Page 5 of Chasing Sparks

She nods as a smile breaks across her face. “Kismet, I guess. It’s been a while, Ash. Too long.”

“Not long enough,” I grumble, feeling my insides twist at her proximity.

She motions to the bag in my hand. “What did you buy?”

We arenotengaging in small talk.

I prepare to reply with a caustic retort, but I notice my client is within earshot. Correction: our client.

I pull the book from the bag and thrust it toward her. “Jane Eyre.”

She examines the cover, her long nails tracing the artwork. “Gorgeous. But you’re not a fan ofJane Eyre. So tell me, who is she?” She cocks her head at me, her eyes wide and teasing.

“Nope, I’m not doing this.” I stalk into Black Lotus’s booth, trying to regain my balance.

Just when things were looking up.

Her boots click against the floor as she trails me to my station. “We’re stuck working together, Ash, so can we make the best of it?”

Is she insane? I keep my back to her, willing my breathing to return to normal.

“Look, I know you hate me, but?—”

“You know nothing about me,” I snarl.

“That’s not true. I know everything about you.”

Whirling on my heel, I fix her with my glare. “Why are you here? And don’t tell me Scott sent you. You could have said no. Youshouldhave said no.”

She inches forward, her normally confident movements now timid. “I thought it would be a great opportunity.”

“For what?”

“For us.”

She’s got to be fucking kidding me. My brain thumps in my head, and I swear I’m going to stroke out. Hell, maybe that’s a good idea to get me away from this situation.

Ten years. Ten goddamn years and I’m still not past her. Still not past the lies and betrayal she heaped on my love.

Her hand touches my sleeve, and I yank it from her grasp. “Ash, please.”

Tugging a hand through my hair, I finally meet her gaze. “What do you want, Lucille?”

“Another chance so that maybe you might like me again. Remember any of my good qualities.”

“Do you have any?”

“You know I do, although I deserved that comment.” She averts her gaze, fiddling with the arm of the portable tattoo chair. “I should go. I’ll call Scott and let him know this was a bad idea. You want me to speak to the client?”

Lucille is offering me a way out, but how can I let this client down when I know her backstory? She flew five hundred miles for me to ink her dead fiancé on her skin. Correction: she flew hundreds of miles for Lucille and me to work together on this piece.

I know Lucille’s skill and she’ll do an exemplary job on the tattoo.

Trouble is, she might decimate my soul in the process.

Again.

You’re a professional, Ash. You can do this. You survived Lucille once. How hard can it be this time?

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