Hot Ink

by Carrie Ann Ryan;Cari Quinn;Sidney Bristol

  “That’s okay. She doesn’t have to be.” What mattered was that he would be here, have his job and still have a relationship with her. He’d hate not being able to share the shop with her, but in the scheme of things, having her in his life was more important.

  “I take it things are going well between you two?”

  Kit opened and closed his mouth. His knee jerk reaction was to brush the question off. It wasn’t like he and Mick had a relationship, but they were building one. And more importantly, Renee had accepted Mick as her new family.

  “Yeah, they are.”

  “That’s good. That’s good.” Yet Mick’s tone was perplexed, as if he wanted to know more.

  “How much has she dated in the last couple of years?” he asked.

  “Dated? Uh…there’ve been a few guys, but I think the longest they last is a couple of months. I keep telling her she’s got to put down some more roots.”

  As much as Kit liked knowing he wasn’t competing against an old flame, it also made him wonder if Renee was open to the kind of love he felt for her. She was closed off before, but had things changed? Last night it sure as hell felt as if they had.

  “You thinking about trying to rekindle things with her again?” Mick asked.

  “Yes.” They’d already started down that path, but how far they would get was up to her.

  “Well, I wish you luck.”

  “Thanks.”

  They talked a bit more before Kit hung up. He grabbed some fast food and was at the shop in short order.

  Walking up to the doors, knowing he owned it, was a far different feeling than when he and Renee snuck in. He fitted the key in the lock and stepped in. Dust was thick on the air and he could even see their footprints, a testament to just how long it had sat vacant.

  This might be the craziest thing he’d ever done, but it was a gamble that might just pay off. If he could show her he was serious, that he’d stay here with her, maybe they had a chance this time.

  Chapter Nine

  Renee knocked on the office door of Detective Fox’s office; he was Mick’s old partner and now an occasional source of new information.

  Fox sat up and pulled his wire frames from his face. He was an aging man, and she guessed he was into his last year before hitting retirement. “Renee, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

  “I have a special request.” She tipped her head to the side and his brows rose.

  “Really now? Okay, close the door.”

  She did as he asked and sat in the guest chair in his small office.

  “What’s old Mick up to now?”

  “Well, I don’t know if you heard, but my house was broken into.”

  “Oh no, I’m sorry to hear that.” Fox clasped his hands together on top of his desk and leaned toward her. He had a kindly face, but she’d seen him haul suspects twice his size into his car.

  “Yeah.” She took a deep breath. “Well, I was talking to Mick earlier. You know how he is with the Jessica Smith case?”

  “Oh yeah.” Fox nodded and rolled his eyes.

  “Well, we found out some more information about her kind of unexpectedly. Mick wonders if us going back to the scene after and asking some questions is what made me a target.”

  “Really?”

  “Mick wanted to know if you could run this list and tell me if there’s anything interesting.” She pushed a list of seven names across the desk.

  “Hm.” Fox looked over the list as he shook the mouse on his desktop.

  He didn’t reply, but she didn’t expect him to. He tapped the keys and clicked enter, stared at the screen, then scribbled some notes down on a pad of paper. Fox repeated the process seven times before clearing his throat.

  “Okay, on your list: one is dead, three are in prison, one has no charges and the other two have long and colorful rap sheets.” He pushed his list toward her with two names starred.

  Two names that had always stuck out as being suspicious.

  She studied the highlights of the charges Fox had written down and her eyes grew wide.

  “Fox, what can you tell me about Brister’s speeding ticket?”

  “He was going twelve over the speed limit. Why?”

  “Because that’s really close to where I live. That’s the road I take to go out and look at the scene from my house.”

  Holy shit. Maybe Mick was right.

  * * * *

  Kit cut the engine on his Jeep, anxious about this evening. Renee stood at the entrance to the hospice, a plastic bag of food in hand.

  “What are you smiling about?” he asked as he neared Renee. She was practically bouncing.

  “I think we found a lead.”

  “What?”

  “I think we found a break in the case. Come on.” She handed him the food and picked up a thick file from the bench beside her.

  He took her other hand and they strode through the halls, Renee practically dragging him.

  They stepped into Mick’s room. He was sitting up, tapping a pencil against his jaw.

  “Renee, what did you find out?” he said as soon as he saw her.

  “You are not going to believe it.” She pushed a few things aside before spreading her file out over the tray table.

  Kit set their meal on a nearby table and edged closer to find out what had her so worked up.

  “Okay, so you thought maybe our questions rattled someone from the Smith case. I had Fox run the seven suspects. Of them, a couple are dead or in prison, one is completely clean, but two...two are still pretty good candidates. And get this. Brister got a speeding ticket two miles from my house the day of the break-in.” She tapped a line of scrawled handwriting.

  “Really?” Mick peered at the script, as if it would divulge more secrets.

  “Fox dug around a bit more on him. It looks like Brister has had three charges of assault on women.” Renee leaned on the tray table, glancing from Mick to Kit.

  “Not only that, but Brister comes from money,” she said. “Maybe that’s the connection to Jessica and the nice clothes?”

  “Then why does he live out there in a shanty town?” Mick asked, rubbing his chin.

  “I’m piecing this together, but he has a juvenile record that’s sealed. I’m wondering if something didn’t happen when he was a kid that got him ostracized from his family. But that’s not all.” She held up a finger. “He had to have been chummy with his cousin for a bit, because one of those assaults was on his cousin’s nanny. What if the cousin was using Brister’s lawn service sort of as a bone to help him out and Brister took advantage of more than their kindness?”

  “Hm. That’s a stretch,” Mick said.

  “Maybe, but I want to check it out. Or Fox will.”

  “How does that tie back to Jessica?” Kit asked.

  “Maybe she worked for the cousin? Not sure, but maybe they can tell us something,” Renee said.

  “Don’t waste Fox’s time. I don’t want to wear out our welcome.”

  “Mick, this is a good lead.” She gestured to the paper. “How many killers were caught because of speeding tickets?”

  Mick grimaced. “Too many.”

  “So maybe Brister did it.”

  “Brister was at the top of my list,” Mick mussed.

  “Okay. So, we’ll get it checked out and see where it leads.” Renee neatly folded the file in half and took it, as well as Mick’s other things, to a small table with stacks of papers and documents on it. “I got lasagna for dinner. Hungry?”

  “That’s not fair. You can’t drop that in my lap then change the subject,” Mick grumbled.

  “Yes I can.” She leaned over and bussed the older man’s cheek with a kiss.

  Mick glanced at him. “How’d it go today?”

  Kit’s jaw dropped and he glanced at Renee, who turned toward him.

  “Today was good.” Kit cleared his throat, hoping neither of them would press him further.

  Mick glanced from Kit to Renee, seeming to catch onto the fact t
hat Kit hadn’t sprung the news yet.

  “What happened today?” Renee asked.

  “Just did some tattoos.” On plywood that he might mount on the walls, or make a street sign for the new shop… Once he decided what to call it.

  “Oh, okay. Hand the food over before it gets too cold.” Renee held out her hand for the bags he still carried.

  She portioned out the lasagna onto paper plates and they tucked into the meal. Mick did most of the talking, but Kit didn’t miss how Renee kept glancing at him. Her constant scrutiny made him sweat a little.

  Finally, the evening nurse came in, signaling the end of their visit. He helped gather up their leftovers and led the way out to the parking lot.

  “What’s up with you?” Renee asked as they emerged out into the evening air. It was a little clammy, signaling incoming rain.

  “Hm?” He turned toward her.

  “You look guilty. What did you do?”

  He sighed and pulled his phone, tapping out a quick message. “I was trying to surprise you with something, but I guess I shouldn’t tell Mick my plans.”

  “Surprise me?” She blinked at him.

  “Yeah. Want to go for a drive?” His palms began to sweat. This could go well, or very bad.

  “Sure.” She continued to blink at him, a few furrows on her brow.

  “Come on.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the Jeep.

  Kit handed her into the Jeep and put their leftovers in the back of his vehicle. They’d have to go pick up her hatchback later, but for now, he liked being the one she relied on.

  “Where are we going?” She asked as soon as he pulled out onto the street.

  He grabbed his hat sitting on the console and tossed it at her. “Cover your face.”

  “I am not putting my face in this.” She held the hat by the brim.

  “It’s not a blindfold.”

  “I’m still not putting his over my face.”

  “Then close your eyes. Please?”

  She gave him one last look before leaning her head against the back of her seat and closing her eyes. He darted a few glances her way, but she gave no indication she was cheating. He’d have to trust her.

  “Do I get any hints?” she asked.

  “No. That wouldn’t make it a surprise.”

  “You’re no fun.”

  “Oh, I’m a lot of fun.” As they eased to a stop at a light he reached over and palmed her breast.

  Renee gasped and squeezed her eyes shut.

  “Sore?” he asked.

  “Considering everything we’ve done, you should expect my whole body to be sore.” She chuckled and slowly relaxed, arching her back just a bit.

  As much as he liked the idea of pulling over and investigating just how sore her breasts were, they had a date to keep. It took another ten minutes to get to the shop. He parked on the street, watching her closely.

  “Keep your eyes closed.”

  Kit wiped his palms off on his jeans as he climbed out of the Jeep and circled to her side. He took a deep breath and opened her door.

  Sink or swim.

  “Give me your hand.” He took hers in his and guided her out of the Jeep.

  “Where the heck are we?” she asked.

  “Hold on. Take a step up right...now.” He walked backward, guiding her to the door. It was still unlocked, probably because he hadn’t given Dave a key yet.

  He glanced around. Everything was ready, but he sure as hell wasn’t. There was no going back. If she hated it, he’d lose everything.

  “Okay, open them.”

  * * * *

  Renee felt the weight of Kit’s hands on her shoulders. He squeezed just enough the bite bruise throbbed, and she smiled. The bite marks she liked the best. She could smell sawdust, a lemon scented cleaning product and vanilla. What kind of surprise was this? Was this some sort of capture fantasy scene? Or something else?

  “Okay, open them,” he whispered next to her ear.

  She opened her eyes, and for a moment, she had no idea where they were. Tea lights, candles and a few lamps were scattered all over a black and white checkered floor, hanging from the ceiling and on every surface. It was a little overwhelming, but under the soft glow of light, she recognized the bones of the building.

  Her jaw dropped as she slowly scanned the former Lucky Tiger Tattoo shop.

  What exactly were they doing here?

  Was he trying to recreate a moment?

  “What do you think?” Kit wrapped his arms around her waist. His voice was a little higher than normal, or maybe it was her brain screaming What. The. Fuck?

  “I think I’m confused,” she said slowly, placing her hands over his. He was clearly excited about whatever this was supposed to be and she didn’t want to crush that with her reticence.

  “I bought it.”

  He...what?

  “You bought it? Why?” She twisted to stare up at him. What would make him do a crazy thing like that? Buy a building? To do what? He’d go back to California, and then what?

  “Because I’m going to renovate it and open a tattoo shop.”

  “What?” She took a step away from him, trying to wrap her brain around this.

  Kit glanced around. “I want to do it differently, give it a new name. Something funky and cool. I’ll totally re-do the place, you won’t even recognize it. I was thinking rip up the tile, polish the concrete, strip the drywall off and take it down to the exposed brick.” His gaze finally landed on hers. His gray eyes were troubled, like the sky just before a bad storm. “I like the idea of coming home.” He shifted from foot to foot.

  Was he serious? She stared at him, too shocked to think or feel anything.

  His life wasn’t here. He’d begun again in California. Why would he ever think of coming here?

  Kit rubbed his thumb over his fingertips, an odd tick she hadn’t seen him do since the last few episodes of Tattoo King. He used to do that when he was nervous.

  He took a deep breath and locked his gaze on her, freezing her to the spot. “I want to put down roots. I want a place to call home, and that’s not California. I know you don’t want anything to do with tattooing anymore and I can respect that, but…try to be happy for me? I want to come home, and I want to spend more time with you. I get it if you need time. I fucked up, but I hope that you will be able to forgive me...eventually. I want you to be part of my life.”

  She opened and closed her mouth. They had good memories here, and she’d always expected him to own his own shop. He’d said he would, and he was talented enough to do it and succeed. But here?

  Wait…She replayed his last words.

  He wanted her to be part of his life? What did that mean? Were they supposed to hang out on the couch, eat some burgers? Then what?

  Kit glanced away, dragging a hand through his beard. He muttered something and crossed to the counter where he picked up a candle and blew it out. She watched him pick up a second and extinguish it as well.

  She cleared her throat and took a step toward him.

  “Can you break that down for me?” Renee wrapped her arms around herself. It felt as if all the uncertainty, fear and hope were going to rip out of her. She’d trusted him years ago to not break her heart and he’d done one worse—he’d abandoned her.

  “What do you want me to break down?” He glanced over his shoulder, holding another smoking tea light between his fingers.

  “Okay, so you bought the building to open your own shop. I get that. I think it’s a great idea. But…the rest…”

  He put the saucer down and slowly walked toward her. She stared up at him, finding it hard to breathe around the lump in her throat. Yesterday she’d been certain he was leaving her again. God, she was so insecure, and it sucked.

  “I’ve lived with the regret that I left you behind. That I never pushed for more between us. I thought when I came back that maybe we could clear the air, and yeah, I hoped we could fix things. I didn’t expect it to be like…like it is. I mea
n, I always had these ideas that I’d see you at a convention and we’d both be successful, and maybe, just maybe, we’d hit it off again. Maybe it’s stupid, but I wanted things to be different.”

  Renee stared at him, hearing the words but unable to process them. She blinked rapidly and cupped her hand over her mouth. What did she say? That losing him once destroyed her? That she was scared of trying again, but dying to give it another go?

  “If you say no, or whatever, I’ll back off. I’ve always been a little obsessive.” He sighed and glanced away, a flash of pain in his gaze.

  “I’m not very good at relationships,” she said.

  “Yeah, it’s okay.” He turned, but she grabbed his elbow.

  “I mean, I’m not good at them because…because they weren’t you.” She swiped at her cheeks, hating the tears. “I forgave you a long time ago. It was...it was me I couldn’t forgive. I should never have pushed you away.”

  “We’re quite a pair.” Kit cupped her face in his hands, swiping her tears away with his thumbs.

  “Are we?” Her voice was watery, and she could barely see him.

  “We are.” He chuckled. “Come here.”

  He wrapped her in his arms so tight it was hard to breathe. His mouth crushed hers, jolting her out of her daze. She clung to him, soaking up his warmth and…love? Was it love or obsession they felt for each other?

  Kit bent and swept her legs out from under her, cradling her easily in his arms. The way he looked at her, with that goofy grin and sparkle in his eye, it was the man and the boy combined. Both parts of their lives joined.

  He carried her up the narrow stairs to the apartment above. There was a mattress and their bags lined up against the wall, and on the windowsill was a small vase with wildflowers in it. She buried her face against his shoulder.

  They hadn’t made much money as apprentices, so every birthday, or whenever he’d wanted to make her feel better, he’d pick her a bouquet of wildflowers and put them in a vase, or whatever he could find. Some people might call them weeds and they didn’t always smell great, but it was all the little ways he’d told her, I love you.