“Do you have an appointment?”

“No, I…” A huge part of her wanted to run out the door. She was way out of her element here. Aaron probably thought she was just another groupie.

“Quick fucking with her, Aaron.”

Jason walked out from the back, pulled off a pair of black latex gloves, and pulled her into his arms. He leaned down to kiss her lips and smiled at her. “Hi, baby. You decided on the piece, huh?”

“I just wanted to say hi.”

Jason laughed. “Well, hi. I have about ten minutes left of a backpiece I’m working on. Do you want to come back? Rocky won’t mind.”

“Rocky?”

Jason grinned. “You’re so damned sweet. Come on.”

Casey followed Jason down the hall to a smaller room where a large man was lying on his stomach, arms crossed under his chin.

“Mind if my girl hangs out, Rock?”

“Of course not.” Rocky turned to smile at her. “Since when did you have a girl, Campbell?”

Jason winked at her as he pulled on a fresh pair of gloves. “We’re new.”

Casey flushed. “I’m thinking about getting a tattoo.”

Jason pulled up a chair and started back to work, adding white ink to Rocky’s shoulder blade. “This back piece took about fifteen hours and I survived. What are you thinking about getting done?”

“Flowers on my thigh and hip.”

“Sexy. You’ll feel it, but it’s worth it.”

Casey bit her lip as she thought about Jason’s hands on her body, his art on her skin. She walked over to look at Rocky’s back. It was a complex battle scene. Knights or crusaders. “Yours is beautiful. What does it mean?”

“I’ve been ten years sober. The battle represents my struggle.”

“It’s incredible.”

“Campbell is the best. No doubt about it.”

“And you’re finished, man. Go check it out.” Jason watched Rocky walk over to the full-length mirror and study the piece over his shoulder. “What do you think?”

“It’s fucking stellar, man. Thank you.”

Jason taped plastic over the tattoo and walked Rocky out before coming back into the room to clean up.

“You told Rocky I’m your girl.”

“Do you want to be?” he asked.

“I think it might have its perks.”

“Oh, it would have perks.” Jason smirked.

“Really?”

He washed his hands in the sink and walked over to her, wrapped his arms around her hips and pulled her close to his body. Leaned in to kiss her. “I thought about you today.”

“Oh, yeah? I thought about you too, Mr. Campbell.”