Page 81 of Forbidden Harmony

“She does seem sweet,” Lucas said. “So,what are your plans for the rest of the afternoon?”

“Not much. I thought about going for ahike at the Falls, but it’s way too frickin’ hot,” Addison said. “I’llprobably just go home and knit and watch some Netflix.”

She smiled up at him as they walked downthe street. “Being the only schoolteacher in your group of friends means you spenda lot of time alone during the summer.”

“I bet,” Lucas said. “What grade do youteach again?”

“First grade,” she said. “I love it. It’ssuch a great age for kids, you know?”

“I haven’t really been around kids thatmuch, to be honest,” Lucas said. “Thanks again for going to the yarn shop withme, Addison. I appreciate it.”

“Any time,” she said. “I’ll use any excuseto go to the yarn shop.”

He laughed and she smiled up at him again.“You know what? I have some really cute wrapping paper at home that has yarnand knitting needles printed on it. You should wrap your mom’s gift in it.She’d love it.”

“Hey, if you don’t mind sharing, I’d loveto snag some from you,” Lucas said. “Mom’s birthday isn’t for another week anda half, but I’ll pop by your place sometime in the next week or so, if that’sokay?”

“Of course,” Addison said. “Just text mewhen a day works for you.”

They were approaching Preacher’s tattooshop and she decided this time she would just casually glance in the window.If Preacher was near the window and happened to notice her, she would casuallywave at him before casually walking on.

It would be all very… casual.

“Oh, hey,” Lucas said. “Let’s go into theCrimson Door for a minute.”

“What?’ She gave him a startled look and slowedto a stop. “You want to go into Preacher’s shop?”

“You don’t?” he said.

“Oh, um, well…”

“C’mon,” he coaxed. “Just for a few minutes.I’ve been thinking about getting another tattoo.”

“Sure, okay,” she said. The butterflies bouncingaround in panicked circles in her stomach, Addison followed Lucas into the shop.

She glanced at the three tattoo stations.Nolan was setting up some equipment at one and Nix was tattooing a nervouslooking man at the second one. The third one was empty. She glanced at thepiercing room. The door was open and unless Preacher was hiding behind the door,he wasn’t in that room either.

Disappointment rolled through her, but shemasked it with a bright smile when Lucas glanced at her. “What kind of tattooare you thinking of getting?” she said.

Nolan ambled over, glancing at her. “Hey, Addison,right?”

“Yes,” she said. “Hi again.”

“Hey. How’s the tattoo?”

“It’s good.”

“You have a tattoo?” Lucas was obviously surprised.

“Yes. I just got it last week,” Addie saidas the bell on the door jingled behind them.

“Cool. Can I see it?” Lucas said.

“No.”

The butterflies went on a real bender whenthey heard Preacher’s deep voice behind them. She turned, trying to ignore theway her pussy went damp when she saw him. He was holding a bag from Nan’s inone hand and he looked a little tired and a lot pissed off. “Her ink is in aspot you don’t get to fucking see.”

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