by Opal Carew
The girl let out a breath and ran a hand over her face. “I guess it was pretty stupid coming in here without an idea.”
Sassy reached around and gave Hannah a one-armed hug. “No, honey. Actually, coming into Midnight Ink is the smartest thing you could have done. Somewhere else might not have listened to what you needed rather than what you said you wanted.”
Hannah grinned up at her, looking much younger than her eighteen years if that was possible. “I guess that’s why they call you The Sassy. You know all.”
Sassy threw her head back and laughed. “Oh, I only wish I did, but it’s fun pretending I do. Now let’s get you a card just in case you decide to come back with a clear picture. When you do, we’ll find you an artist, but I think Shep or Rosie would work for you.”
Hannah ducked her head and blushed. “Shep’s the really hot guy with the tattoos on his arms and shoulder in the corner right?”
Sassy held back a laugh and looked in the corner to where Shep was clearly holding back a laugh of his own. Apparently, he had ears like a freaking cat.
“Yes, darling, that’s Shep. He’s taken, but it’s still nice to look and dream.”
Caliph, the big bruiser of an artist and Shep’s best friend, belted out a laugh and Hannah blushed even harder. Sassy glared at the man who smiled unrepentant, then let Hannah outside with a clear conscience.
She glided over to Caliph’s station, the sway in her hips making her look like she was prowling even when she wasn’t and waved her finger in her friend’s face.
“I can’t believe you laughed at her! She’s just a teenage girl with a crush.”
Caliph bowed his head and had the decency to look a little ashamed. A little. “Sorry, Sass. It was the idea of you fantasizing about dear old Shep that got me laughing, not the little girl who needed more time to think about her ink.”
Sassy let out a breath then smacked his shoulder. “I would have thought since you found Jennifer you wouldn’t be such a clueless brute when it came to girls.”
“Hey, give him a break, Sass,” Shep put in as he sidled up to them both. “He didn’t mean anything by it and Hannah was smiling when she walked out of here. Why are you acting like it was bigger than it was?”
Sassy blinked and took a step back. Well, hell, she was blowing it out of proportion. All of Midnight Ink laughed and joked around. It was just what they did. They were a family and ribbed each other often. What the hell was wrong with her? And why had she asked that question more than once in such a short period of time?
Maybe she needed a break.
Or a man.
Nope. Not gonna think about that last one.
She patted Caliph’s cheek so he would bend down. When he did so, she placed a small kiss on each one then sighed. “I’m sorry, hon. I think I just need a nap.”
Or to get laid.
Stop it, Sassy.
Shep narrowed his eyes at her and she knew he didn’t believe the words coming out of her mouth, but she ignored it. Her friends, as much as she loved them, didn’t need to know everything about her.
“You should go home, Sass,” Shep put in. “We aren’t that busy and if you’re saying you need the rest, then take it.” He pulled her into a hug and she inhaled his spicy scent that did nothing for her other than remind her that he was family. “We love you, babe. You’ve taken care of us so now it’s time to take care of yourself.”
Sassy pulled back and pasted a smile on her face. Damn it. She knew that, yet the whole idea of taking care of herself was the reason she was in this rut.
Okay, so that was what was wrong with her.
“Shep, sugar, you don’t need to worry about Sassy.”
He grinned, his eyes dancing at her use of third person—exactly what she’d hoped for.
“Every time you talk about yourself in third person you freak me out. You know that right?”
Sassy nodded, her hair falling over her shoulders again. She never could make it do what she wanted most days. It seemed to like being even more free than she did. “That’s why I do it, Shep dear. Now get to work on that stencil of yours. And you, Caliph, you left someone sleeping on your bench. How they could fall asleep getting a tattoo, I’ll never know.”
The big man grinned, then leaned down to kiss her cheek. “My hands are just that talented.” He wiggled his brows and Shep made gagging sounds from beside her.
Boys.
They never grew up, even when one of them was rapidly approaching the big four-oh.
“You are a menace, but I’m glad Jennifer has you. Now get back to work. Shep? Don’t forget that you need to bring in Shea for her next tattoo.”
Shep smiled the smile that told everyone within a three block radius that he was in total love with the blue eyed woman who needed more ink. “I will, don’t worry. She can’t have anything on her arms or lower legs because of work—at least for now—but she’s thinking of something for her other hip.”
Shea met Shep within Midnight Ink when she had wanted a tattoo, and because fate was awesome like that, the two had fallen for each other in the process.
In fact, it seemed like love was in the air at Midnight Ink. It had only been a month or so since the last of the love birds had found their match. All in all, eight couples—well, a triad in Eli’s case—had fallen in love since the beginning of the year.
Sassy liked to think she had a hand in each of those.
Well, if she was counting, then yes, she’d helped each couple stagger through the murky waters of falling in love. After all, it wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns. The best kind of love and happiness came after the parts where the couple had to work for it and find their way. Each of the couples who found love at Midnight Ink had been through their own unique forms of torture and now looked forward to bright futures and happy endings.
It didn’t mean that Sassy would get hers though.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath through her nose.
No, she wouldn’t think about that.
Wouldn’t think about them.
She hadn’t thought about her past and those she’d left behind for so long that it was now just a distant memory. Sure, the taste of bitterness and regret still settled on her tongue once in a while, but it didn’t rule her life, didn’t rule her choices.
At least that’s what she told herself.
With a shake of her head, she went to her station and made coffee. Sassy didn’t make the usual coffee. Oh, no. She had a gift with it and those at Midnight Ink knew it. In a city filled with the most decadent coffees, Sassy could brew with the best of them.
See? That was something light and airy to think about. What else could she think of that had nothing to do with pain and regret?
Maybe she needed more ink.
She looked down at the spirals and flowers that covered her arms and smiled. Yes. More ink was definitely the way to go. She had a few pieces on her back and sides as well, and knew she had plenty of places for more.
Who would ink her though?
It had been her goal to get each of the Midnight Ink crew to lay ink on her and so far, she’d gotten everyone at least once. Rosie had done a couple sessions with her. As the woman was her best friend, it only made sense.
Maybe she’d get Shep to work on her hip. The man knew exactly what to do with curves when it came to ink. She grinned as she thought of Shea. Okay, so maybe the man knew what to do with curves in other ways too, but that wasn’t something she needed to think about.
Ever.
The shop’s phone rang and Sassy moved to answer it. “You’ve reached Sassy at Midnight Ink. You desire it, we ink it.”
The caller snorted and Sassy smiled. “Desire? Dear lord, Sass, you are milking it.”
“Odalia!” Sassy squealed at her friend and Midnight Ink’s client. “I’m so glad you called. Are you coming in for another session with that sexy, bad boy of yours?” Odalia and Jacques had been one of the couples she’d helped pair up recently and she couldn’
t be more happy for the cop and the bounty hunter.
“Since I’m planning on having Rosie finish up a couple pieces and I’ll have to get partially naked to do it, yeah, Jacques will be there.” Sassy could practically see the grin on the other woman’s face through the phone. “You know how he likes to get me down to my skin.”
“I’m sure you like to do the same, sugar. Now let me look through my appointment book to see when Rosie is available. You have any specific time you’re thinking?”
They set up the time and Sassy penciled it in for Rosie who would make the final call. “Are you coming to the party we’re holding in a couple weeks?” Sassy asked, speaking of Midnight Ink’s Valentine’s Day party.
The shop liked to hold parties of their own on certain holidays. Since the whole crew seemed to be in love, this party was only appropriate. It wouldn’t actually be on Valentine’s Day as most of the crew would want to be with their significant others, but it was near enough to it they could eat and drink, and for those who were sober, get inked.
“We’ll be there. You know we love the shop and you, honey.”
Sassy opened her mouth to speak but suddenly came up short.
“Sassy.” She heard the deep, achingly familiar voice coming from in front of her.
She blinked in complete disbelief at what she saw.
“Rafe.”
“Nothing for me then?” Another voice, just as familiar, came from just beside Rafe, and Sassy swallowed hard.
“Ian.” She shook her head. “What…what are you two doing here?”
She could have sworn everyone in the shop had stopped moving, stopped breathing. It was if they knew something was terribly wrong, and yet had no idea what to do about it.
She didn’t know what to do about it.
“We’re here for a tattoo,” Rafe answered.
“And you,” Ian put in.
With that, the phone dropped out her hand and her mind went completely blank.
Her past was back and standing right in front of her in all their sexy glory and determined faces. No matter what she did, she had a feeling she wouldn’t be able to wish Ian and Rafe away.
It hadn’t worked before.
It wouldn’t work this time either.
Oh shit.
Chapter Two
“Nothing to say, Sass?” Rafe Chavez asked, his words sounding much calmer than he felt right then.
He still couldn’t believe he was there standing next to the man who had left him and in front of the woman who had done the same. A decade had come and gone, but right then, in that shop, it felt like mere moments since he’d lain eyes on them.
They’d been different people back then, he was sure, but damn it, he was here now and ready to face whatever the hell he had to in order to make his plan work.
She blinked up at him with those big brown eyes he once lost himself with no hope of escape. His fingers ached to caress the chestnut tresses draped over her shoulders and curled under her breasts. It was so Sassy that she had a couple blue streaks within the mass of waves that seemed to shout she was special.
“You can’t be here,” she breathed and Rafe held back a curse.
She’d been smiling and laughing on the phone, but now looked pale and shaky. He and Ian had done that, yet Rafe knew he’d do it again if it meant moving forward with what the three of them needed. Even if two of the three of them didn’t realize they actually needed to do the same.
He didn’t break eye contact with Sassy even though he wanted to risk a glance at Ian. If he was doing what Rafe thought, then Ian was also staring at Sassy, at a loss for what to do. Rafe could just picture the man, only an inch or so taller than he, giving Sassy that unwavering look with his piercing blue eyes, chiseled features, and onyx black hair that he’d tied back with a leather strap.
Rafe would have liked to think more about the man by his side but knew this wasn’t the time or place. Now, it was all about Sassy. If they could get her to talk with them, maybe they had a chance for what Rafe wanted.
Since Sassy looked like she was about to bolt, he wasn’t putting much faith in round one of their plan.
Crap.
“Sassy?” Ian said, his voice a low rumble filled with the elegant edge that Rafe had always secretly loved.
She shook her head once more then rolled her shoulders back. Well, hell, as much as he liked it when she got all sexy and angry at the same time, he’d much rather have had her not yell…and that was what she was about to do.
“What the hell are you two doing here?” she yelled.
Yep. Got it in one.
Rafe tore his eyes from her face and risked a glance at the people coming up behind Sassy. Most of the dudes were bigger than even he and Ian, and that was saying something. Plus, their looks of impending death and doom didn’t bode well.
“Cariña, can we talk privately?” Rafe asked.
She narrowed her eyes at his name for her and curled her lip. “Don’t call me that. You have no right to call me that.”
While he understood her anger, which he knew he deserved, it took everything in his power not to remind her that she left him. That would be a discussion for a later time.
“I’m sorry.” He wasn’t. “We’re just here to talk and get ink. We weren’t lying about that.”
She snorted. “Of all the shops, in all of New Orleans, you had to walk into mine?”
He grinned at the reference to their favorite movie then held back a frown at her reaction. The way she’d paled a bit after she’d said it, he knew she’d done it by accident. He’d take it however since that meant somewhere inside her she was still thinking of him, of them.
“Is there something wrong, Sass?” one of the dudes from the back said as he walked up behind Sassy. He put his hand on her shoulder and Rafe had to keep from yelling at the guy to keep his hands off his woman. He thought of Ian. Their woman.
Another man, this one even bigger than the first came up on her other side. He crossed his beefy arms over his barrel of a chest and glared.
Well shit, he didn’t want to get in a fucking fight right there in the shop. He’d had enough of fighting as a teen and didn’t want to do it again. Plus he didn’t think Sassy would appreciate it.
“Need us to take care of these two for you?” the bigger man asked, his voice full of dangerous promises.
Sassy turned on her heel and put her fists on her waist. “Excuse me? Since when do I need the two of you to fight my battles? I’m not some damsel in distress who needs her white knight to slay the dragon. I’ll slay my own fucking dragons.” She glared over her shoulder at Rafe and Ian. “Or whatever the hell these two are.”
The first man who’d spoken smiled warmly at her. “Sass, hon, we’re just looking out for you. We all know you can take care of yourself. That doesn’t mean you should.”
Sassy let out a breath and Rafe sucked in one of his own, afraid of what she’d say. He knew the woman never liked to be perceived as vulnerable. He and Ian coming in like this and surprising her had been a bold move, and in retrospect, a not-so-smart one.
He just hadn’t known what else to do.
“I’m fine, Shep.” She patted his cheek then moved to the bigger man. “Thank you for defending my honor, Caliph. Now since I’ve made a scene where usually I only like to make my own on my own terms, I’m going to talk to these two…gentleman… away from here.”
Rafe held back a triumphant fist pump but met Ian’s gaze. The other man gave a small twitch of his lips, but otherwise didn’t react to Sassy’s words.
Well, it was better than nothing.
“If you’re sure, Sass,” Shep grumbled.
“I’m sure. They’re not going to hurt me.”
Rafe heard the odd note in her tone and knew what she was thinking. They’d hurt each other all those years ago but right then it was about overcoming all of that. It had to be.
“We really did come here for ink,” Rafe put in, trying to ease some of the tension.
>
Sassy turned toward them and raised a brow. “Oh, I have no doubt that was one of your intentions. Now we get to see what your other ones are.”
With that she moved around the desk, picked up her bag, and brushed passed them. That sexy wiggle in her step causing her hips to sway back and forth.
Damn, he’d missed watching her walk.
Ignoring the glares from Shep, Caliph, and the others in the shop, he turned to follow Sassy out the door. He heard Ian mutter something under his breath, then do the same.
“I don’t know who you two are, but if you hurt Sassy, we’ll hurt you,” Shep said from behind them and Rafe stopped.
He looked over his shoulder and gave a slight nod. “We don’t want to hurt her.”
“Then don’t be fucking idiots,” Caliph put in.
Rafe gave one last look at the men who protected Sassy, then followed the woman in question out of the door and onto the street. Midnight Ink was located right on Canal Street and since it was just getting dark outside, the early dinner and cocktail hour crowd filled the streets. Since it was February, it was a bit chilly outside but nothing like what it would be back in New York where he’d lived for the past decade.
Sassy stopped in front of them and turned, her face expressionless. “I don’t know why you’re here and don’t tell me it’s for a tattoo. All three of us know that even though you might have wanted one, it was just a ruse to get me to talk to you. Well, now you’ve got me.” She cursed. “For this talk only. I don’t run away from my problems. Not anymore. So the three of us are going to go to my place and hash this out so I can go about my business. I don’t like airing out my dirty laundry at work or in a public place. And that’s what the two of y’all are. Dirty laundry.”
While most men would have taken a hit at her words, Rafe knew he and Ian wouldn’t. Sassy lashed out like a frightened kitten when she was cornered. Oh, he wouldn’t back down. This kitten had claws, but damn, he missed the way she yelled and ranted.
Yes, he was a lunatic, but he’d long since gotten over that fact.
