Page 6 of Roam

“Okay, would you like to do that now? We could go to a corner where it’s quieter or my room or yours?”

Sprite stood up and nodded toward the elevators. Roam followed and thought about his dad’s words. How exactly did he drop it in about his former wife? He didn’t want to lie to Sprite, but the only reason they weren’t divorced was because he couldn’t find her.

Chapter Three

Roam watched as Sprite competed in the finals. She was good enough to win. He didn’t consider anyone even close to her, but he wasn’t a judge. There were many times the judges didn’t pick who Roam would.

Sprite and Rascal had chatted on the phone with Roam giving very little input. Rascal’s woman had been all over the fact Sprite was a single mom and offered to help multiple times. By the time they’d finished the call, they had a plan. Sprite had accepted the job and the package from them. Rascal was sending some of the MC guys with a trailer to help load Sprite’s stuff and help them get to Bluff Creek.

Roam had wanted to offer his house to have Sprite and her family move into but it was too early. His house was almost ready. Once it was, he’d be moving in. The house in town he’d lived in had been sold a couple months after Shanna left. He’d lived with his parents because three little kids were way more than he could handle, but now they had the daycare, he could live on his own. He had someone to watch the kids when he worked, and he was rocking being a single dad. Well, maybe not rocking it, but he’d improved so much months ago. He would always be grateful for his parents’ help. They’d offered more than help. They’d been sounding boards and shoulders to cry on when he’d been at his lowest.

But he was positive it was time. His parents deserved to have their house back. They’d been empty nesters since his sister, Ariel, had moved out. He and War had been in the Army while his younger brother and sister had finished high school.

Although he and Ariel emailed every week, he’d only seen her for a second when War and Remi got married. She’d been working for the bail bonds in Topeka, but Roam had doubts about that. She’d been cagey about exactly what she did for them. His dad said tech, but Ariel didn’t give off the vibe that Scoop, his MC brother, and Sarah, who was tech for the bail bonds, did. He wasn’t worrying about that today, but he’d be investigating it when he had time. Something was off and telling him that he needed to check closer.

Roam walked close enough that he could see all five artists competing in the finals but not close enough to distract Sprite. Thinking about her names, he had to admit Sprite fit her more than Jane. He couldn’t wait for her to meet the Franks sisters and everyone else at the MC. She might not have had family yesterday, but today, she had a huge group of people who had her back.

Trying to look at the tattoos objectively was too hard. Besides really liking Sprite, he loved her style of tattoos. He might have her design something for his kids. He’d been thinking of one when Shanna left and then everything had been pushed aside just to survive. He’d always lived below his means and besides earning money at Bluff Creek Ink, each business gave a portion of their profit to the MC, which was then split between members.

Until he married Shanna, he’d lived in the clubhouse rent-free. When she emptied his account because she’d never put any money into it, she’d taken over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. He was still furious at the credit union for allowing it to happen. Of course, Sarah had done research for him and found out that Shanna had been having an affair with the CEO. He wasn’t sure what his dad, Baron, had done but before Roam could form a plan of attack, the man had resigned and left town.

Glancing at the clock, he noticed Sprite had twenty more minutes to finish. All five contestants were good. He checked to see where the others were working. It always paid to keep track of talented tattoo artists. As busy as they were, Roam would need a part- or three-quarter-time person once Rascal transitioned to by appointment only.

Rascal had planned on cutting back on his hours because of his back, but when he met Meg, he wanted to do more than cut back once he found someone. And as far as Roam was concerned, he deserved it. Rascal had been tattooing for years and deserved to spend time with the woman he loved.

Sprite hadn’t gone into the story yet, but he was curious exactly how she ended up taking care of her niece. He realized he was quite a bit older than Sprite. Twelve years but he didn’t care. She’d swept into his life and changed something inside of him.

Sprite had finished. Her client looked at the tattoo in the mirrors. Sprite had inked it on his shoulder blade. He grinned, turned around and lifted her up, spinning her around.

When he finally put her down, he asked her a question. She shook her head and then pointed over to him. He waved at the man and Sprite. Roam was curious exactly why she was pointing him out. The judges took pictures of the tattoo and then Sprite. Once finished, Sprite and her client walked over to Roam.

“This little lady said she’ll be working at your tattoo shop. I’m going to need some more ink from her. Got a card?” he asked.

Roam pulled his wallet out and selected a card. “We’ll be getting new cards with Sprite’s name on them, but the number gets reception to make an appointment. You can also request one from our website. I anticipate Sprite will start accepting appointments in the next two weeks. She’s moving, so I want to give her a little time.”

The man stared at the card. “Bluff Creek Ink. Bluff Creek, Kansas. I’m here in Texas but I’m always up for a motorcycle ride.”

“We’d love to have you. My partner and I run Bluff Creek Ink for our MC. We always enjoy getting to know more bikers.”

“Great. Some buddies and I just got out of the military. We’re trying to figure out where to end up. I miss the comradery of people having my back.”

Roam nodded. “I get it. I served and was happy to come back home to my brothers. Let me give you this. Drop in any time either at our Kansas Chapter or we have one in Cider Creek. Let whoever know that Roam invited you. You and y’alls’ friends will get a beer and a thank you for your service.”

The man nodded and shook Roam’s hand, then smiled and left.

“Your work on his tattoo was fantastic. I’m really glad we’ve already signed a contract because shops are going to be trying to get you.”

Sprite’s grin spread across her face. “Thanks.”

She reached over and grasped his hand. Her foot was tapping while she shifted back and forth. He turned her until she was in front of him and then wrapped her in his arms.

“Nervous?”

WAS SHE NERVOUS? SHE was petrified. She nodded, relishing the feel of Roam’s arms around her.

Since this morning, she’d won money she desperately needed and accepted a job. She was going straight from here to start packing. Roam and Rascal said their goal was to have Roam and the guys help her pack and get on the road tomorrow afternoon or Monday morning at the latest.

Her life was changing, and she hoped she was making a good decision. She had little ones depending on her.

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