Page 5 of The Stranger

“A tattoo?”

Maura nods.

“Then, why didn’t you?”

She lifts her shoulders. “Martin forbade me.”

“Martin? The guy you left?”

“Yeah. My now ex.”

She’s single, and I try not to get excited at the fact. As if I actually have a chance with her. “He deserves it.” I look at my watch again and then back at her. “Is he gonna be a problem for you?”

“What do you mean?”

“He looked like the type of guy who didn’t take no for an answer. Are you gonna be in any danger from him?”

Maura lowers her lashes, her forehead creasing. “I haven’t considered that. I hope not.”

“Do you live alone?”

“Y-yes.”

“Does he have a key to your place?”

Her head snaps up, one hand flying to her mouth. “Oh my God. He does.”

“Send him a message first thing in the morning, asking for your keys back. From now on, I can fetch you from your place and take you to your work and vice versa.” I rarely speak this much with other people except Erika, but here I am, offering my chauffeuring services like I don’t have anything better to do than drive her back and forth.

“Oh, you’d do that? I mean, I know how to drive, and I have a car, but I honestly will feel better with you around.”

This gives me pause. Usually, when people see me—size, tattoos, and piercings—they assume the worst. Maura feeling safe around me is a first, and I ignore the way my chest constricts at the compliment. “No problem. My clients come here by appointment.”

Speaking of clients, a man in his early 20s, with a vertical labret on his bottom lip, saunters toward me. He pauses and stares in obvious awe at Maura.

I don’t like it, so when I speak, my voice comes out more gruff than usual. “Sit here, please.” He lowers himself to the leather chair, eyes never leaving Maura. “Stop ogling her, man. She’s my guest. Either you behave, or you can ask someone else to ink you.”

His face turns crimson red as he mumbles a low, “Sorry.”

The next two hours are a masterclass in restraint and self-control. After asking for permission to sit close to me so she can watch how the needle inserts ink into the top layer of the skin,Maura positions herself far enough that I can move freely but close enough that our thighs touch.

I am a thirty-six-year-old man. I’ve tattooed women on their chests, above their asses, and even on their thighs. But not once did I get aroused. Maura, on the other hand, despite the layers of clothing between us, makes me burn. Good thing my professionalism wins out because I spend all my energy on making sure the tattoo is exactly how the client wants it.

And when he leaves, he’s so happy he tips me more than the price I quoted him for.

Even so, I’m sweating bullets by the end despite the air conditioning. Without thinking, I yank my shirt over my head, toss it to the duffel bag near my chair, and take a fresh one from the drawers.

I turn to tell Maura we can get going, but she stands frozen by the doorway, Erika by her side. Maura’s eyes darken as she trails them down to my exposed abs. Even all the way from here, I can see her breath hitch, her chest heaving like she’s running a marathon.

Erika, the menace, casts her a sideway glance and smirks. Without another word, she goes back to her desk, leaving me and Maura staring at each other, with me at a disadvantage because I’m still shirtless.

My base instinct is to rush to her and claim her mouth, but I stop myself. I will wait for her to make the first move because the last thing I want is to scare her away.

But…

That look she gave me just now? She likes what she sees, and I’ve never been more grateful for going to the gym as often as I do.

“Maura?” My voice almost sounds like a growl.

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