Page 35 of Ink & Desire

She’s also taken initiative around the shop, doing things not asked of her when she sees they need doing. She organized the paperwork at the front desk, so it makes sense now. I can actually find what I’m looking for easily. There’s also a new plant at the desk that adds a nice bit of color and life to the place. I don’t know the first thing about caring for a plant, but Avery assured me she’d handle it.

Jessie and Noah both seem to love her, not to mention the clients. She seems to be able to put the nervous ones at ease with a smile and a few words. Even the most stoic of my clients aren’t unaffected by her. Yesterday, a biker I’ve been tattooing for 4 years laughed at one of her jokes. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the man laugh. I don’t get it. Even though she has a pampered, rich girl persona, Avery somehow fits in here at Elemental Ink. I hadn’t expected that when I’d agreed to let her apprentice.

It’s also been worse than I expected; spending every day with her nearby and not acting on my attraction to her. She hasn’t done anything to encourage my wayward thoughts. In fact, she seems almost indifferent to me. That fact doesn’t seem to matter to my perpetually hard cock though. It's taken me until just this moment to admit to myself that it’s not Avery who’s the problem. It’s me. I know what I told her the day I gave her the contract. I know the stipulation I put in it about no romantic relationships among staff. And she hasn’t once given me cause to think she wants to break that rule. But my own imagination didn’t seem to get the memo because I’ve spent the last week with Avery Scott starring in every sordid sexual fantasy I can dream up. It’s bad enough that I went home the other night and jacked off to thoughts of her riding my cock. It hadn’t been my finest moment, but I’m not delusional enough to think it won’t happen again. I don’t know what it is about her that has me so caught up, but I wish I could turn it off.

It’s enough todrive me crazy. Not that I’ve done or said anything to let her, or anyone else, know what I’m thinking. In fact, I’ve done everything I can to make sure she doesn’t want anything to do with me. I can admit that I’ve been a bit of an asshole when it comes to her. I’m not proud of it, but I don’t know what else to do. I know there’d been mutual attraction when we first met. It clearly hasn’t gone away for me. Maybe me being an asshole will make whatever attraction Avery felt for me dissipate. It’s worth a shot. Because if I know she’s not interested, there’s no way I’ll cross any lines with her. Even I know it’s a flimsy excuse, but I don’t know what else to do.

The bell above the door rings, pulling me back to the present. Turning, I see my sister walking toward me, a big smile on her face and two white bakery boxes in her hands. My mood improves immediately. We'd had to reschedule her appointment last Sunday because she'd had some kind of work emergency. I'm still not totally sure what it is my sister does for a living, but I know she's got an important job at the company where she works. I also know I'd be proud of her no matter what job she had.

“Henley,” I say, smiling with genuine happiness.

“I come baring baked goods,” she says, lifting the boxes slightly to emphasize them.

“Is that from Jensen’s?”

Jessie’s words are so high-pitched I’m worried for the neighborhood dogs. I wince and plug one ear with a finger, giving her a look of admonishment.

“What frequency was that?” I mutter.

Ignoring me, Jessie makes her way toward my sister to relieve her of the bakery boxes.

“Don’t touch my brownies,” I warn, making her roll her eyes.

“Don’t worry,” she says. “I’m here for the snickerdoodles.”

“Trash cookie,” I mutter.

“I’m with you,” I hear from my right.

My body comes to life immediately when I realize Avery is standing beside me. I hadn’t noticed her approaching. I hold myself rigid beside her, resisting the urge to turn and let my eyes roam over her body.

“Snickerdoodles are barely a step above sugar cookies,” she says, oblivious to my struggle. “Give me double chocolate any day.”

I almost smile at her assessment. I tend to hold the same opinion about snickerdoodles, but I don’t say that. Instead, I say, “Jensen’s brownies are the best in town.” I don’t look over at her as I speak. It’s easier if I don’t look at her when she’s standing this close to me. I surprise myself by adding, “You should try one.”

From the corner of my eye, I see her tilt her head up to look at me. I don’t turn to meet her gaze. I don’t want to see whatever expression she’s wearing right now. I can only imagine it’s one of surprise, if not outright shock. This might be the first time I’ve made any sort of outward gesture of friendliness. I don’t even know why I said it.I hadn’t planned to. It had just slipped out. But it’s too late to call back the words now.

“Thanks,” Avery says in a low voice. “I’d love one.”

I don’t say anything else. Instead, I leave her standing there as I walk over to greet my sister. Jessie is already stuffing a snickerdoodle into her mouth while bouncing slightly on her feet. If I didn’t know she was in her 30s, I’d think she was a kid. With her small stature and her ridiculous excitement over cookies, I don’t think anyone would fault me.

“Chew with your mouth closed, heathen,” I mumble as I make my way over to my sister.

Jessie flips me the bird but doesn’t speak around her mouthful of cookie.

Henley smiles at me as I approach. She’s wearing jeans and a tank top with her blonde hair piled high into a messy bun on top of her head. She looks so completely different from the polished, put-together woman I saw dancing her ass off in a club two weeks ago. She looks more like the baby sister I grew up with. This Henley is the one I prefer. The one who’s not trying to impress anyone or pretend to be something she isn’t. I pull her to me for a hug.

“Good to see you, Hen,” I say.

“You too.”

I hear a feminine laugh from behind me as I release Henley. The sound sends a jolt of awareness through me, and I glance back to see Avery watching Jessie demolish another cookie with an amused smile on her face. Is thisthe first time I’ve heard her laugh? Maybe. I feel like I would have remembered that sound if I’d heard it before.

“I upheld my end of the bargain,” Henley says, pulling my attention away from my new apprentice.

I turn to look at her. “I haven’t seen the brownies yet.”

She rolls her eyes. “Go eat a damned brownie so we can get started.”

---