Page 8 of Faded in Bloom (The Seasons Change)

My eyes narrowed on his short-sleeved T-shirt and jeans. “I don’t see any fresh tattoos. I’m not sure I believe this story.”

His dark brows rose. “As it happens, neighbor, my new tattoo is under my shirt.”

I flicked my fingers at him. “Prove it. Let’s see it then.”

“For real?”

I nodded, biting my bottom lip. Adam slowly raised his T-shirt, revealing a taut abdomen with a sprinkling of dark hair. My teeth dug into my lip a little bit harder.

Twisting to the side, he showed me the bandage that went from under his arm to halfway down his ribs. “Is this proof enough? I’d take the bandage off, but Chris would probably strangle me.”

“It’ll do. But you have to tell me what you got permanently inked on your skin.”

That made him laugh. He had a good laugh. It was loose and easy, like he did it often. I liked that about him.

“I have to, huh? Why’s that?”

I held out my poofy skirt. “It’s my birthday. The birthday girl gets what she wants. Except I haven’t been getting what I want all night…”

“It’s the opening chords to the first song I ever wrote.” He took his credit card back from Pixie, gave her a wink, then turned his attention back to me. “Are you getting tattooed tonight, birthday girl?”

It occurred to me he didn’t know my name. This wasn’t the first time we’d spoken. My father owned the record label The Seasons Change was signed to, so we’d met at a couple industry parties. I wasn’t used to being forgotten, so this was…well, it was a blow to the ego.

“She wants her nose pierced, but I told her we were closed for a VIP,” Pixie interjected.

She was practically hanging over the desk, pushing her boobs up while she did. I guess she saw me as competition, but she shouldn’t have. First, I would never date or bang a musician signed to my father’s label. Second, I was finished with men. Adam was hot, his smile was perfection, his laugh made me want to roll around in it, but I had no interest in him in a romantic or carnal sense.

So, Pixie could have him—aftershe stuck a needle in my nose.

Adam’s eyes narrowed, and he stooped to peer at me. Not that he had to stoop far. In my heels, I was over six feet tall. He just had a couple inches on me.

“Yeah, you’d look hot with your nose pierced. Ring or stud?” he asked.

“I pictured a tiny stud.” I poked at my nose and sighed. “But it looks like it’s not my night.”

He held up a finger and turned to Pixie. “Ronna, lovely, I think she needs her nose pierced. It’s her birthday after all. We can’t break her heart on her birthday.”

Pixie turned pink all over. It was kind of funny to see this tatted up, sort of badass-looking woman blushing under Adam’s attention. But he wasskilledat lavishing it on. He lowered his voice, smoothed it out, and crowded into her space, which she obviously welcomed. Adam had a reputation, and I was seeing live and in person why he had it. Pixie was about to melt into a puddle from his lowered lids and the brush of his fingers across her knuckles.

“Okay. As long as you’re okay with her being here, I can fit in one more piercing tonight.” Pixie bit her bottom lip and batted her lashes. I had a feeling she didn’t even know she was doing it. He was justthatgood.

He winked at her. “You’re the best. I won’t forget it.”

I filled out forms and paid. Adam followed me to the glass case to choose the jewelry I wanted, then Pixie—whose name was Ronna, but I couldn’t stop thinking of her as Pixie—motioned for me to come to the back with her. Adam stayed by my side.

I looked at him, laughing under my breath. “Are you going to hold my hand?”

His eyebrows rose. “Do you need me to hold your hand, neighbor?”

“I don’t think so. I was just wondering why you’re sticking around.”

“Do you mind? I’ve never seen anyone get pierced, and now I’m invested.”

“Well, I’ve never been pierced. I suppose this is a first for both of us.”

I climbed up in the piercing chair while Adam loomed over me with a pinched brow. He reached down and tucked my hair behind my ear.

“Wait. You don’t have your ears pierced.”

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