Inked by an Angel

by Allen, Shauna

  “So, listen.” Now he had her on the phone, he didn’t quite know where to begin. He’d never had a problem asking women out before. But this wasn’t a date exactly. He sat up and scrubbed his face with his hand. “Are you busy tomorrow? Before work?”

  He heard her breathing on the other end of the line.

  “Muffet?”

  “Hmmm?”

  “You falling asleep on me?”

  “No. Just thinking about what I have planned tomorrow.”

  “Oh. And?” He waited. She was killing him. He smoothed the carpet with the toe of his boot.

  “Well,” she finally said. “Is this for business?”

  He rolled his eyes. “Sorta.”

  “Well, then. You should’ve said so. Why can’t we just do this at the studio?”

  The woman was impossible. He was trying to do something nice and she had to question him every step of the damn way. “Just go with me on this, would you? Can you meet me or not?”

  “Well, Mr. Grumpy Pants, I guess I can,” she huffed. “What time and where did you have in mind?”

  Now he realized he hadn’t planned this far ahead. Shit. Think fast. “Tokyo Japanese Restaurant. Six.”

  She didn’t say anything.

  He glanced at his phone. Still connected. “Hello?”

  “Yes.”

  “Everything okay? You know where that is?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is there a problem?”

  “No. No problem.”

  She sounded weird. “Then why are you so quiet?”

  “I, uh, well, I’ve never had Japanese food. Isn’t it all raw?” She sounded disgusted.

  He laughed. “Just show up, Muffet, and I’ll introduce you to a little culture. Who knows? You may surprise yourself and like it.”

  Chapter 13

  As soon as Kyle hung up with Jed, it dawned on her. He never called her. He was going to fire her. Was he taking her to dinner to soften the blow?

  Maybe he’d found another accountant. He had said he only wanted her to work for him until he found somebody else. What would she do now? Her savings account was dangerously low and her work with Michael and Jed barely kept her afloat. If he let her go, she might be forced to beg her father for her old job back. No, she couldn’t do that. She was a different person now and she liked the feel of her newly spread wings. To go back now would be like selling her soul.

  Oh, Jed, don’t fire me! But some sick part of her wanted him to . . .

  Wanted him to what? She rolled over in bed with a sigh. She wanted him. Period. There was no use denying it. She couldn’t explain it, she couldn’t understand it, and she sure didn’t want it. The man had made it perfectly clear she was not his type. No way, no how. She pictured Kierstan. Busty and full of bravado with her inked-up skin and their obvious history. That was his kind of woman and Kyle could never be that, no matter how hard she tried.

  Ah, well. There were other fish in the sea. Other fish without tattoos and sexy piercings.

  She shut her eyes and tried to force sleep to come by counting tax codes.

  As Kyle studied herself in her bathroom mirror the next evening, all she could think to do was thank Bethany and all that was holy for the mini-makeover. Her wavering self-confidence was now supercharged in anticipation of her meeting with Jed.

  She ran a brush through her hair and pulled it back.

  “No,” Bethany put her hand out to stop her. “Leave it down. It’s so much sexier that way.”

  She met her eyes in the mirror. “But I wasn’t going for sexy.”

  Bethany eyed her from the top of her form-fitting crimson bodice down to her open-toed heels. She picked up Kyle’s most expensive perfume and spritzed her throat. “Mmm hmm.”

  Kyle studied her reflection pensively. Bethany had insisted she wear her contacts tonight and more makeup than usual. She spun around. “You know, I think I’ll change.”

  Bethany grabbed her arm. “Oh, no you don’t. You look gorgeous. Plus, you’ve gotta go or you’ll be late.” She steered her from the bedroom and down the hall. She grabbed both of their purses, handed her the keys, then followed her out the door, locking it behind them both. “Go. Have a good time. And if he tries to fire you, make sure he knows what he’s losing.” She looked her in the eye. “You’re great at your job, Kyle. Let him know it.”

  She nodded reluctantly. “Okay. You’re right.” She hugged her. “Thanks so much.” Bethany really was a good friend.

  She slid into her Prius and took a calming breath. Bethany gave her a reassuring wave from the sidewalk.

  “I can do this. It’s just dinner.” She started the car, shifted it into gear and headed to her fate. Whatever that might be.

  Tokyo Japanese Restaurant wasn’t hard to find and she actually arrived plenty early, but he’d still beaten her there. His Mustang sat parked, arrogant and sexy as you please, to the side of the restaurant, so she pulled in next to him.

  She steeled herself and got out of the car. Inside, her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting as she took in the Japanese artwork on the walls and the colorful light fixtures that hung like rainbow spheres suspended above each table. The young hostess in a red satin kimono smiled at her, but she’d already spotted him. “I see who I’m meeting.”

  The girl nodded and let her move on toward his table. He was on his cell phone and didn’t see her right away. He looked up and away, but quickly did a double take as she approached the table. He murmured something and snapped the phone shut.

  He stood. “You made it.”

  She furrowed her brow. “I said I would.” He motioned for her to sit in the booth across from him.

  He sat back down after she did and looked at her. He studied her intently as his hands fidgeted with the tablecloth like he had something on his mind. Why was he was acting so strangely?

  She started searching for a menu or something to do with her hands.

  “Oh, I ordered you a Diet Coke. Hope that’s all right. That’s what you usually drink, right?”

  She nodded, feeling uncomfortable. This was not the Jed she knew.

  “I also took the liberty of ordering a few different things for us off the menu so you can try a variety.” He shrugged with an innocent smile. “Since you said you’ve never had Japanese food, I figured . . .”

  A young Asian waiter with spiked hair and symbols tattooed on his neck placed their drinks and a bowl of green things on the table. “Here you go, Jed. Anything else?”

  “No, Kaito, we’re good.”

  Kyle eyed the bowl. “What’s that?”

  “Edamame. It’s good. Try it.” He picked one up and started eating.

  She grabbed one, mimicked his peeling action, then gingerly nibbled it. Not bad. “I take it you come here often?”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “The waiter knows your name?”

  “Busted.” He popped some more of the edamame in his mouth and chewed before continuing. “Kaito is a cool kid. He told me about this place when he came in for a tattoo. His parents own it. And, as you know, I love the Japanese culture, especially the food, so I couldn’t resist coming by. I haven’t quit coming since. It’s great.”

  “I’ll take your word on that.”

  He laughed. The laugh that showed all his teeth and the deep divots in his cheeks. The one that told her how dangerous he was to her well-being.

  “Why did you want me to meet you here?” she asked to bring things back to an even-kilter.

  “Why the rush, my Muffet?”

  “Uh, well . . .” My Muffet?

  But they were interrupted as Kaito started bringing dishes full of beautiful and colorful food to the table. “Here you go, Jed. The works, just like you asked. Enjoy.”
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br />   All Kyle could do was stare. “We’re supposed to eat all of this? You ordered enough to feed ten people.” She looked back up into his eyes. That was a mistake. Something shifted between them. An unseen veil lifted and it was as if all of a sudden she could see him. All of him, through the window of his eyes.

  He glanced down, breaking the connection, making her wonder if it had happened at all. “So, what do you want to try first? A California Roll is probably a pretty tame choice for a beginner.” He pointed to one of the plates.

  “What’s that one?” she asked, choosing a bolder-looking roll.

  “That’s eel. Go for it if you want. I’d be impressed.”

  She cringed. “I’ll stick with the California Roll.” She watched him select a roll and tried to mimic him with a small bite, hoping she wouldn’t embarrass him. She wasn’t really hungry anyway. She just wanted to get this whole thing over with and find out what he wanted so she would know if she was fired or not. She chewed and realized that it wasn’t that bad. The flavor was actually pleasant.

  He smiled. “You like it?”

  “I think so.” She took another bite to decide. “No, I do like it. Tell me what else there is here. Other than the eel.” She wrinkled her nose.

  “One of these days I’ll get you to try that eel,” he promised.

  She tilted her head. “And one of these days I’ll get you to drive me around in my Prius.”

  “Fat chance.”

  “Well, then.” She looked back to the sushi. “What’ve we got here?”

  He pointed. “Dragon rolls. Those are really good. Those ones there have soft shell crab in them . . .”

  Kyle watched him and tried to remember what was what—she really didn’t want to eat anything raw—but he had that blasted little black ball in again and it was distracting her. And his lips were perfect and he had divots (not dimples, no sir) when he laughed. She sighed. He looked at her.

  “ . . . and those are spicy tuna rolls. Oh, and this is steak, but that’s for me because I know you don’t care for red meat.”

  Thump thump went her pathetic little heart as it fell at his feet. How was it that after nearly eighteen months together, Charles couldn’t remember that one simple fact about her? And yet, this man whom she’d only know for a short, tempestuous time cared enough to register that little tidbit of information.

  “Right. Thanks,” she offered a limp smile and selected a roll that looked like it was filled with veggies and tried not to look at him anymore.

  They ate in silence a while longer. Kyle was pleasantly surprised by how much she enjoyed the food. Bursts of spicy and sweet danced with the seafood and vegetables in ways she’d never experienced and it was phenomenal.

  She smiled up at him when she felt like her stomach was going to explode and she couldn’t eat another bite. “I can’t believe I’ve never tried this before. It’s delicious.”

  “Good. I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

  “I did. So, now you can tell me why we’re here. The suspense is killing me. Am I fired?”

  He blinked in surprise. “Hell, no. Why would you think that?”

  She breathed a sigh of relief and her shoulders sagged. She wasn’t going to be homeless. “It’s just that it’s not like you to call me in the middle of the night, or take me out to eat, or even be this nice for that matter. So, I thought you were softening the blow for the big ax.”

  “The big ax, huh?”

  “Yeah. So, if I’m not fired, then what’s with the dinner? Did you have a problem with my work?”

  He sat back and looked at her. “I’m never nice?”

  She rolled her head, thinking. “Not usually. Okay, maybe a little . . . sometimes? Does it matter? What’s up, Jed?”

  “I have something for you.”

  “For me? What is it? More paperwork? Did the IRS send you more stuff?”

  He pulled a rolled up sheet of fine paper from the seat next to him and slid it to her. She reached for it with a trembling hand, knowing this was not work related. Gently, she untied the string around it and unrolled it.

  Her hand came to her mouth as a gasp escaped her. “Jed,” she whispered.

  She couldn’t take her eyes from it. He’d drawn her face, only he had somehow made her so much more beautiful and delicate and perfect than she could ever hope to be.

  “I don’t know what to say,” she confessed.

  She finally looked at him again. “You don’t have to say anything,” he said.

  “Why?” She lifted the paper. “Why this? Why the dinner? Not that I’m complaining. I just don’t understand.”

  He offered a half-smile that was as devastating as his full-blown ones. “Because you’re special, Muffet. And I wanted to thank you for all you’ve done for me.”

  “Oh.” A thank you? “You’re welcome.” She glanced back down to the exquisite drawing. “This is too much.” That pathetic heart of hers was thumping even louder now.

  “No it’s not.”

  Kaito walked up to check on them again. “Everything good here?”

  Jed nodded. “Great, man.”

  “Good.” He began picking up the dirty plates. “Hey, Jed. I was wondering if I could make an appointment with you soon? I want to get a dragon on my back.”

  “Sure. Anytime. Just give me a call.”

  Kaito cleared the rest of their dishes. “Thanks. I’ll be in touch.”

  Kyle marveled at Jed’s many talents. “If they call Michael ‘The Angel,’ they should call you ‘The Dragon.’ I’ve seen you do several of them since I’ve worked there. Is that your specialty?”

  He sat back and sipped his Sake. “Not my specialty, per se. I do enjoy them, though.”

  “Tattoos or dragons?”

  “Both.”

  “How many do you have anyway?” Oh. The question popped out before she could stop it. It had been on the forefront of her brain for so long, it was probably inevitable . . .

  “Dragons or tattoos?” He smiled.

  “Ha ha. Dragons, of course.” She smiled back.

  “Maybe you’ll find out someday.”

  She blinked. “What about tattoos?”

  He didn’t miss a beat. “Maybe you’ll find out someday.”

  Jed meant to tease her, not get turned on himself. But the thought of her undressing him and looking at all of his tattoos was a bit too hot for comfort.

  Then she’d smiled and said, Maybe I will, and his head nearly exploded. Both of them. Had she been into the Sake?

  He reviewed the Man Code rules quickly in his head. Muffet was less than two weeks out of her break-up. A no-go. Danger, Will Robinson. He shouldn’t even be contemplating her as anything other than his accountant. Period.

  But, damn if she didn’t look good enough to eat in that tight red top with her hair down. And she’d left her glasses at home tonight, so her face was open and beautiful. But, strangely, he thought he preferred the glasses.

  She brushed her hair behind her ear. “What? Cat got your tongue?”

  He studied the line of her chin and followed it up her cheek to her ear. He decided he’d done well from memory in his drawing. He liked the way his slow perusal made her blush. He looked at the rounded shell of her ear. “Aren’t your ears pierced, Muffet?”

  He could tell he’d caught her off guard. “What?” She brought a hand up to touch her ear. “No.”

  “Why not?”

  She shrugged, pulling her tight top even tighter across her chest. “Just never got around to it I guess. Plus, I’m sort of a chicken about the pain,” she confessed.

  He leaned in. “You wanna do it?”

  Her eyes widened in surprise. “Do it?”

  He reached over and brushed her earlobe with his fingertip.
“If you want to, do it, I’d be happy to help you out.” Oh, how he loved making her squirm.

  “You really want to?” she whispered.

  He nodded, forgetting for a moment that they were talking about anything other than making love.

  She tilted her head. “Do you know how?”

  Huh? What kind of man did she think he was? Oh, wait . . . “Sweetheart, even though Kierstan does all the piercings, I still know how to use my own equipment.”

  She seemed to think about it for a minute. “Okay.”

  “Okay?”

  “Yeah. Let’s do it.”

  Man, he wished she would’ve said anything else. “Well, are you ready to go? It’s about time for me to head into the studio.”

  She nodded and grabbed her purse, tucking the sketch safely inside. “Thank you for dinner, Jed. And the picture. It was very unexpected and not necessary, but very nice.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  He walked her outside, where they stood between their two cars. The soft light of the setting sun made a halo around her head.

  “Thanks again . . .”

  “Can I ask you something?” They both spoke at the same time.

  She laughed and gazed up into his eyes. “Sure. What is it?”

  “I was wondering about this date you went on the other night with that Uri guy? You think you’ll be going out with him again?”

  She blinked twice like she was confused. Instead of answering, she fumbled with her keys and clicked the remote to unlock her butt-ugly Prius. She opened the passenger door, threw her purse inside, and shoved it closed with a slam.

  She turned to go, but he grabbed her arm. “Kyle? What’s wrong?”

  “How did you know about that? I’m a little creeped out that one, you know about it, and two, you’d care.” She held up her two fingers for emphasis.

  “Of course I care.”

  She looked at him. It bothered him more than he could admit that she didn’t want him to care. “He’s a friend of Michael’s from AA. Mike brought him over to my house for poker night and we heard all about your date and how wonderful you are and how ‘affectionate’ and how he can’t wait to go out again. I was just making conversation. Don’t get all freaked out.”