Flirting with Forever: A Hot Romantic Comedy(73)

“Not at all.” I went around the counter and placed a soft kiss on her lips. “Come on back.”

I led Nora to my station and gestured. “This is where I work. I have an office through there, too, but it’s not very exciting.”

She took slow steps around the small space. “These are all Riley’s paintings, aren’t they?”

“Yeah.”

She pointed to a sign that read, I believe in unicorns. “This looks like her, too. Did she get it for you?”

“For my birthday one year. I think she was around six. My mom helped her.”

“So cute.” She eased herself into the chair. “This is where the magic happens?”

“I guess you could say that. Although I feel like the real magic happens at home in my room.”

Her lips turned up in a smile. “Do you have another client soon?”

“That’s a good question.” I checked my calendar on my phone. “Nope, that was it for today.”

“What was the last one you were doing?”

“Here, I’ll show you.” I swiped to my gallery and showed her the pictures I’d taken. “He and his wife had their first baby last year, so he wanted something that represented his family.”

The design incorporated a compass with his wedding date and the date of his daughter’s birth. There was room to add to it as his family grew.

“This is beautiful. There’s so much depth.”

“Thanks. I think it turned out really well. He was happy, and that’s the most important thing.”

Her eyes lifted to meet mine and she lowered her voice. “Have you ever thought about tattooing me?”

Had I ever. I’d run my hands all over her silky smooth skin and imagined her as a canvas for my art. “Yeah, it’s crossed my mind.”

“What would you tattoo on me? And where?”

I straddled my stool and took her hand, stretching out her arm so I could caress the sensitive skin on her wrist. “Less would be more with you. Something delicate. Not because you’re breakable, but because you’re not. You’re elegant and sophisticated, so a tattoo would need to reflect that.”

“You’d put it here?” She gestured to her wrist as I continued to caress it.

“That would be an option. A dainty wrist tattoo would add just the slightest edge to your look.”

“Would you like it?”

“It would be hot.”

She smiled.

“But somewhere hidden would be sexy, too. Somewhere most people don’t see.”

“A secret only we share.”

I groaned a little and lifted her arm to kiss the inside of her wrist. “Ink that’s all mine. Can I show you something?”

She nodded.

I got out my sketch book and opened it. “I hope this doesn’t freak you out. But I’ve actually designed several.”

“For me?”

“Yeah. Not that I thought you’d want a tattoo. I know you have commitment issues.” I winked. “But sometimes I’d get an idea, so I’d sketch it out.”

I turned to my Nora page and showed her the sketches. There were four different designs, all inspired by her. Two were floral, meant for the upper back. One was a delicate wrist tattoo, a tiny moon and stars. The final design was also a moon and stars, but slightly larger, with more shading and detail. I’d pictured it high on her outer thigh.

“This one is beautiful.” She pointed to the moon and stars. “They all are, but this one captures me.”

“I don’t know why, but the moon reminds me of you. There’s an element of sensuality to it, maybe because it’s usually visible at night. And how it’s always changing—still the same moon, reflecting the same sunlight, but we see different aspects of it, depending on the day and the season.”

“I really love this.” She met my eyes again. “Will you tattoo this on me?”

A current of desire washed over me like an ocean wave. “Really? Where?”

“What about here?” She pointed to her outer thigh, up near her hip. Exactly where I would have suggested.

I groaned again. “It would look amazing right there.”

“Is that a yes?”

“If you’re sure, absolutely.”

“I’m sure. Can we do it now?”

I grinned. It didn’t surprise me in the least that she’d want to do it immediately. She was decisive. I loved that about her. “Yeah, why not?”

Nora waited while I finished cleaning up after my last client and prepped for her tattoo. The spontaneity of it had me buzzing with creative energy. I’d imagined what she’d look like with one of my designs adorning her skin but I’d never thought she’d actually go for it. Her trust in me made a sense of warmth fill my chest.

I adjusted the chair so it became a table and had her take off her skirt and lie down. Kari grabbed her a pillow to support her head. Although I appreciated the way she looked, lying on her side in her panties, those gorgeous legs on full display, I was too focused to be distracted by her body. And I didn’t need to worry about the rest of my crew. They were professionals.

Okay, so I did cast a quick glance at Sonny, but he wasn’t paying attention to us. I wasn’t totally immune to feeling possessive of her.