Page 37 of A Twist of Fate

“Did you find out who?” She didn’t need to finish that question. I knew what she was getting at.

I shook my head. “Not anything definitive, but there’s someone who has been acting too shady to ignore the possibilities.” Gretchen nodded her head at me in understanding. I moved closer and pulled her into a hug, feeling her warmth mingle with my own as we stood there in each other’s arms. Her small frame actually settled into my larger one as her arms wrapped around my waist.

“Thank you for trying to find out,” she whispered against my chest.

I rested my chin on top of her head of stick-straight blond hair. “Anything for you, G.”

Chapter 14

Baby Blues

Gretchen

Kane’s voice sent shivers down my spine, even as his body heat warmed me. “Anything for you, G.”

I’ve had to chide myself over the thoughts that run rampant whenever I saw him. It was too soon. What was the time limit on a person’s grief? When would it be okay to feel something for someone else again? Would I be betraying Toby if I did? These were the thoughts that plagued me as Kane held me tightly in his arms, as if he didn’t want to let go any more than I did. He had been a crush before Toby. Maybe that was why it was so easy to feel again when I was around him.

I backed away from Kane because I couldn’t allow myself to keep that connection any longer. Despite how right it felt to be held by him, the grief and guilt swept in anyway. I supposed that thought, in itself, was proof enough that I wasn’t ready to move forward with my life yet. At least, not that aspect of my life. Besides, there was the club to think about too. Could I get involved with a man who belonged to the same club Toby had? What if everything happened all over again?

“Gretchen?”

“Hmm?” I glanced up at Kane then and noted the worry lines deepening across his brow.

“You’re awful deep in thought over there. Anything you want to share?”

Just then, a couple giggling girls that looked to be just this side of their teens came barreling through the door. I was saved from having to voice my concerns. Not that I could have been honest about my resurgence of feelings toward Kane, but still.

“Hi, how can I help you?” I called out with obvious fake cheeriness.

“Um, how about he helps us instead?” The blonde of the two asked as she pointed a red talon toward Kane.

“How about you discuss things Gretchen first, and if she thinks you need me to work on you, then I will.” Kane dismissed her just like that as he headed toward his station near the back of the shop. The giddy feeling inside must have bloomed into a smile on my face because the girl turned to me with a determined scowl in place.

“No offense, but I don’t want you working on me.”

“None taken since I’m not a tattooist.” I pointed to the various books lying about on the shop tables in the lobby area. “Take a look at the books, and see which artist looks like they might be able to do the work you want. Once you decide that, I’ll set you up with a consultation appointment.”

“Consultation appointment?” The brunette asked. “We wanted to get some ink today.”

“Well, depending on whose style you like best, they might not be in. Depending on what type of work you want done, they might have to take some time to draw it out and get back to you about the concept you want.”

“I just wanted a freaking butterfly. It’s not that big a deal.”

“Honey, that butterfly will be on your skin forever. It is that big of a deal, and if you’re not going to take it seriously, then I can tell you now, none of the artists here will work on you.”

“What? Haven’t you ever heard that the customer is always right?” The blonde asked in a snotty voice.

“The customer is always right at Walmart. If that’s the attitude you want in an artist to have go there and see if they can help you.”

“Oh my God! I want to speak to the owner now!” The blonde shrieked.

“We’re getting new tattoos for free, on you.” The brunette smirked then turned to her friend. “Who the hell does she think she is?”

“She’s the gatekeeper,” Zeke told them. I hadn’t even noticed when he came in from the back. “That means she weeds out the people we probably don’t want to work on. That also means you two need to go somewhere else for your work.”

“I want to speak to the manager,” the blonde cried out as she posted up with her hip jutted out and one hand on her side while the other was pointing at Zeke.

“No need. I own the place, and I just told you how this is going down. You don’t walk into a shop and disrespect any of the employees there and expect that we will serve you in any way. Door’s behind ya!”

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