Page 19 of Dare To Take

“Depends on the piece.”

“What if I just get something small. How much will it cost?”

I glance over at her. “I have no idea.”

“But you have tattoos!”

One side of my mouth tips up into a smile. “Remember those, do you?” My voice is soft and her cheeks turn pink. I guess the old Arabella is still in there somewhere. “I just hand over my credit card. I don’t ask what the cost is.”

Her laugh is brittle. “Of course. The pretty little rich boy doesn’t need to check if he has the right amount of cash.”

I hike an eyebrow. “You think I’m pretty?”

“It wasn’t a compliment,” she mutters.

“In here.” I stop by a blacked-out door, and push the handle, then sweep one hand out. “After you.”

She throws me a look from beneath her eyelashes and walks past me. The scent of her perfume hits my nose. It’s different from the floral one I’m used to. This one is richer, heavier, and suits her far more.

Once she’s inside, I let the door swing closed and follow her.

“Eli!” The man behind the counter jumps up and strides around. “Didn’t expect to see you again so soon. And who’s this pretty little lady?”

“So soon? When were you here?” Arabella turns to look at me, eyes sweeping over me curiously.

“Up here.” I tap the side of my throat and her eyes zero in on the marks there.

“I thought they were scratches.” Her brow pleats.

“They were. You gave them to me. I had them immortalized.”

Her jaw drops. “Are you insane? Why would you do that?”

I shrug. Because I wanted something to remember her by.

“It seemed like a good idea at the time. Terry.” I turn to the man waiting patiently. “This is Arabella. She wants a tattoo but isn’t sure what to get.”

“Then let’s get the albums out.” He drapes an arm over Arabella’s shoulders and leads her through the archway into the back room.

I flop down onto one of the overstuffed chairs and prop my feet up on the table. Maybe I should get some more work while I’m here. “Hey, Terry?” I call out.

He appears through the archway.

“Do you have time to add some script to my side?”

“Sure. Let me get your girlfriend settled with the books, so she can have a look, and then I’ll do it for you. How many words is it?”

“Just three. I have the design I want on my cell.” I tap through and turn it around to show him.

He nods. “That’s simple enough. Won’t take long. Come through and get set up.”

I follow him into the back room. Arabella is tucked into a chair in one corner, head bowed over an album of artwork. She doesn’t look up when I walk past her and sit on one of the tattoo couches and strip out of my hoodie. I don’t remove the t-shirt I’m wearing, but I lay on my side facing Arabella and drag it up, so the right side of my ribs are on show.

“Send me the image.”

I email the design to him, and he prints it off and sets up a template. Setting it to one side, he preps my side, then puts the template on my skin. “There?” He shows me in the mirror, and I nod.

“Perfect.”

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