Love Restored (Gallagher Brothers #1)(7)

The girl turned, her eyes wide, but it didn’t look like fear so that had to count for something. Blake couldn’t count the number of times people came in for a new piercing or ink and freaked out before they’d even gotten into the chair. And frankly, she was glad for that, considering ink was permanent, and piercings were one step below that. Body modification wasn’t something to be taken lightly.

“That’s right,” the girl said and gave her a little wave. Blake’s smile deepened as the girl blushed. “Uh, sorry. I uh, didn’t know if this was a handshake situation so I waved like a dork.” The girl closed her eyes and let out a breath before opening her lids once more. “Hi, I’m Kennedy, and I’d like a butterfly outline on my hip.”

“Hi, Kennedy. Can I ask how old you are?” She didn’t look older than eighteen, and while Blake trusted Maya to check Kennedy’s age, she wanted to be sure.

“I’m twenty-three,” Kennedy answered, her blush matching the red of her hair. “I know I don’t look it, and the whole nervous blushing thing doesn’t really help, but yeah, I’m older than I look.”

Blake let out a low whistle. “I’ll say.”

“I already checked her age,” Maya said from her station as she pored over a notebook, pencil in hand. “Those genes are going to do you well when you’re our age,” she said to Kennedy, and Blake scowled.

“Way to make me feel ancient,” Blake muttered.

“All in a day’s work,” Maya said with a smile. “But if you’ll notice, I did say our age.”

Kennedy’s gaze shot between Blake and Maya, her eyes widening even more. “Uh…did I miss something?”

Blake shook her head. “Nah, my boss just likes to rib.”

“As I’m the one that signs your paychecks, I feel it’s my duty,” Maya said, her attention on her notebook and not them. “But I’d get to it, Blake. You have a piercing appointment soon.”

Blake let out a sigh and nodded toward her station. “Let’s get to it, then. My chair is in the back.”

Kennedy followed her silently and sat down on the convertible chair in Blake’s station, her hands folded on her lap.

“So,” Blake began as she sat on her stool, her sketchpad in hand. “You want an outline of a butterfly on your hip. Is there significance, or is it because it’s pretty?”

Kennedy smiled softly and pulled a piece of paper out of her bag. “I had cancer when I was a kid and was a little late with the whole growing thing because of it. So rather than get a caterpillar like the old me, I want something to show that I’ve grown. Changed. And I want it on my hip because it’s for me.” She blushed again. “And, well, for whoever I’m intimate enough with for them to see that part of me.”

Blake blinked back tears. Hell, this was the part of the job she both loved and hated. Sometimes, it was okay for ink to look pretty because that’s how you felt at the time and you didn’t need the weighty significance that so many other pieces had. However, the fact that this would be both to Kennedy meant something.

“And I want it that small because it needs to fit under a bathing suit, you know?” Kennedy continued.

“Just the outline will work for the size, then. That way, it’s not too detailed to the point you can’t really tell what it is.” That was the problem with a lot of small tattoos. People didn’t want to go crazy with the size, but they wanted the kind of detail you could only get in a larger piece. There were ways to get around that, of course, but Blake preferred working with what made the ink better in any case.

“That was my thought, too,” Kennedy said with a bright smile. “And, well, I want it to be an outline because I’m not finished yet either. It gives it space to be anything it wants.” She paused. “Just like I want to be.”

Blake swiped a tear as Kennedy did the same and cursed herself for letting that emotion show. This was her job, and she needed to remember to hold it in, or she’d do something monumentally stupid and rely on someone again. She’d rather not risk that, thank you very much.

“I think that sounds like a perfect tattoo for you. Well thought out and something that will be just for you. At least, until you’re ready to show it off.” Blake winked, causing both of them to laugh softly. “Have you ever had a tattoo before?”

Kennedy shook her head. “No, this will be my first one.”

“A virgin, then,” Blake said as she took the paper from Kennedy’s grip.

The other woman snorted. “Sure. We can go with that.”

Ah, not so innocent. Blake liked Kennedy already. She opened the folded paper to see a computer printed version of a butterfly outline and nodded.

“I can work with this and add a little to the outsides so it’s unique to you,” Blake said as she studied the way the curves of the wings made it look like it was fluttering. Compared to some of the things customers brought in, this wasn’t bad at all.

“That sounds great,” Kennedy said. “I trust you.”

Blake looked up with a grin. “You haven’t seen my work yet, and you trust me?”

Kennedy shrugged. “Almost dying sort of makes you see people differently. I’m usually a decent judge of character.”