Page 98 of Can We Try?

“Lachlan, your two o’clock is here,” she tells him.

“Thanks, Lyra, send her in. The sooner I get this done, the sooner I get home to my family.”

“Missing them, are you?” she asks, not bothering to hide her smile.

“Every day, Lyra. Every day,” he says.

Lyra steps back, gives me a high-five, and walks away. I step into the room, and Lachlan still has his back to me. “Be right with you. Just texting my wife,” he tells me.

Oh, how I love this man. He’s been calling me his wife a lot lately. I guess he can get away with that since our wedding is in a month. He sends his message and places his phone back on his desk. Mine chimes before he has a chance to turn around. Pulling it out of my purse, I read it and reply.

“I miss you too. Sean is fine. He’s with Brogan for a few hours.”

Lachlan whips his head around to look at me, and his mouth falls open. “Mags, what are you doing here? Is everything okay?” His eyes roam over me as if he’s looking for an injury.

“I’m fine. Sean is fine. As I said, he’s with Brogan. I’m here for my two o’clock.”

“What? Wait? You’re my next client?” He furrows his brow and turns to look at his schedule. “It says Sarah James.”

“I might have had Lyra make up a name to surprise you.”

“Consider me surprised.” He makes his way toward me, then wraps his arms around me in a hug. When he pulls back, he drops a quick kiss to my lips. “So, you’re going to let me ink you?” he asks, wearing a huge grin.

“I am.”

“Do you know what you want? I might need some time. I want this to be perfect for you.”

“I think this one will be easy enough. I actually have two that I want to start with.”

“Two? To start with?”

“Yeah, today I have two, and then maybe in a month or so, I want another one. But you might not be able to do them both today, but at least you’ll know what I want and can be more prepared next time.”

“My girl’s got the ink bug.” He grins.

“Only for things that are important to me.”

“Okay. Well, let’s hear it.”

“Well, I want something like this.” I pull the image of the knitting needles and yarn from my purse. “For Grandma Doris. Maybe on my shoulder or something?”

“Love this, Mags.” He nods, staring at the picture I handed him. I can already see his wheels spinning with ideas. “What else?”

“This.” I hand him Sean’s footprint from the hospital. “Can this be done? Maybe with his name and date of birth on there somewhere.”

“Damn, I want this one too.” He picks up his phone and dials someone. “Hey, I need on your schedule.” He’s quiet. “Yeah, that works. Thanks.” He hangs up the phone. “This can be done,” he tells me. “I love this idea.”

“Who did you call?”

“Rome. He’s the only other one here tonight, and I want this too. We’ll get matching tattoos for our boy.”

My heart fills with love for this man. “I love that idea.”

“Okay, well, which one do you want to do first?”

“I don’t have a preference.”

“Wait, you said you want another one too? What’s that?”

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