Ink Enduring (Montgomery Ink #5)(5)

Since the place was called Montgomery, he figured her family owned it—or rather Maya had to. He liked the idea that she had her own shop, and he knew she’d be damn good at running it and everything that came with it. She was good at so many things.

He just hoped he wasn’t too late.

As soon as he entered the building, his senses were assaulted with rock music, laughter, and conversation. A young kid stood at the front desk, tapping her pencil on a notepad as she studied from some textbook. There were at least eight stations around the building with what looked like a door to an office and another to a bathroom in the back.

It was nice.

All hot pink and black with artwork on the walls that spoke of talent. He recognized some of the work as that of the artist who had inked Maya’s skin. He’d only been with her one night, but he knew her ink like the back of his hand. He remembered it vividly. He wouldn’t call it an obsession, but it was damn close.

“Jake?”

His head shot up at the sound of her voice, and he froze. She stood in one of the stations, her smile wide, concern in her eyes, and another man’s arms around her waist. From the possessive way the man held her, Jake knew this guy wasn’t one of her many brothers or countless cousins.

He was too late.

Again.

He pushed that thought from his mind, as well as the achy feeling in his gut, and put on a smile. He just hoped she couldn’t read him. If she could, then she’d see the smile for the fake it was.

“Hey, Maya,” he said, his voice gruff. He cleared his throat and tried to act casual. “Nice place you have here.”

She beamed up at him before patting the guy’s arm. When the man didn’t release her, she glared up at him and moved away. She came up to Jake and punched him on the shoulder.

“Took you long enough to show up,” she said with a smile while studying his face. “Murphy okay?” She said the last part softly, as if afraid of the answer.

Jake nodded. “He’s okay now. It took me a while to get here because…well…just because.”

Maya gave him a sad smile and nodded, as well. “Well, you’re here. Welcome to my shop.”

“Our shop,” a big, bearded dude with eyes like Maya’s said from another station.

“That would be my brother, Austin.” Maya flipped the big man off. “We’re a new shop, but I think we’re doing pretty well. So, what do you think?”

He met her gaze and knew if he walked out today he would never see her again. If he didn’t stay and talk, she’d be out of his life for good, and Jake wasn’t sure he could handle that.

“It’s…f*cking amazing, Maya,” he said truthfully.

“Baby, I thought we were getting lunch,” the dude who’d had his arms around her grumbled.

Maya rolled her eyes. “My boyfriend, Franklin.” She said it slowly, as if trying to make sure Jake understood. He got the hint, all right.

He held back a sigh. “If you’re going out to lunch, I’ll let you go.” Jake put his hands back in his pockets. “I just wanted to say hi and maybe get some ink.” He hadn’t been here for the last part, but he wouldn’t say no to Montgomery ink.

“Ink?” Austin asked. “We have room for some walkins in a bit. Why don’t you tell me what you want?”

Maya flipped her brother off once again. “Nope. If anyone is going to give Jake a tattoo, it’s me. You don’t get to touch him.” She said the last part over her shoulder before holding her finger up to Jake. “Think about what you want. I’ll just be a sec.”

She sauntered over to her boyfriend and said a few words to him. When Franklin patted her ass, Jake turned his attention to the books on the table by his side. He only had to wait a few minutes before the boyfriend was gone and Maya was smiling up at him.

“We good?” she asked.

Jake met her gaze. “We’re good.”

She let out a relieved breath. “Good, because I like you, Jake, and I think you’ll fit in this shop just fine. Now, tell me what you’re thinking about in terms of ink.” She pulled him to her station, and he let her lead him.

He liked Maya, and damn if he wanted to leave and never see her again. He could be her friend and be fine with it. They fit together, and if that was all he could get…well, he’d be good. Because there was only one Maya Montgomery in the world, and Jake wasn’t about to lose her.

And one day, he’d quit getting a hard-on every time he saw her.

Friends he could do. Friends lasted for a hell of a lot longer than sex.





Chapter Two


Thirteen Years Later

“That’s it, I’m going to kick his ass,” Maya Montgomery spat as she stood up. She rolled her neck and cracked her knuckles. She wasn’t as young as she once was, but she could still take a man twice her size down.

Callie held up her hands, her eyes wide. Her friend and fellow tattoo artist shook her head, apparently trying to rein Maya in. Good luck with that.

“Maya, don’t kill him,” Callie pleaded.

Maya tilted her head at her friend. “Why not? That dudebro just grabbed your ass. I need to follow him and kick his ass. And I never said anything about killing him. Too messy and too much paperwork.”

Callie just shook her head and put her hand over her stomach. “Do it for the baby.”