Page 24 of Breaking the Rules

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Chapter Six

Hunter

Dean explains the shop mantra as Emma settles into her seat behind the counter.

Cute girl checks customers out. Flirts to increase the line of the tip. Takes home a small percentage of said tip on top of her salary for the trouble.

He explains it loudly, to irritate Chloe, which he does.

She rolls her eyes and stomps to the office.

He follows her.

I focus on a mock-up for an old client. Natasha. She'd get something once a year. Wake up one day inspired, beg me to squeeze her in, gush over what I whipped up in a few hours.

When inspiration struck this morning, she went into Blacklist Tattoo looking for me. Heard that I'd moved on.

I guess that's that.

Chase made it clear I wasn't welcome when he issued that ultimatum.

Time and sobriety haven't done shit to heal this.

I'm not sure anything is going to heal this.

I snap a picture of the mock-up. Send it to Natasha.

The shop is quiet. There's always noise—rock music, the hum of the tattoo gun, soft grunts—but there's no conversation.

Emma is sitting at the counter, copying notes onto a clean sheet of paper.

She looks up from her text book.

Catches me staring.

Blushes.

Because she wants me.

Or because her story about playing shitty music too loudly is bullshit.

Or because she's terrified I'll report to her brother.

Or maybe all of the above.

I want to repay the debt I owe Brendon.

But there's something else too. Something about her. Something besides her long legs and her soft lips.

Fuck, I need to get over that.

I'm helping her as a favor.

I'm not getting involved.

That's best for both of us.

Natasha sends notes on the design.

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