Page 37 of Forbidden Harmony

Holy crap.

She was getting her nipple pierced.

* * *

Preacher stopped at the counter. Nolan hadthe phone stuck between his shoulder and his ear as he typed into thecomputer. “All good. See you around six thirty.”

He ended the call and turned to Preacher. “Yo,what’s up?”

“I’m running over to Nan’s to grab lunch. Youwant anything?”

“Nah, I ate my lunch earlier. I gotta setup for Rory. He’ll be here at one thirty. I got maybe a couple hours left ofwork on the tattoo and then that motherfucker is done.” He flipped his neongreen hair out of his eyes. “Your nose piercing for the end of the day cancelled,but I booked a nipple piercing in its place.”

“Sure, okay.” Preacher was checking hisemail on his phone and barely listening.

“I think it might be that same chick whocame in the other night at closing wanting a tattoo. Her last name was Moore.”

“What?” Preacher’s head snapped up. “Whatdid you just say?”

“Your nipple piercing. I think it might bethe same -”

“What’s the name?” Preacher practically laidacross the counter to try and see the laptop screen.

“Jesus, dude, chill out,” Nolan said. “AddisonMoore. Is that the chick?”

“Yeah. You sure she said nipple piercing?”

“Yes.” Nolan pointed to the side of hishead. “I got ears, don’t I?”

Preacher ignored him, staring down at thebody jewelry on display in the counter. “She say what kind of jewelry she wanted?”

“Yeah, titanium barbell.” Nolan headed overto his station and spritzed the leather tattoo chair with disinfectant.

Preacher stepped behind the counter and unlockedthe case before sliding one glass door open. He picked up one of the titaniumbarbells and slipped it into his pocket before sliding the door back into placeand locking it.

He left the shop. The switch from the coldair-conditioned shop into the muggy heat of the summer day, sent sweat immediatelysliding down his back. Jesus, it was the hottest day yet. He was supposed towatch Gideon play ball tonight, but if the heat didn’t let up, he was skippingit.

Addison might be there.

Would she? She wasn’t with her fiancé anymoreso why would she bother going to the games?

Maybe because she loves baseball justlike everyone else in this town? You’re the only one who can’t stand baseballin Harmony Falls. It’s just another reason why you and the littleschoolteacher are so different.

It didn’t fucking matter. He would see Addisonat the shop in roughly five hours anyway. A little thread of excitement wormedinto his stomach. Even better, he’d be seeing those perfect tits of hers. He immediatelyberated himself. He would be seeing her tits because of his fucking job and he’dmake damn sure to be professional.

Oh yeah? Because what you’re about todo sure as fuck isn’t exactly professional.

He ignored his inner voice and instead ofcrossing the street to Nan’s, he turned right and walked four blocks down MainStreet. The street was crowded but he barely noticed. When you were as big ashe was and covered in tattoos, people tended to get out of your way. By thetime he opened the door to the fine jewelry and engraving store, his shirt wassticking to his back with sweat.

The store was almost empty except for a couplesitting on small stools in front of the engagement ring section. A prettyyoung Indian woman with long dark hair and wearing a sleeveless dress that showedoff both the full tattoo sleeve on her left arm and the half sleeve on herright, was showing the couple various rings. She glanced up and waved at Preacher.“Hey, Preacher.”

“Hi, Diya.”

She pointed to her half-sleeve. “I’mbooked in September to finish this off.”

“I saw that,” Preacher said. “Looking forwardto working on it.”

“Me too. Dad’s just in the back, give hima minute and he’ll be out to help you.” She waved again before returning her attentionto the couple. A small and compact Indian man came out from the curtained offarea behind the counter. “Mr. Preacher, it’s good to see you again.”

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