Pushing the Boundaries (Picking up the Pieces #3) (17 page)

“Allison,” I responded drily. I made an effort to be polite with everyone who walked through my shop’s doors, but Allison was a leach. She was the type of woman who would grab hold of a compliment and turn it into a marriage proposal. My goal with this one was simply to keep my mouth shut and do my work since all my other guys were busy, leaving no one I could pawn her off on at the last minute. I was definitely having a
FML
moment.

I heard a choking sound coming from Mickey’s station and looked up to see her trying to smother a laugh. The damn woman knew exactly what was happening. She’d gotten the full scoop on the Emmy, Luke, and Allison triangle of fucked-up-ness when she moved to Cloverleaf. But the damn woman was obviously getting immense pleasure from my misery.

I reached my hand out to shake Allison’s, making sure to use my left hand so she could feel my wedding band, the same band that had been present since the day I handed it to Lizzy to put on my finger.

I knew the second Allison felt the metal; her eyes widened and shot down to my left hand, immediately taking in the metal wrapped around my ring finger.

Pulling my hand back, I shoved them both in my pants pockets and tipped my head to my station, motioning that she should follow me back. Allison sauntered on her sky-high heels, adding an extra, unnecessary sway to her hips. The second her eyes landed on Mickey, they narrowed hatefully. But my girl Mick gave back as good as she got, cutting her hazel eyes at the bitch like she was shooting lasers.

“So, what can I do for ya today?” I asked, taking a seat on my stool. Allison planted herself in my chair and turned her full attention back to me, smiling sweetly. Well, as sweetly as a pit viper
could
smile, anyway.

“Well,” she replied with a smirk I could only guess was supposed to be seductive. “I was hoping for a pretty little butterfly,” she said, trailing her fingers down her cleavage and stomach. “Right here.” She stopped right below her hip bone.

“Okay, let me draw it up and you can see how you like it.”

“Oh, I’m sure I’ll love
anything
you do,” she purred. Luckily my back was to her so she couldn’t see me roll my eyes. Once I had the design finished, I instructed her to pull her skirt down just below where the tattoo would be. I pressed the transfer paper to her skin and peeled it away.

“That’s beautiful, Trev!” she exclaimed, the use of my shortened name on her lips set my teeth on edge. “You’re so brilliant.”

A gagging sound came from Mickey’s station. I had to bite the inside of my mouth to stifle a laugh as Allison shot daggers over the half wall separating the stations.

“Go ahead and hop up in the chair,” I told her as I turned to get the colors ready. When I turned back around, Allison had managed to pull her skirt down to an almost-obscene level. The last fucking thing I needed today was a twat shot from this chick. She’d jacked her shirt up so high pretty much every inch of skin between her boobs and crotch was showing.
So
not necessary for the placement of her tattoo. This time, I didn’t hide my eye roll. “Showing a little more skin there than necessary,” I told her as I reached up and pulled the hem of her shirt down before pulling her skirt up to a more comfortable level.

“Didn’t want to risk getting ink on my clothes,” she giggled as she shifted her skirt back down. The damn woman was absolutely clueless.

Reaching for the roll of paper towels, I ripped some off and tucked them into the waistband of her skirt, lifting it back up at the same time. “There. Now you got nothing to worry about,” I said with a smartass smile.

Ignoring how she’d lifted her arms and stretched herself out in the chair, I dipped my gun in the first color and got to work. I typically liked to keep a running dialog with my clients during their sessions. It kept them from getting too nervous or took their mind off the pain. But today, I kept my lips clamped shut.

“So,” Allison drug out, slowly bending one of her knees in order to give me a peek up her skirt. “You’re married now? Who’s the lucky girl?”

She said ‘lucky girl’ like the words tasted bad in her mouth.

“You need to stop moving,” I replied, pushing her knee back down. “You’re gonna make me mess this up if you keep squirming around.”

“Oh, sorry.” She at least had the decency to look embarrassed; unfortunately, it only lasted for a second. “You marry someone from here? Do I know her?”

“Yeah, she’s from here,” I muttered, not taking my eyes off the lines I was inking into her skin. “I’m sure you know her, it’s a small town.”

We managed to go a good five minutes without forced conversation, and I was finally starting to think I’d lucked out when she spoke up again, shattering my hopeful glow. “So it’s, like, a happy marriage?”

“Very happy,” I answered flatly, not giving her anything else. “Okay, you’re all set.” I rubbed some antibiotic ointment on the fresh tattoo and covered it up, going through the aftercare instructions robotically before dismissing her to pay up at the counter.

“Thanks so much, Trev,” she says, keeping her skirt rolled down low on her hips. “You’re so good with your hands. I’m sure I’ll be in for another one soon.”

Yeah, over my decaying body was I touching her again. “You’ll need to schedule with someone else next time. This typically isn’t my style of work. I handle much larger pieces. But I’m sure one of my other guys would be happy to handle your next one.” I turned my head toward Mickey and gave her a wink. “Mickey here’s great with these smaller ones.”

Allison cut her eyes at a fuming Mickey before turning back to me. “But I’d prefer it be you,” she pouted, full-on bottom lip jutting out and everything.

“Sorry, my schedule’s pretty full up. If I’d known what you were coming in for, I’d have put you with someone else anyway.”

“Well, here’s my card,” she said softly, staring up at me from under her lashes. “You know, if you ever want to catch up or whatever,” she smiled, biting down on her over-glossed pink lip.

“Yeah, I’m good.” I shoved the card back at her and began walking away. “Thanks anyway.”

I went back to cleaning my station once the devil woman finally left my shop.

“If that bitch books an appointment for me to tat a goddamned unicorn or some other bullshit, I’m gonna kick the ever-loving shit out of you.”

I turned around and smiled at Mickey. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll keep her off everyone’s schedule if you never,
ever
mention this little situation to Lizzy.”

“Deal!”

“Wifey, I’m home,” Trevor called his usual welcome when he walked through the front door.

“Upstairs,” I shouted back as I put the finishing touches on my hair. I’d gotten a call from Savannah early today that the guys were going to be playing at Colt 45’s tonight and everyone would be there. I’d gotten home and scoured through all of the print-screened t-shirts me and the girls made for the nights the guys played, trying to find one that was suitable for a married woman. I didn’t think Trevor would find the
Rocker Butts Drive Me Nuts
shirt all that funny, so I finally settled for the simple
I’m with the Band
tee to prevent any more fist-fights.

“Whatcha doing?”

Looking in the mirror, I saw Trevor standing behind me, his large, muscular body propped against the door frame. Arms folded across his chest, the sleeves of his t-shirt strained against the bulge of his biceps. Just like every time I’d seen him recently, my body reacted in a way that was anything but platonic. My stomach dipped and that all-too-familiar tingle began in my nipples, shooting bolts of electricity down between my thighs.

“Working on a cure for world hunger,” I deadpanned as I pulled the flat-iron through my hair one last time before shutting it off and unplugging it.

“Why do you do that?” he asked, ignoring my sarcastic remark.

“Do what?” I said as I lifted my mascara wand to my lashes and applied one more coat.

“Get rid of the curls,” he answered as he ran his fingers through my straight locks. I lifted my gaze in the mirror and stared at his as he studied my hair.

“You don’t like it?”

His eyes came to mine through the glass as he said, “Of course I do. I always think your hair’s pretty. I just love it when it’s curly. I miss pulling on it when you wear it straight like this.”

His teal-blue eyes bored into mine as his fingers tangle in my hair.

“It looks like a rats’ nest when I wear it like that,” I answered quietly, still sucked into his penetrating gaze.

“I think it looks beautiful like that. Always have,
cher
,” he told me, the deep, low timbre of his voice doing insanely-delicious things to my insides.

“You do?”

“Always, baby. I think everything about you is beautiful. From your curls to your freckles. I love it all.”

My heart beat a staccato in my chest as we stood still, our eyes locked on to one another. I felt his heat at my back and my body wanted nothing more than to melt into his. I wasn’t sure what was happening between us, but whatever it was felt monumental. Something told me that things had changed between us in a very permanent way, that there was no going back to the way it was before. That thought both thrilled and terrified me. If this whole marriage thing blew up in my face, I risked losing one of the most important people in my life.

I don’t know how long we stood like that before the chirp of my cell on the counter pulled us out of our daze. Breaking our connection, I looked down to see a text from Stacia letting me know everyone was already at Colt’s.

“Uh…um… are, uh, you going to Colt’s to hear the guys play?” I asked lamely, stuttering over my words. I’d never felt awkward around Trevor, but now that my feelings were all over the damn place, there were times when I wasn’t sure how to act around him.

“Well, who do you think is driving you?” he asked with a chuckle, still leaning against the doorframe all relaxed and casual. I envied him that; I was feeling anything but relaxed. I felt like one touch from him would be the breaking point of the taut string holding me together.

“I can drive myself, Trev. You don’t have to take me.”

“No offense,
cher
, but you ladies kinda have a reputation for getting a little too wild. I’m on driving duty tonight.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I spun around, hands on hips, all awkwardness from earlier forgotten as my redheaded anger flaired.

“That means I cover you, Luke covers Emmy, Gavin covers Stacia, Ben covers Mickey, and Jeremy covers Savvy. You five are notorious for trying to drink each other under the table. As a matter of fact, we have a bet going on which one of you gets into the first bar fight.”

“We’re not that bad!” I defended; knowing deep-down the guys had actually hit the nail on the head. Together and sober, my girls and I were great. Together with alcohol was a totally different scenario. We tended to be a little volatile.

“
Pfft
,” he scoffed. “I got my money on you blowing first tonight, tiger. So make Daddy some money.”

“Okay, first, don’t call yourself Daddy…
ever
. And secondly, sorry, but I’m afraid you’re going home broke tonight.” I shoved past him and sauntered out of the bathroom with my chin in the air as he laughed behind me. I’d show him. No way in hell was I drinking a thing tonight. I wanted to make sure he lost every dollar he bet.

Asshole.