Page 69 of Cold Hard Truth

I swear she glows half the time. Her cheeks are rosy, brightened by her wild red hair.

“I wasn’t planning on it.” I shrug, dropping down onto the couch in the lobby. “But I’m bored. I swear there’s nothing to do up there.”

Except mess around with my tarot cards and face the inevitable.

“Tired of being locked in Sage’s tower?” She winks.

“You make it sound like a fairytale.”

I might be locked in a tower with the beast, but there’s no virginal princess worth saving.

“Just saying.”

She wraps her hair up in a bun, even though the pieces around her face refuse to cooperate and fall out instantly, so she gives up.

“I’m surprised you’re here.” I change the subject. “It’s Saturday. Does this place ever close?”

“The weekends are for special appointments.” Fel’s grinning so big, her cheeks might burst. “Celebrityappointments.”

She whispers the final words, her eyes darting to the hallway.

“Really?” I lean forward, curious who has her smiling like a girl with a teenage crush. “Who is it?”

Fel looks around like she might get in trouble even though we’re the only people here, and I can’t help but laugh. I have no doubt she’s always been a bit of a good girl.

Leaning forward on the counter, she bites her lip, smiling. “Crew is tattooing Noah Hayes.”

“Noah Hayes, as in, the drummer for Enemy Muse?” I hitch an eyebrow.

Fel is grinning and nodding, looking just as surprised about it as I am hearing it.

It’s still hard to believe how much Twisted Roses has changed. They’ve turned it from a Twisted Kings money laundering front to a legit tattoo business. But more than that, they have a reputation with some well-recognized names.

Echo told me about their celebrity clientele, but Enemy Muse is the biggest rock band in the country.

“Holy shit.” I breathe out a sigh. “Noah Hayes.”

“I know, it’s wild.” Fel rests her chin in her hands. “I guess they’re in town promoting a band they just signed. And they’re friends with the guys, so Noah and Rome came by to get tatted and catch up. Jude’s backthere now.”

“And why aren’t you?”

“I was.” She shrugs. “But they’re reliving the glory days, and I wanted to get things sorted up here, so I left them to do their thing.”

“I still can’t believe they tattoo celebrities.”

“You get used to it.” Fel straightens a stack of magazines on the counter. “But I don’t think it ever gets less surprising when you meet one.”

I can imagine.

The door to the shop opens, and I look up to see Sage standing in the doorway. His stare immediately meets mine, and I’ve never been this exposed to him. He’s the man who took my virginity years ago, but right now might be the first time he’s actually seen me bare.

I’ve gotten so used to his irritation, I don’t know what to make of the fact that it isn’t there anymore. That his gaze is filled with concern instead of anger, and that he doesn’t seem to hate me like he did yesterday.

His fingers flex and draw my attention to his hand. It’s wrapped in a bandage.

“What happened?”

He holds his hand up, looking like he forgot it was there. “Nothing. Just letting out some steam at the gym this morning.”

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