Page 38 of Christmas with Four Tattoo Artists

“Then what kind is it?”

“It’s personal. Sorry to be coy, but I’m just kind of a dork about my writing like that.”

She nodded in understanding. “I totally get it. I never let anyone look at my tattoo designs until I’m one-thousand-percent happy with them. But this is so cool! You need a pair of eyes, just let me know.” Maddie winked. “And in the meantime, your secret’s safe with me.”

I smiled. “Thanks, Mads.”

I felt a ton better until my sense of peace was shattered when the door chimed, a blonde, tattooed woman strolling in like she owned the place. She was dressed in a short, tight dress, her eyes hidden behind giant, gaudy designer sunglasses. Ink peeked out from underneath the very short hemline of her dress and snaked up and down her arms.

“Oh, you have got to be kidding me.” Maddie shook her head slowly as she spoke. “Adele?”

The woman smiled primly as she approached the counter, as if she were some rich heiress strolling into the lobby of a seaside condo and expecting prompt, dutiful service.

“Madeline,” she said, not even turning her head toward Maddie. “I would say it’s good to see you, but…”

Maddie snorted. “You know, I’d say you had balls coming back in here, but with how tight that dress is, I’m pretty sure I’d be able to see them if you did.”

Adele turned to me. “Hi, counter girl. Would you mind running back and fetching the boys? Thanks.”

Counter girl?

Adele. The name sounded familiar. Then it hit me—she’d been the subject of a lot of gossip that I’d overheard from the artists. Apparently she used to work at Blackjack’s, before my time.

Adele was beautiful in an overdone, cover girl kind of way. If the gossip I’d heard from the crew was true, she was a former runway model who had dabbled in the porn industry. Her body was a work of art, no doubt the result of hours in the gym, along with no small amount of carefully chosen plastic surgery and intricate tattoo art that adorned her skin like a masterpiece.

Her light blonde hair was styled to perfection, pin-straight and reaching all the way down to the small of her back. Her blue eyes sparkled with crafty cunning, and her lips, filler-plump and perfectly painted, were turned up in a snooty little smile.

Adele's outfit was as scandalous as the woman herself. She wore a skimpy short dress that barely covered anything, paired with high heels that added an extra edge to her already tall frame. Jingling jewelry adorned her wrists and neck, and I had no doubt that underneath that dress, she was wearing something raunchy and provocative.

“Adele?”

I turned to watch as the guys emerged from the back. Adele didn’t speak another word to me before zipping around the counter toward them, her tall heels click-clacking on the floor.

"Hey, boys!" she cooed, her voice dripping with honey as she sauntered over. "I've missed you all so much!”

Before any of the guys had a chance to say a word, Adele threw open her arms and hugged Finn and Kai.

“Fucking hell,” Maddie said. “There goes the goddamn neighborhood.”

“What’s her deal?” I asked.

“You’ve heard the stories. But summed up, that girl’s too much drama with too little talent wrapped up in a body with the most over-the-top Brazilian butt lift I’ve ever seen.”

“Addy.” Finn put his hands on his hips and looked Adele up and down. “What’re you doing here?”

“Oh, I was just out for a little shopping trip and I passed by the place. It’s been almost a year since I’ve been in this part of Miami and God, just one look at this place brought so many memories flooding back!”

“Memories huh?” Finn asked. “Yeah, got a few of those.”

“No kidding,” Kai added.

Adele, undeterred by the men’s frosty welcome, went on. “I was just going to come in and say hi. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much I missed working at this place. I'd do anything to work here again."

“Are you serious, Addy?” Kai asked. “That’s not going to happen.”

Adele’s lip quivered, and I got the sense right away that I was about to hear an Oscar-worthy sob story.

"Oh, guys," she began, her voice shaking as if on the brink of tears. "I don't know where to start. Life has just… it’s been so cruel to me lately." She paused, biting her plump lower lip and looking down at the floor.

---