Page 25 of Inked Beasts

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Later, after I’m back in my room and freshly showered, I search out the Beasts Ink reality show and watch the first few episodes. It’s clear the producers did their best to manufacture drama, but Gage and Kai are shown to be the creative, hardworking, sexy beasts they are. It’s obvious why they have groupies. Even if I didn’t know them, I’d be drooling.

I’m still watching when Kai calls, pushing right past any small talk. “Want to get together tonight?”

I’m tempted. The area between my legs is sorely tempted, but something tells me to say no. “I’m really tired,” I say. “All of the stuff from the wedding is catching up to me.” Which is true, but more than that, my emotions are so tangled up about Gage that I’m not ready to be with Kai again yet.

His long silence comes across as disappointment, and I almost change my mind. I expect him to push, but he eventually just says, “Okay. Get some rest.”

“See you soon,” I tell him.

As soon as I click off the call, my stomach rumbles, reminding me that I forgot to eat lunch. So much for being organized. I’m definitely not feeling like myself lately.

Ordering room service again seems too indulgent, so I head to the resort’s restaurant. It’s a weeknight, and it’s still early, so it turns out to be no problem for them to accommodate me.

The delicious scent of food registers first, followed by the sight of the dining room’s ornate decor. Swirling gold lines draw my eye to the walls, where fresh flower arrangements blend seamlessly into painted floral panels.

Chairs and booths are upholstered in a vivid cobalt blue; tables and trim are deep mahogany. The space is lush and decadent but also somehow modern. I suddenly can’t wait to see the resort’s event space, and I’m envisioning the beautiful weddings I’ll be helping to plan, but my stomach insists that eating takes priority over work.

I’m shown to a small table near the back of the room, which turns out to be perfectly positioned for me to see Thorn when he comes out of the kitchen just as I’m perusing the menu.

With the contrast of his dark features against his starched white chef’s jacket, he looks even more attractive than he did yesterday, and I spend some time admiring him before I wave to get his attention.

The way his face lights up when he sees me does something funny to my stomach, and it’s full of fluttery feelings as he makes his way directly to my table.

“Lexy, how are you?” It’s still a shock that this deep voice and this strong, solid body belong to the scrawny boy I used to play with.

“I’m good. Excited to try some of your food. How are you?”

“Even better now.” The way he looks at me makes his meaning clear. I never would have imagined Thorn would grow up to be such a smooth talker.

I’d never have thought he’d be able to make me blush.

“What does the chef recommend?” I ask.

His lips quirk as he considers. “Have you grown into liking fish, by any chance?”

I shake my head. “Not yet.”

“Shame,” he says. “Some excellent halibut arrived today.”

“I have no doubt you could make it taste good, but it’ll be better appreciated by the other diners.” I momentarily peel my eyes away from him to glance around the room, and find that many of those diners are watching him, several of them blatantly turning in their seats to do so. One of them is quite obviously taking a picture with their phone.

It turns out that Kai and Gage aren’t the only ones with enthusiastic fans.

“Looks like you’re pretty popular,” I say.

Now it’s Thorn’s turn to blush. “Mostly people who watch my videos,” he says, as modest as Gage.

I can’t blame people for looking at him. I’m pretty sure I’d be happy watching him boil water.

He glances over his shoulder and nods at a couple of his fans, but quickly fixes his beautiful brown eyes back on me.

When he arches a thick brow, I swear my ovaries light up like winning slot machines, and I completely forget what we were talking about, so when he says, “How about mushrooms?” it takes me a long moment to make sense of his question.

“Mushrooms?”

“I don’t remember whether you like them or not. We have a take on beef stroganoff that’s really popular.”

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