Ihadto get out of here before I forgot why I’d forced myself to let go of her in the gym.I shoveled the eggs into my mouth, which were delicious, chugged a half gallon of coffee, and rose from the kitchen island, all while trying to forget Ari’s response to myquestion.
“I haven’t decided yet.Longer than I originallyplanned.”
“Thanks for breakfast, Red.I appreciate it.You’re agoodcook.”
“Glad you enjoyed it.If you need a ride back to your hotel, Carver can giveyouone.”
That’s one guy whose hand I should probably shake before I left.It was only his presence that had kept me from fucking her on the floor of the gym.If Ari and I had been alone this morning, that’s exactly what would have happened, and that couldn’t happen yet.I needed to make this right with her brother before I took things anyfurther.
“I’ll get a ride.It’s no big deal.Thanks for letting me crash.I’ll get out ofyourway.”
As I said the words, I dragged my gaze up her body, knowing it was a lie.I didn’t want to get out of her way.I wanted to be in her way so she’d remember everything she’d ever felt for me.I didn’t want to give her a chance toforget.
“I do have work I needtodo.”
I’d spend all day workingonher.
Her cheeks flushed like she could read my mind.Good.I wanted her thinking aboutittoo.
“Then I’ll see you around,Red.Soon.”
She bit her lip as if she was stopping herself from saying something else.Likestay,maybe?
Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t.Not until I talked to Heath.I might be an asshole, but I wasn’t going to be the asshole who screwed around with his best friend’s sister behindhisback.
As I edged toward the door, she finally found hertongue.
“Have a good one, Rhett.If there’s anything I can do to help with your mom, letmeknow.”
Her offer reminded me of the Ari I’d known before.Always going out of her way to give.For the last year, I’d been the douchebag who took without giving anything in return.That was going tochange.
I left the house and walked down the long driveway to the gate, pressing an inside button that sent it sliding to the side.Once it closed behind me, I knew it was the rightchoice.
I couldn’t have her today, but that was going to change too.I knew what I wanted, who I wanted.But first, I had to get answers and sort out this disaster I calledalife.
So I pulled out my phone to call foraride.
Four hours later,I walked into a place I hadn’t been to in over a year.The fact that the inside of Voodoo Ink hadn’t changed a bit gave me some comfort, but the massive guy with the man bun and covered with tats sure as hell wasn’t Con Leahy.I knew they’d hired someone else, but I didn’t remember theguy’sname.
Either way, it didn’t matter because the man I was here to see was in the other chair, not moving a single facial muscle as the tattoo machine permanently marked him.Like always, stepping into this shop made me itch for something new, but that wasn’t my purposetoday.
Rix’s silver eyes landed on me as I stopped outside the room he occupied.“Figured you’d be tracking me down sooner orlater.”
“What else have they figured out?”I didn’t bother with an intro.Rix wasn’t stupid.He knew exactly why Iwashere.
“Can’t talk about an ongoinginvestigation.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it.If you were in my shoes, you’d be demandinganswers.”
Rix looked at the artist.“We clearhere,Bish?”
He nodded.“We sweep regularly.With Eden’s dad being nosy and shit, we don’t much have achoice.”
I blinked and stared at the man.I couldn’t name another tattoo shop on the planet that regularly swept for bugs ...at least, I assumed that’s what he was talkingabout.
Rix’s silver eyes locked on me.“You’re lucky Bishop’s girl is a mob boss’s daughter, and he’s up on security protocolsandshit.”
I wasn’t sure why I was surprised.Voodoo Ink had never been your average tattoo shop.Whystartnow?