Page 73 of Kiss Away Your Pain (Wounded Hearts 2)

A bright smile lifts her cheeks as she nods in agreement. At the end of the nod, her head tilts slightly like she appreciates my remembering the lamps.

I get my phone out of my pocket and take a picture. “This way we’ll have it to compare with in case you find something else you like.”

She continues flipping through binders when the artist comes over.

“Hello, do you speak English?” I ask.

“Yes, no good, but yes.” He smiles.

“We want tattoos. Can you take us?”

“Yes. I can. Only me today.”

I show him the picture on my phone and Candi joins us.

“How long will this take?” I ask.

“How big you want?”

“One inch?” Candi suggests.

“Mm.” He tips his head from side to side as the corners of his lips turn down, pondering. “Two hour I think.”

I look down at my watch. “That might be cutting it tight with our flight.” I look at her, not wanting to see disappointment in her face.

“How long for only the heart lock?” she asks him, covering the key with her hand.

“One hour?” He lifts his shoulders. “Maybe little more.” He holds up his hand, pinching his thumb and pointer finger close together.

“But you won’t have time to get one.” She looks at me with puppy-dog eyes.

I chuckle at how adorable she is. “I have enough. Besides, I won’t be forgetting this trip.” I look her square in the eyes so she can feel the depth of my gratitude. “Come on, let’s get you in the chair.”

She sits back in the reclined chair and slides the waist of her black leggings down to the top of her pubic bone. Then she points to a spot that’s three and a half inches in from her hip bone and about three inches down, centimeters from the top of her landing strip, ensuring it’ll be covered by a bikini bottom. My mind jumps forward to licking that spot when it’s healed.

“Here?” she asks him.

He nods.

“Can you make the lock open?” She gestures with her hand, opening the shackle from the body of the lock. When she looks up at me, vulnerability and anticipation coalescing, her unspoken words float into my heart.

In that instant, our energies intertwine, the promise of hope tangling between us.

“Yes. I can.” He nods with a smile then looks at me and back at her. “I agápi sou?”

Shaking her head, she shrugs and smiles at him.

“Eh, hmm,” He rubs his chin, his brain searching for the translation. “Your love, yes?”

Her cheeks turn a soft shade of pink as she looks back up at me. I grab a chair to sit with them. Putting the chair next to her, I hold her hand. As he begins his artwork, she squeezes my hand, but keeps her body still.

She winces, sucking air in through her teeth. “I forgot how painful these are.”

“You did pick a sensitive spot.” I wink, rubbing her hand with my thumb.

We get to the airport with just enough time to get to our gate before boarding begins. Though in discomfort from her fresh tattoo, once we’re in the air, Candi opens her laptop and continues working on her images for the Gucci campaign. I start reading the book I brought,I Am Watching You, and fall asleep.

When we land in L.A., she lets me know she got an email about a track event this weekend at Willow Springs Raceway and invites me to join her. Excited to watch her drive, I accept. It’s a two-day event, but I can only go the first day because I have to get back for work. We set our plans and head home with a couple busy days ahead of us.

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