Page 21 of Forbidden Harmony

“Nolan, enough.”

Preacher’s low voice washed over her, andshe turned and stared at him as he stepped out of one of the unmarked rooms andclosed the door.

“Hi there.” Her voice was too loud, andshe winced as Nolan stared at her and then at Preacher.

“You know her, Preacher?”

Preacher nodded. “Good evening, Miss Moore.”

“Hi,” she said.

“She wants a tattoo,” Nolan said.

If Preacher was surprised, it didn’t showon his face.

“Not a very big one,” she said. “Um, justa small one.”

“I told her we’re booking three months inadvance,” Nolan said.

“I can tattoo you tonight,” Preacher said.

Nolan’s mouth dropped open. “Tonight? Itold Monica I’d meet her at the Falls in ten minutes and -”

“Go on, Nolan,” Preacher said. “I’ll closeup when I’m done.”

Nolan frowned. “You sure?”

“I am. See you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, sure, okay. I haven’t cashed outyet,” Nolan said as he grabbed his jacket.

Addison smiled a little smugly at Nolan ashe walked past her and out the door. Her pulse sped up when Preacher walkedtoward her, but he passed by her and turned the open sign to close beforelocking the door and pulling the shade down over the big picture window.

“What kind of tattoo are you looking for?” heasked.

She licked her lips. “I was thinking aflower.”

“You want colour?”

“Yes, I think so.”

He walked to the seating area and brought backone of the black binders. He set it on the counter in front of her and flippedit open. “These are all flowers.”

She looked through the book as he walked tothe closest station and laid out some equipment. He returned just as she wasflipping the last page.

“Find anything you like?”

She hesitated and shook her head. “No, I’msorry. Do you have anything else?”

He stared silently at her for a momentbefore saying, “Follow me.”

She followed him to the table with thesketch books and watched as he opened one to a blank page and picked up apencil. “What’s your favourite flower?”

“Orchids.” She watched in amazement as hequickly sketched an orchid. In less than ten minutes, he had sketched out asmall perfectly shaped orchid and her mouth dropped open. “That’s beautiful.”

“You like it?” he said.

“I love it.”

---