Inked in the Steel City Series (38 page)

His fingers still hovered over the black letters. “But this tattoo is more about my grief than her. I always meant to get another one to honor her. I just – I couldn’t bring myself to do it. It seemed so final, like if I put a memorial in my skin, the fact that she was gone would be irreversible. I knew that was true, but I didn’t want to see a reminder every time I looked in the mirror.”

She nodded as something inside her cracked, aching for him.

“I don’t feel that way anymore.” He met her eyes, and the intensity in his dark irises made her heart skip a beat. “I feel different about a lot of things, lately.”

She nodded again, because her throat felt a little too tight and she didn’t know what to say, anyway. “What made you choose those words for your tattoo?”

“I read it somewhere – thought it seemed fitting. Alice would’ve liked it, I think.”

“It came from a book?”

“Virgil. The ancient Roman poet. He wrote the line ages ago. Guess he knew what he was talking about.” He touched his side again, letting his fingertips skim the fresh lettering. “Not long ago, his words wouldn’t have meant anything to me. They would’ve seemed like a joke. Now that I can see the wisdom in them … I don’t ever want to forget them.”

“I think it’s a great tattoo,” she said, placing one of her hands against his palm and entwining her fingers with his.

He was still meeting her eyes, and the depth of his gaze made her words seem shallow. Her emotions were a whirlwind, though, half-threatening to send a tear or two sliding down her face. The tattoo on Jed’s side was evidence of a metamorphosis that pulled hard on her heartstrings when she contemplated it.

“I’m glad you think so,” he said. “And Karen…” He gripped her hand, exerting pressure that wasn’t quite gentle.

“Yeah?” She was still naked, but his attention never wavered from her eyes. Likewise, she couldn’t look away from his, not even to let her gaze wander over his new tattoo again.

“I know what love is,” he said. “I know that nobody is promised anything, either. Not even one more day, or one more breath. So I have to tell you now, while I have the chance – I love you.”

Her breath froze inside her lungs, then rushed out in a sigh she couldn’t contain as his words began to settle in.

“I know I was stubborn at first. I was afraid I was wrong for you, afraid my love would hold you back. I didn’t want to hinder you.”

“You couldn’t have been more wrong. Jed, that’s not the case at—”

“I know.” He squeezed her hand a little more tightly. “I know that now.”

She lost the battle she’d been fighting with the stinging pressure behind her eyes. A tear slipped out, and she wound up smiling anyway. “I love you too.” Saying it made her feel unbelievably light, like she might rise up and drift toward the ceiling like a helium balloon.

Jed anchored her with an embrace, pulling her close and holding her tight against his chest. In the shelter of his arms, the night seemed suddenly young again. When he pressed a kiss against her mouth, she yielded to the pressure of his tongue against her lips, closing her eyes against the room’s faint moonlit glow.

EPILOGUE

Only the lure of buttercream frosting could induce Karen to put down her camera. That and a little encouragement from Jed. “I’m sure you can afford to stop taking pictures for five minutes,” he said, pressing a hand to the small of her back and rubbing lightly.

Five minutes? Who was he kidding? It would only take her three minutes, tops, to eat the piece of cake he’d just handed her.

“Come on,” he said, guiding her toward a chair at one of the reception hall tables.

She couldn’t resist. Not when he was in his groomsman’s tuxedo, looking gorgeous in the flattering cut and with tattoos peeking out at the cuffs. She smiled at him as she sank down onto the seat, carefully laying her camera to rest on the tablecloth.

“Mmm. What is this filling, raspberry ganache?” The creamy mixture ran through the center of her chocolate cake slice like a hot pink ribbon, and its smooth sweetness practically melted against her tongue.

Jed shrugged, his broad shoulders rising and falling beneath his tuxedo jacket. “I don’t even know what ganache is, but this is good.”

He was halfway done with his cake slice already, which made Karen feel less guilty about devouring hers like a starving person. She’d been so busy taking photos throughout the reception that she hadn’t taken the time to do more than try a couple bites of Jed’s food. The delicious wedding cake hit the spot exactly.

The DJ changed songs, and Karen’s gaze was drawn irresistibly toward the dance floor. “They look so perfect together,” she said as Mina and Eric glided across the floor to a slow number, both smiling.

Jed nodded. “You must have a hundred photos of them dancing already. You can finish your—”

He gave up as she seized her camera, stood and captured one more. “Any picture might be
the
picture,” she said. “The one I put in the frame I bought them in New York.”

She was already reasonably sure she’d captured
the one
during the wedding ceremony, but it wouldn’t hurt to take another. And another, and another… This was what she loved doing most – capturing images of a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, knowing the photos would be treasured.

“Okay,” she said a minute later, settling back into her chair and taking another bite of the heavenly cake. “I’m done taking photos – until this song is over, anyway.”

Jed shook his head, but smiled. “You’re hopeless.”

When the song ended, Karen prepared to leave her seat and get back to work. Before she could pick up her camera, Mina turned and swept toward her, Eric at her side. She looked incredible in her wedding gown, a long white sheath dress with delicate lace panels at the sides that showed off the elaborate tattoo that spanned her ribcage. Eric had done that tattoo for her – that was how they’d met, how they’d begun to fall in love. Mina couldn’t have chosen a more perfect gown.

“Karen!” Mina cried when she reached the table, her cheeks flushed and eyes bright from dancing. “Put your camera down and take a break to dance with Jed!”

“I don’t want to miss anything,” Karen said, “your wedding day only comes once, and I want to make sure I capture it all.”

Mina grinned and reached for Karen’s camera.

Karen cradled it against her chest like it was her firstborn child, but Mina scooped it up in a similar fashion – a skill probably honed by having raised her little sister. “Here, I’ll take one of you and Jed.”

Jed stood, wrapping an arm around Karen’s waist so that they were posed, facing Mina.

Karen didn’t resist – it would be great to have a photo of her and Jed at the wedding. She smiled, blinking after the flash fired. Mina kept going, snapping another photo, and then another.

“Now one with Jess!” Mina said, still grinning.

A small crowd had formed around the table, composed mostly of Hot Ink staff. Jess was there too, looking beautiful in a pink bridesmaid’s dress just like Karen’s. “Can Blake be in the picture?” Her teenaged boyfriend stood dutifully at her side, clad in a suit and with his hair slicked back.

“Sure,” Mina said, and began snapping away as soon as everyone was in position.

For nearly ten minutes, the camera was passed around, which gave Karen a chance to be in group photos with everyone, and in photos alone with Mina. “Thanks a lot, guys,” she said when the impromptu photo session was done. “It’ll be great to have wedding photos I’m in, but I need my camera back now – it’s time for the bouquet toss.”

Jed stepped between Karen and Abby, who held the camera. “I’ll take photos of the bouquet toss,” he said, plucking the camera from Abby’s hands, “that way you can participate, Karen.”

“You don’t have to do that,” she said, a blush heating her cheeks as she imagined herself leaping for the bouquet – and maybe even catching it. She had a distinct height advantage over the other women, after all…

“I insist.” He cradled the camera protectively, smiling.

“Okay,” she agreed, eager not to argue lest she blush the same color as her dress.

In her high heels, Karen topped six feet. She’d never been more grateful for her height than when she queued up with the other female attendees, watching as Mina turned her back to them and called out. “Ready?”

A chorus of encouragement rose up from the little crowd.

Mina tossed the bouquet in a high arc, sending the be-ribboned cluster of white and pink roses through the air.

The flowers tumbled through space, and Karen’s heart skipped a beat as it became clear they were heading right for her, like a romance-seeking missile. She extended an arm and rocked forward onto her toes, praying she wouldn’t lose her balance.

The bouquet hit her outstretched hand, and she grasped it, grinning.

As she clutched it to her chest, she was buffeted by congratulations and teasing confessions of jealousy, and then there was nothing to do but make her way back to Jed.

“Knew you’d catch it,” he said, setting her camera down on the table. “Even got a photo.”

“You know what this means, of course,” she said, raising an eyebrow and brandishing the flowers.

“Yeah.” He returned her grin and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close in a sudden embrace. “I do. The Allegheny West house is too big for just one person, anyway.”

“I practically live there already,” she teased.

He met her eyes, his expression suddenly serious. “We’ll have to make it official one of these days, but you should know – I won’t allow you to take the photos at our wedding. You’ll have to hire someone else.”

He was smiling again, and it was contagious. “I guess I could live with that.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ranae Rose is a best-selling author of over a dozen contemporary, paranormal and historical romances, all of them delightfully steamy. She lives on the US East Coast with her husband, child, German Shepherd dogs and overflowing bookshelves. She spends most of her time letting her very active imagination run wild, penning her next story.

You can learn more about Ranae and her books at…

www.ranaerose.com