Inking Up Love

by Haley Travis

  “I still can’t believe you went to all that trouble to come to my silly work party,” she said softly.

  I sat up and pulled her into my lap, turning her face close to mine. “Baby, how many boyfriends have you had?”

  “Just one.” Then she gave me the sweetest little smile. “Well, I guess, two now.”

  I kissed her forehead. “I’m the last boyfriend you’re ever going to have, Leah. But the other guy didn’t treat you very well, did he? You’re a princess, sweetheart.”

  She shook her head. “I felt like I was just... A thing that he felt he was supposed to have. Like a big-screen TV and a nice car.”

  “Jesus,” I growled, holding her against me. “Baby, you’re a treasure. You’re amazing. And you’re mine now. My girl, forever. I’m going to make sure you know how special you are every single day.” I pulled back to stare into those big eyes. “Even when we’re both super busy now and then, and running in different directions for a few days, you’re going to at least get a call from me so you hear how much I love you.”

  Her hands cupped my face, looking at me very seriously before placing her lips on mine for just a moment. “I love you, Grant.”

  Holding her against me, just breathing together, I felt absolutely complete. I’d accomplished so many of my life goals already. A great business, a first home, planning for the next one. And now a wonderful woman who made me feel energized. Inspired. Grounded.

  Then I looked around the room in the dim light, at the cracked ceiling, and the window that didn’t look like it locked completely.

  “Can I be really honest with you, Leah?”

  She grinned. “I know you’re always going to be honest with me.”

  “Well, yeah. Of course. But no offense, you should be somewhere nicer than this apartment.”

  She hung her head, but I placed a finger under her chin. “No, baby, don’t be embarrassed. You did your best, and I think that’s amazing. But this building is pretty run down, and there’s no security here. I don’t like that you’re on the second floor – it’s too easy for some creep to jump up onto your balcony. I don’t like that you’re living alone. What if you came to live in my tiny condo, and between the two of us, we could get a house in less than two years?”

  She froze.

  “I know that’s a big step, baby. Just something to think about. Okay?”

  Leah nodded. “I really appreciate how you seem to understand I need a little time to process things.”

  I could almost feel her thinking hard, and nuzzled her throat, not wanting to interrupt her with a kiss.

  “I hope you realize,” she said softly, “I don’t need time to know about us. I know that we’re permanent. That part is locked down. I’ll just need some time for outside things like moving, and expenses, and big life changes.”

  Gripping her hand, I grinned. “You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that. We’ll figure it all out.”

  She nodded, then kissed me gently.

  I could sense that she was tired after a busy night, and as she curled into my shoulder, I stroked her hair, glancing out the window. The curtains were open just a few inches, and I saw a huge, beautiful full moon surrounded by wisps of little silver clouds.

  “Baby, do you have slippers?”

  She opened her eyes, blinked, and looked at me strangely. “Why?”

  “I want to do something completely insane.”

  I could almost see the gears spinning in her mind for a moment, then she shrugged. “Okay.”

  She got up, gloriously naked, and put on some old purple slippers that were hiding under her bed.

  Grabbing her comforter, I took her by the hand and led her into the living room then out to the balcony. Holding it up like a curtain, she stepped over the ledge and into my arms as I wrapped it around both of us so that we could look up at the moon.

  “Ready to be a hippie again?” I asked.

  She giggled sweetly. “Sure.”

  “By the light of the full moon, and the exquisite light in your eyes, I give myself to you, Leah. I will be your boyfriend, your husband, your protector, your lover, and your closest friend forever.”

  I could hear the back of her teeth rattle as she tried not to cry. Placing her graceful hand on my chest, she smiled up at me. “Grant, you’ve already been my inspiration, my teacher, and a great comfort. I will be your girlfriend, your wife, your lover, your best friend, and hopefully everything else you ever need me to be, forever.”

  “I love you,” I murmured.

  “I love you,” she said softly, stretching up to kiss me.

  I knew it might be silly, even ridiculous. But somehow, saying those words so clearly while outside under the moon made everything completely official. Permanent.

  “I think I’d like you to design a tattoo with me,” I said.

  Her eyes grew wide. “I thought that getting a tattoo for someone else was bad luck?”

  I shrugged. “Some people believe that. I would never get someone’s name. But I’d like you and I to design something together, and have it inked on me as a symbol of our… Foreverness. Is that a word?”

  Leah laughed. “It is now.”

  We melted into each other, kissing while the moon watched over us.

  EPILOGUE

  * Leah *

  * A Year And A Half Later *

  It was so exciting seeing our families and closest friends all gathered together in our new home. They had no idea that this was going to be a very different sort of housewarming party.

  From the kitchen window, I could see Grant in the backyard with our new puppy Daphne running around his ankles while he chatted with our fathers. Our mothers were getting along beautifully, chatting at the dining room table about a favorite restaurant they had in common, and how the six of us should go there together soon.

  I did a quick headcount of the backyard, then walked around our spacious living and dining rooms, counting heads again.

  It was funny how nervous I was with strangers and new experiences, but Grant had been helping build me up, finding my strength. In a clear voice, I called out, “Everyone out to the back yard, please!”

  Soon the yard was packed with around fifty people, as Grant and I stood together in the center.

  “Thank you all for coming,” he began. “We wanted to start our new lives together by filling our home with the love and laughter of our family and friends.”

  Grant looked devastatingly handsome in nice slacks and a black button-down shirt, but I’d asked him to roll up the sleeves. I didn’t want him to hide his tattoos for my family, or anyone. Especially the new one on the inside of his forearm that we designed together of the full moon cradled in a bright green leaf. My parents didn’t say a word about the art he wore, only that they loved the way he treated me.

  He wrapped a thick arm around me, giving me a squeeze. The breeze caught my hair, where I’d pinned a couple of the Peruvian lilies we both liked. It set off the light pink of my flowy dress. I thought we looked summery and perfect, and couldn’t wait to get some cute photos of us together in our new garden.

  Daphne was running around excitedly, and Grant’s father knelt down to pet her and settle her down.

  “Thanks, Dad,” Grant laughed. Then he turned to me, watching my eyes carefully. “Did you want to say anything, baby?”

  I nodded, taking a deep breath. “You know that we’re simple people. We don’t like a lot of fuss, and I don’t like people staring at me.” I glanced around shifty-eyed until both of our moms were cracking up. “So we thought, since the people who are most important to us are already here for our housewarming party, we might as well multi-task.”

  We grinned while everyone else looked confused.

  Then Grant leaned in to kiss me lightly, taking my hand and turning me to a tall man in black who had taken his place at the end of the yard. The man smiled warmly, holding up his hands and waving us closer, as Grant and I stood before him.

  “Dearly belov
ed, we are gathered here today...”

  Gasps and squeals of shock filled the air as everyone realized what was happening.

  As always, Grant broke tradition by picking that moment to give me a big, sweeping movie star kiss that made everyone laugh, especially our mothers.

  “That part comes later,” the minister chuckled. “But take your time. It’s your special day.”

  “I love you so much,” Grant murmured against my lips.

  “I love you, husband,” I whispered.

  “Not for a few more minutes,” he laughed.

  “Then put me on my feet you lunatic.”

  He pulled me back up, holding my hand, as the minister laughed with us for a moment while waving his hand to beckon everyone to come even closer. “These lovebirds don’t seem to remember the proper order of things, so let’s start again. Dearly beloved...”

  Grant squeezed my hand tightly, and I looked up into his gorgeous eyes dreamily, knowing that he was never, ever going to let go.

  *** The End ***

  ***

  Please stay tuned for Snipping Up Love , and more in the Insta Love Shy Girl Romance series.

  ***

  If you enjoy contemporary romance novels about interesting women who are at a turning point in their lives, please get on the email list or follow this author to be notified when new books are released. Thank you for being one of the wonderful people who still read books.

  Please check out my novels:

  The Librarian and the Rock Star

  They say that opposites attract – especially when people are searching for change at the moment they meet. It’s a catalyst for a fascinating week and a half.

  Keira was looking forward to a quiet weekend away from her stressful job as head librarian at a small Toronto college. It was her life’s dream, but she’s being forced to be far more outgoing than she naturally is. She accidentally meets a gorgeous but sensitive singer of a rock band, and Jack suddenly arouses things in her she had never thought possible. Keira’s constant research, analysis and problem solving could turn Jack’s career around, but what about her own? And why is falling for a rock star such a terrible, illogical idea?

  Marry Me, Right Now

  When a rich man needs a fake wife and a broke woman needs a home fast, a marriage of convenience goes faster and farther than they expected.

  Jacob needs to get married so that he receives his inheritance a few years early, and might be able to save his Uncle’s house. Mia only has a few days left on her friend’s couch, and can’t find an apartment due to Toronto’s atrocious housing market. Can the two of them throw together a wedding in under two weeks, convincing family and friends that they’re a real couple? Will her severe aversion to wealth and “wasting” money cause problems between them? And will the sudden intimacy get in the way of their “show”?

  Coming Soon:

  Donuts & Handcuffs

  Bailey isn’t sure why Officer Daniel is constantly coming into her bakery to ask her about strange occurrences in their quiet Toronto neighborhood. Perhaps he likes her, or really loves her donuts. Even when he’s finally brave enough to ask her out, there’s no way he could have a clue that she knows more than she’s letting on.

  Damn Valentine

  Every year Kate meets a great guy on New Year’s Eve, but they never make it to Valentine’s Day. Is it the pressure of that silly forced holiday, or does she just pick the wrong men? This New Year’s she swears them off completely, but life certainly has a way of messing up a nice girl’s plans.

  News and upcoming novels will be posted at http://haleytravisromance.blogspot.com

  or join the monthly-ish email list at http://eepurl.com/gd7WDP

  (Get on the list for longer previews of new novels!)

  ***

  Romance author Haley Travis is from Toronto, Ontario. She’s found that writing is a great excuse for avoiding housework. She enjoys writing quirky, sexy modern romance, and loves creating interesting female characters who are at a turning point in their lives. Women who need a life shake up, not a man. But these things never go as planned, do they?