Page 32 of Ink & Desire

“Yes? Was there something else?”

For the first time since I met Corbin, he looks unsure. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he looks almost nervous. Which makes no sense. Why would he be nervous? He’s the one with all the power in this situation. If anyone should be nervous, it’s me. He doesn’t quite meet my gaze and his hands are stuffed into the pockets of his jeans when he finally speaks.

“The other night,” he says. “At the club?”

My face heats again as my mind pulls up the memory I’ve been trying to suppress for days. I should have known he’d bring it up eventually. I don’t know why I’m surprised. Foolishly, I’d assumed we’d entered into some unspoken agreement to never discuss it again. He’s been totally professional today, aside from his usual, general grumpiness. I’d almost believed we could avoid talking about it altogether. Clearly, I was wrong.

“What about it?” I ask, proud when my voice comes out sounding confident instead of shaky.

“That won’t happen again,” he says. “I’m not some asshole who preys on his employees. I know there are people like that out there, but that’s not me. I just wanted you to know that. Going forward, things between us will be strictly professional.”

I get the feeling that he’s saying this to reassure me that he’s not a creep. I hadn’t really believed he was. But the obvious sincerity on his face as he speaks has me believing him. I nod. That’s what I want. Right? Of course, it is. It’s what I need if this thing is going to work. So, why do I feel a pang of disappointment? I don’t, I tellmyself. It’s just his nearness coupled with him bringing up the incident at the club that has me flustered. This is a good thing. Professionalism is exactly what we both need.

“Good,” I say. “Thanks for telling me.”

“I don’t want there to be any confusion about our roles in the shop,” he says, his voice sounding steadier now and more like the professional grump from a few minutes before. “This is a business arrangement. Nothing more.”

Once again, I feel a slight sting at his tone coupled with his terse words. I’m not even sure why. It’s exactly what I want. I force a light tone when I speak again.

“No confusion here,” I assure him with what I hope is a convincing smile.

He dips his head once in a nod, but his expression doesn’t change. “Good. Glad that’s settled.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I say.

Turning, I push open the door and leave the shop. I don’t bother glancing back to see if Corbin watches me go.

Chapter 15

Avery

There was never any real choice about whether I was going to accept Corbin’s terms. It’s not exactly what I’d hoped for when I went looking for an apprenticeship, but it’s better than some alternatives. Besides, he could have said no. So, on Tuesday morning, I make my way to the shop at 10am, ready for my first day of work with the signed contractin my hand.

I hadn’t lied to Corbin. There was no way I was going to back out once he offered me the opportunity to be his apprentice. But I’d done as he said and read every word of the simple contract. It’s direct and held no surprises, but I’m a product of my upbringing. There’s no way I’m going to sign something without reading the fine print. Not that there’s any fine print. The contract states exactly what Corbin told me.

I’ll spend three months working in the shop and learning as much as possible about the business. After that three-month trial period, Corbin will evaluate me and decide whether to continue my training as a tattoo artist. There’s also a list of expected duties, the shop’s hours, and the rules for employees. I read over those a few times. Most of them are standard, but there is one that catches my eye.

Romantic relationships amongst staff are strictly prohibited.

It’s not like I was hoping for something to happen between me and Corbin. That would be ridiculous. Besides, we already established that we’re going to keep things strictly professional from here on out. He and I couldn’t be more opposite if we tried. In any case, I wouldn’t call whatever happened between us at the club romantic. It had been physical, sure. But it wasn’t romantic. Though I doubt Corbin would care about the distinction. I get the feeling he doesn’t like complications of any kind. And relationships can be complicated, even if they’re just physical.

But trust Corbin to put it in writing. I wonder if Jessie and Noah had to sign similar contracts stating there wouldn’t be any romance in the workplace. Judging from the little I know about Corbin, I wouldn’t doubt it. Speaking of Jessie and Noah, they’re both already at Elemental Ink when I arrive on Tuesday morning.

I do my best to hide the fact that I’m nervous as I walk into the shop, contract in hand. Jessie’s smile is friendly and welcoming when she sees me. She’s organizing various things at one of the work stations, but she stops and walks over to greet me. I take a second to look her over as she approaches. She’s taller than I am, and curvier. She’s pretty, with warm, brown skin and high cheekbones. Her long, dark hair is in braids down her back, and I can see a few bright blue and purple pieces mixed in with the darker strands. There’s a tiny silver stud in her right nostril that seems to suit her. She’s also got multiple hoops in each earlobe. As the shop’s piercer, I guess it makes sense she’d have piercings. She’s wearing a cropped tank that shows off a sliver of skin above the waistband of her jeans and I can see several tattoos on her bare arms. She’s pretty, and her smile seems genuine as she walks toward me.

“Avery, right?” she asks, holding out a hand.

Nodding, I reach out to shake her hand. “Right. And you’re Jessie.”

She smiles again. “Yep. I do all the piercings. Plus, anything Corbin forgets to do around here.” She says it with a little laugh like it’s an inside joke.

I glance over at her, questioning. “Does he forget a lot of things?”

She shakes her head. “Nah. Not really. But a lot goes into keeping this place running smoothly. I like to help if I can. Having you around should help with that. He told me you’re going to start off as a kind of assistant before moving up to apprentice. That’s awesome.”

I nod. “That’s the plan. I want to learn as much as I can and help where I’m needed.”

Jessie walks me toward the back of the shop as we talk. Gesturing toward Noah, she says, “That’s Noah. The other tattoo artist here. Noah, this is Avery.”

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