Page 4 of Inked By the Mountain Man

"I'm not."

"You're a professional artist."

"Doesn't mean yours isn't good." Her smile softens at my words and something moves in my chest. "Why this?"

She hesitates. "Because I've spent the last few months feeling like everybody else's life is changing." She hesitates before continuing. "My brother Lex started dating Taila. My twin Lyra is with Owen. Lana had this whole whirlwind thing with Marx, and even though they broke up, she's still changed because of it."

"And you?" I can’t help but ask.

"I became responsible." She says it like a terminal diagnosis, and I almost smile, causing her eyes to widen. “Was that almost a smile?"

"No." I cough into my hand to cover my smile. "Why the tattoo?"

She leans forward. "Because I want something that belongs only to me."

That answer hits harder than it should. I look at the drawing again. "Wildflowers?"

"They grow wherever they want." A wistful look crosses her face.

"Moon?"

She shrugs. "Because it's pretty." I do smile then, and of course she points. There!"

"What?"

"You smiled."

"Don't tell anyone."

"Your secret is safe with me." Her eyes hold mine and the air changes—barely, but enough.

"When do you want it?" I look back down at the drawing as I imagine putting my mark on her.

"Today?"

I snap my head up and meet her gaze. "Today?"

"I might chicken out tomorrow." She gives a little shrug of her shoulders, but I’ve watched this woman for the last two years—there is no way she would ever chicken out on anything.

I should give the appointment to Kira. That would be the smart choice—the safe choice. The choice I would have made for any other woman without thinking twice. But the thought of Kira doing Liv's tattoo makes something hot and possessive twist low in my chest, and I hate that I recognize it for exactly what it is. Instead, I hear myself say, "Four o'clock."

"Perfect." She's halfway to the door when she turns. “Keanu?"

"Yeah?"

"Try not to scare anyone before four." Then she walks out the door, leaving me to stare after her, wondering how I’m ever going to get through inking her skin.

three

Liv

Istand outside Temptation Ink, staring through the window. This morning, getting a tattoo sounded exciting, rebellious, and wild. Now I'm remembering needles—and Keanu.

The door opens, and I jump. Keanu stands there, amused. "You coming in?" He leans against the doorway. Black shirt, tattooed forearms, dark hair, and an annoyingly handsome face. "Scared?"

"No," I say, but then don’t move.

"You coming?" There’s a teasing tone in his voice that pushes me to be brave.