A Reclusive Heart (Hollywood Hearts #2)(36)

“I’ve been thinking about doing this for years, Nick. It’s not like I’m making some drunken impulsive decision,” she pointed out.

“Then what would one more week hurt?” he asked, still not looking at her.

She’d noticed since he opened his door to try and stop her from doing this that he wouldn’t look her in the eye, or at her face for that matter. She didn’t know what was wrong and wasn’t going to stress herself out trying to figure it out.

“Are you ready?” the tattoo artist names Bret asked as he gestured for her to come with him.

She didn’t even hesitate when she said, “Yes,” and followed after him. She ignored Nick’s muttered curses and focused on getting something she’d always wanted.

This was going to be great!

******

“Ow! Owie!” Jamie cried out, but thankfully didn’t move.

It was bad enough that she was going through with this asinine plan, she didn’t need a f**ked up tattoo on top of everything. He really wished she’d listened to him, but the damn stubborn woman wouldn’t listen to reason. Tattoos on women were tacky and he hated the idea of her marring her body with one. It didn’t matter how sexy the woman was, tattoos always turned him off. Then again maybe it was for the best that she was getting something done to her that would repulse him, he decided as Jamie squeezed his hands tightly.

“I think he’s almost done,” he said soothingly even as he prayed that it was the truth. His damn legs were cramping up, but he refused to let her hands go out of fear that she would bolt and screw up the tattoo.

“That’s what you said an hour ago!” Jamie said accusingly as she squeezed her eyes shut.

“It was ten minutes ago, Jamie. It only seems like an hour ago because you’re in pain,” he explained as gently as he could while Jamie continued to mutter a combination of “ow” and “owie.”

“Almost done,” Bret thankfully said.

Nick didn’t bother looking at her tattoo as it was being drawn on. He’d still been too upset that she was doing something this stupid. He still couldn’t believe she was getting it on her lower back, right above her ass and yeah, when the guy had her drop her pants and panties halfway down her ass he looked and drooled.

She really had a beautiful ass. It was round, soft and groan worthy, but the damn woman decided to ruin the scenery with a tramp stamp of all things. No doubt by next week he was going to have to take her to have the damn thing removed.

“All set,” Bret announced.

Jamie cracked one eye open. “Are you sure?”

“Yup.”

With that, Jamie was off the table and righting her clothes even as she walked stiff legged to front of the store to pay the man.

“Don’t you want to look at it?” Nick asked, frowning when the stubborn woman shook her head and kept moving.

With a sigh he followed after her, making a mental note to pick up chocolate on the way to the hotel since there was no doubt that she was going to need it.

******

“What now?” he asked wearily as he opened his door and found his little recluse shifting nervously in front of him in a baby blue tee shirt and another pair of those damn flannel pants that he shouldn’t find sexy, but did.

“I can’t get the bandage off. It’s been more than two hours and I’m supposed to wash it now with a little bit of antibacterial soap,” she said, holding up the small bottle of liquid hand soap, “and gently wipe it, but I can’t reach the top corners of the bandage.”

Pinching the bridge of his nose as he wondered when this horrible day would end, he stepped to the side and allowed her to come in. The sooner he got this over with the sooner she’d leave and he could return to staring at the television as he tried not to think of all the bullshit that waited for him tomorrow.

“Where do you want to do this?” she asked, looking around the small hotel room.

“Get on the bed, Jamie,” he said, gesturing lazily towards the double bed.

“O-okay,” she said nervously as she put the soap and tube of ointment she’d been carrying onto the edge of the bed and carefully laid across the bed on her stomach.

When she didn’t move her shirt and pants out of the way so that he could get to the tattoo he resigned himself to the task. He paused by the bed and pulled his shirt off over his head before it got ruined by the ointment.

“I have to move your clothes out of the way,” he explained even as he reached for her tee-shirt. Thankfully she had enough sense not to argue and even raised up a bit to help him with the task. He pushed it up until it reached her underarms and then reached for her flannel pajama pants, careful not to touch the bandage and hurt her.

When his fingers brushed against her surprisingly firm ass he had to take a deep breath to get his breathing under control. He was supposed to be doing her a favor, not ogling her ass, he reminded himself as he pulled her pants and panties down, revealing move of her ass.

“Mercy,” he hissed softly at the sight.

“What?” Jamie asked, moving to turn over, but he stopped her by placing a hand on her back to keep her right where she was.

“Nothing. I’m going to take the bandage off now. Try not to move,” he said, reaching for the corner of the large white gauze pad as he prepared himself for the splash of cold water that he tattoo would douse his lust for her.