help you?” Cassidy asked.

  "Goddess you keep that exquisite ass on display like that, and it's gonna get spanked, you know that, right?"

  My head snapped up, looking at the slender woman standing in the middle of the shop. She reminded me of Lucy Liu, if, Lucy Liu was a black-leather-clad Dom with sky high bright red hooker heels. I looked back at Hedge to see her eyes light up, a sly smile teasing the corner of her lips before she dropped lower on the tattoo bed raising her ass, looking at the woman over her shoulder.