Gravity (Artistic Pricks Ink Book 1) (10 page)

“It is,” She agrees, her eyes focusing back on the television.

Sliding my arm along the back of the couch, behind her neck, I settle in and watch as the guys rebuild the antique beauty and take it to auction where it makes bank. As if I didn’t already know, but I wasn’t spoiling it for Ki. Her eyes light up as the owner of the garage and his buddy toast their victory with beers.

After four episodes, one of which was a hilarious live hour long commentary filled ‘best of’ type thing, Ki stretches her arms over her head and yawns. “This is the most television I’ve watched in a long time,” She admits, looking out the window into the dark, night sky.

Looking at my watch, I yawn too when I notice it’s after eleven. “I hadn’t realized it was so late.”

“Yeah,” She sighs. “You driving back into the city?” Ki asks when I stand to my feet.

“Nah, my house is a few streets over,” I reply, even though I’m headed back to the shop. I’d bet my left nut Mitch is there waiting to bust my balls about where I’ve been. Hell, he’s probably told everyone by now anyway. That asshole is worse than Wikipedia. If it’s happened and he knows about it, he is more than happy to tell everybody. In graphic detail. So I can only imagine the story he’s giving at Pricks right now.

Following me to the front door, Ki runs her hand up my arm and squeezes my bicep lightly. “Thank you for everything today, Luke,” She says sweetly before realization sets in across her face. “Wait, what do I owe you and Mitch for fixing my car?” She asks, releasing me to grab her purse on the table beside the door.

“It’s late.” Patting her hand, I stop her from fumbling through the bag. “We’ll settle up later. Night, Dollface. Lock this up tight behind me,” I remind her, opening the door.

“Okay. Goodnight, Luke,” She says softly. Switching on the outside light Ki follows me out onto the porch. Her hand slides down into mine, turning me around. Reaching up on her toes, she presses her lips to my cheek. Unable to help myself, I turn and brush my lips over hers tenderly. Craving one more taste of her before I leave.

Looking down at her, I grin before turning to walk away. At the edge of the driveway, I look back, making sure that she did in fact go back in and lock up. The curtain moves slightly, letting me know that she’s watching me too. Shoving my hands in my pockets, I walk to Mom’s to get my car unable to stop this damn grin spreading into a full on smile. I head back to the shop feeling lighter than I have in a long time.

I like that Kionna doesn’t expect anything from me. She doesn’t back down, giving as good as she gets, if not better. She’s a challenge, but not a conquest. Is this something more than just an attraction to a beautiful woman? Only time will tell. But, like Ki said, it’s fun.

Compared to my clusterfuck of a Saturday and that night with Luke, the rest of my weekend off was uneventful. I showed Audrey how to pay her utilities online, along with some other bills. Also got her to agree to get back in the driver’s seat of a car again. How the hell she hasn’t driven in twenty years is beyond me. She has a perfectly good car in the garage that Luke services regularly, but she doesn’t drive it. When Audrey doesn’t have a man living with her, Luke takes care of everything. Apparently, it’s just who he is. Luke is a protector, a caretaker. It’s unbelievably sweet, but it has to be exhausting for him at times to be pulled in so many directions at once.

Slipping into my shoes, I head out the door. Back to our regularly scheduled programming. This weekend was fun. I got to pretend that Sabrina didn’t exist. I had dinner with people, I laughed and had fun all while the world kept spinning. Nothing tragic happened because my guard wasn’t kept up constantly. Keeping my distance wasn’t an issue because, for that small span of time, I was me again. All the quirky craziness that my mother adored so much; my fear of spiders, my fits of giggles, and even my reality show addiction showed for the first time in years. Things I don’t let people see were front and center, and it didn’t have me feeling uneasy. Luke not only saw those things about me, but from the looks on his face, he likes them. He likes me and that has me questioning things I never thought I would.

How could that even work? Me and him?

It couldn’t, could it?

Is there any way to find a balance between Sabrina and Kionna?

Walking out to my car, which, thanks to Luke and Mitch, is now running again, I toss my bag into the back while thoughts spin in my head. As I have so many times since he last kissed me, I touch my fingers to my lips. My eyes drift closed as I let myself relive it again. I lost all control in that moment. It has me crazy and I can’t stop thinking about him. About what would have happened if I hadn’t stopped us in my kitchen.

My thighs clench at the thought of how good Luke’s hands felt running along my body. My body and mind waged a war that night and have fought every minute since. My body, so desperate for all that he can do to me, for all he can make me feel. While my mind screams what a mistake it could be.

Distance is what you need, Ki.

The thing is, I can’t stay away from him and I don’t think I want to. There is this pull. I can’t fight it. He’s already gotten too close. He knows more about my life than Kelly does. I’ve never talked about my past so openly with anyone until the other night. That’s the thing that scares me the most; I can’t control myself around him. I lose all sense of what I should be doing, of what’s right and smart for me in the life I have now. But, all I can focus on is how different he makes me feel.

Could I possibly give in to that? Just feel and not overthink everything?

If and when that ever does happen, it will have to feel right before I make that jump. The other night, instead of seeing it for what it was, I kept thinking Luke would think I was just sleeping with him to ‘pay him back’ for all he had done.
Hey, I have a vagina. Thanks for fixing my car and everything, here’s an orgasm.
A payment for services, like I was a slut with a motive. That he would see me differently after; as sorry as I am that we didn’t that night, I just couldn’t stand the thought of that.

Hindsight is a bitch I don’t like associating myself with. That whore hands out regret like a business card.

I felt bad because I was the one driving that train so to speak and then shut it down without warning. I felt even worse when I thought I felt his eyes on me while I was changing. When I looked up into the mirror and didn’t see him in the doorway there was a part of me that was disappointed that he wasn’t staring back me. Hell, I damn near asked him to stay when he was on my porch. Instead, I kissed his cheek and let him leave.

My phone chirps, alerting me to a text message as I climb into the car and start the engine. Digging it from my front pocket, I thumb the little bubble to read.

Hey Dollface, have you slaughtered any more innocent eight-legged creatures?

Even though I don’t know the number, I recognize the endearment all too well. Of course he has my number since I called his shop from my cell phone. I hadn’t thought of that until now. Scowling at his spider joke, I type out my reply.

Nothing innocent about them, but no.

His reply is instant.
Good to know. Can’t have you making spiders an endangered species.

I type back ‘
You think your ass is so cute. Don’t you Hanlon?’
then toss the phone into the passenger seat.

Driving out of the subdivision, I opt for the freeway instead of the highway I usually take because it’s quicker. With an hour and a half to spare before I have to be at the club to get ready, I pull into the parking lot of Leah’s Drive-Thru. When I Googled it for directions, I checked out some of the reviews. Holy shit, they have everything. It’s not just the desserts and subs that are wowing around here. She puts love into everything she makes and if the reviews are any proof, it shows.

After waiting in the crazy line that is wrapped around the building, I finally get up to the speaker. “Welcome to Leah’s Drive-Thru, what can I get for ya?” The woman asks.

After ordering four orders of Brownie Bites, I pull around to pay meeting a dainty brunette with a huge grin. “That’s twelve dollars and seventy cents.”

Handing her a twenty, I smile. “Keep it, those things are amazing and worth way more,” I say, reading the name ‘Leah’ on her name tag.

“Thank you,” She replies. “You don’t look like someone who can hold four orders…” She teases, handing me the bag. “Are you hoarding for the Zombie Apocalypse or something? My husband swears it’s coming and wants me to join this survivalist camp with him.”

“No, I just have to repay two guys from Artistic Pricks Ink for helping me out and these are their favorites.” The delicious smell has my mouth watering already. “One box is mine though, since they are my favorite now too.”

“There are only two Pricks I know that are crazy over my brownies and that’s Luke Hanlon and Mitch Taylor,” She says with a giggle.

“Nailed it.” I nod.

“Say hi for me,” She says, eyeing me with a smile as I pull away.

Turning onto the street, I head to the second address on my to-do list before work: Artistic Pricks Ink. Audrey has already made it very clear that Luke will be having none of me trying to pay him back for fixing my car. Instead of giving up or fighting the stubborn man, I’m getting creative.

Parking my car in front of the shop, I grab my phone and eye the new message from Luke:
Yours is better, Dollface.

My stomach flips, forcing me to swallow down my nervousness. I don’t reply. Instead, I grab the bag and climb from my car. Taking a deep breath, I hold my head up as I walk up to the front door. The full glass door is decorated with a lion; the words ‘Artistic Pricks Ink’ arched above it in green and gold Celtic script style letters. Wrapping my fingers around the handle, I yank open the door making the bells above my head jangle.

Inside the walls are sectioned off, each corner a separate station and painted a completely different color. An orange and a blue station have photos painted right on the walls and canvases mounted with the names Mitch and Charile beside them. At the large wooden counter in the center of the room, sits a curvy blonde. Her long platinum blonde hair with hot pink ends frames her heart shaped face. “Welcome to Artistic Pricks. I’m Shelby, what can I do for you?” She asks standing and walking around the counter. She is about my height, but much curvier. Instead of hiding though, Shelby flaunts it. Her chest is accentuated by the low cut of her top, while her jeans hug her hips like they were made for her. Every ounce of her oozes confidence.

“Hi,” I begin, my eyes darting around the shop. “I’m Ki. I’m looking for Luke.”

Her eyes brighten, flickering with amusement. “Well, I’ll be damned, the whore was right.” She giggles, before clearing her throat. “I mean, come with me. He’s in back.”

Gesturing to the hallway, I follow behind her as we pass a man with a mohawk sketching out something on a light box while a guy sits in a chair a few feet away in the less decorated station that is painted a bright red. “Skinner?” She calls out. Jerking his chin in acknowledgement, his eyes never leave his work. “Gotta take her to the back. Make sure you have him sign that paperwork before you turn on your gun this time,” She says slapping the wall. “If not, I’ll kick your ass. You feel me?”

“Yes, Mistress,” he deadpans. “I do as I’m told, I don’t want to get the strap again,” He chants, rocking back and forth in his chair.

My eyes move to Shelby slowly, making her laugh. “Nice going Skins, now you’ve scared the shit outta Luke’s girl.”

Luke’s girl? Oh shit!

“I’m not,” I start but she interrupts me.

“They give me shit because I’m a tyrant of an office manager.” Shrugging, Shelby rolls her eyes at him.

Dropping his pencil, Skinner leaps from his seat. “Luke’s what?”

“Ki?” Luke’s voice makes me jump.