Page 21 of Three Little Words

“So, is there something you want to tell me?”

Yeah, she definitely knew about the shop.

But what the hell was I supposed to do? We didn’t talk anymore.

“We’re expanding.”

“Right down the street from Skin Buzz? Are you kidding me?”

“It’s a good location. The rent was a good price and it has room for the kind of setup we want.”

“Is that all?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re insinuating.”

“I’m insinuating that you think you can steal my clients.” She paused, smiling. “Or do you just miss me that bad?”

I raised my eyebrows. I definitely did not miss her.

Or at least, I wasn’t going to let her know it if I did.

“Fuck no. And I never accused you of stealing clients from us.”

“When would I have stolen clients from you?” Bryn folded her arms, scowling at me.

“When you went to Ink Spot four years ago.” I snorted. “That was a shitty name for a shop, anyway. No wonder they went out of business.”

“Like No Regrets is any better.”

That was unfair.

“No Regrets is a great name. Better than Skin Buzz. And by the way, you opened a shop twenty minutes from us. That’s stealing our clients.”

“It’s giving them options!” Bryn shifted her stance—hands on her hips, feet apart.

The tough girl look.

She used to pull that on me as a joke. Something playful, fun.

I used to pull her close and kiss her when she got tough on me.

If I tried that now, she’d probably slap me.

“You set up shop with the intention of taking business away from us.” I shrugged. “I’m just doing what’s right for my business. If people want to keep going to Skin Buzz, they will.”

She looked at me, her eyes cold. I hated that look.

I wanted to tell her that I missed her. I wanted to tell her that we used to have something special.

But then she opened her mouth again.

“If you think I’m just gonna roll over and let you screw me out of my business, you’re wrong. I’m not going down without a fight.” She took a step closer.

God, I didn’t want to have to fight a woman in front of the rest of the guys.

But she didn’t hit me. She leaned down and kissed me on the cheek.

“Consider this a warning,” she said. “I’m watching you.”

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