Etched into the twisted and intricately drawn trunk were several dates and words like Justice, Cuffs, Fish, Sidecar and dozens more. Were they more road names? Or did they mean something else to him?
Near the bottom of the trunk was an intricately shaded hollow. The detail was so realistic, it looked as though the cavity existed in Justin’s skin. Tucked safely inside, protected by the rest of the sturdy trunk, was his mother’s name written in a pretty yellow script. It was the only color on the whole tattoo. Chloe’s chest ached anew for his loss.
She followed the long fingerlike roots on his lower back, snaking over and around the Dark Knights’ emblem, a skull with dark eyes, sharp brows, and a mouth full of jagged fangs. The scary emblem had never made sense to her. Why would they want something so intimidating to represent a group who fought so hard for the benefit of others? But now it made more sense. They would do whatever it took to keep others safe, and sometimes that meant appearing scary.
Thick roots grew out of the mouth of the skull like serpents, forking off into dozens more, the ends angled like flukes on anchors. The ribbons woven into those roots boasted the names of Mike, Preacher, Reba, Blaine, Zeke, Zander, and Mads.
His family.
His roots.
She touched his back with both hands and closed her eyes, feeling so much for him, it should have scared her. But it felt as right as being intimate with him had. She pressed a kiss to the center of the tree, and then she took in the rest of the tattoo. Some of the roots extended below the waist of his jeans, and she was dying to know if there was more to the elaborate design.
“Chloe?” He tilted his face up, startling her from her thoughts. “You can take off the plastic film. It’s been long enough.”
As she peeled it off, she said, “What is it going to be?”
“An angel for my mother.”
“Like the one for Ashley?”
“A little different, but the same idea.”
“I like that. Your tattoos are beautiful. There are so many names and dates. You even have Gavin and Harper.”
“I told you that I don’t take anything for granted. Those are the names of my closest friends and family. Gavin is like a brother to me, which makes Harper like a sister-in-law. And the dates represent different events in my life, like the date my mother died and when I first met Preacher and Reba. The date I saw my father for the last time, the date my adoption was official, and plenty of others. I’ll probably keep adding to it forever.”
“And the words in the trunk?” she asked. “Cuffs? Sidecar?”
“Dark Knights I’m close to. Cuffs is a cop. He’s the kid I told you about last night. He was Blaine’s best friend when we were kids, the one Blaine beat up before saying all that stuff to me about family.”
Justin was a much deeper and more emotional person than she’d ever imagined. “I’ve never thought much about tattoos, but I really like yours. They say a lot about you. The symbolism is intense.”
“Life has been pretty intense.”
She ran her fingers over the ink on his back, sensing that the symbolism was as vital to him as the blood running through his veins. “Some people wear their hearts on their sleeves. You wear yours on your back.”
He sat up and said, “You wear yours in your eyes.” He kissed her softly. “When you look at me like you are right now, it makes me want to stay with you all night. But we’ve got a big date tomorrow, and I think I’d better let you get some sleep.”
Stay was on the tip of her tongue, but she held back. There were so many new emotions going on between them, she could practically see them whirling over their heads.
As he helped her to her feet, he said, “I’ll come by tomorrow and clean this up for you.”
“Can we leave it for a few days? It’s a good memory.”
“You’re not worried about the sand getting on your floors?”
She shook her head. “We live on the Cape. There’s always sand on my floors. Besides, these memories are worth it.”
He embraced her and said, “You’re pretty awesome, sweet cheeks.”
“You’re not so bad yourself, biker boy. I’ll walk you out to your truck.”
“That’s not how it works, sweets. I’ll walk you in and make sure your place is locked up tight.”
“Justin, I can handle locking up.”
“I know you can, but throw me a bone, will ya? It’s my second night as your boyfriend and I want to do boyfriend things.”
As they walked inside, she said, “I think you just did some pretty fantastic boyfriend things…”
Chapter Eleven
SATURDAY EVENING JUSTIN climbed from his truck in front of Chloe’s house, trying to calm his nerves. He’d been counting down the hours until their date since he left her last night. Chloe had gone into work for much of the day, and he’d worked at Cape Stone in the morning, swung by to check on the dogs, and then spent the afternoon in his studio, so their texts were few and far between. They were just as flirty and fun as always, which was a huge relief. Chloe was an overthinker, and he hoped she didn’t regret anything they’d done last night. He also hoped he’d planned a date she’d enjoy. Dinner at a nice restaurant in Provincetown, a romantic moonlight walk, and maybe they’d have a drink on the pier. He wanted time to talk and focus on each other instead of hitting a movie or some club where they’d be distracted from getting to know each other even better.
He grabbed the bouquet of flowers he’d bought and headed up the walk. He’d never bought a woman flowers before, but the gardens in Chloe’s yard were gorgeous and well maintained, which meant she appreciated them. Plus, Mike had told him dozens of stories about the times he’d picked flowers for his wife and how much they’d meant to her. Justin wasn’t sure Chloe was a picked-flower type of woman, so he’d gone to his friend Lizzie’s flower shop. He’d been as drawn to the irises as he was to Chloe. Lizzie had said irises symbolized eloquence, faith, wisdom, and hope, which he thought was perfect for his careful girl who had clung to hope of a better future from the time she was a young girl and who took great care in choosing not just her words and actions, but also the people she surrounded herself with.
As he climbed the porch steps, he looked down at his jeans and the V-neck shirt Madigan had given him for Christmas. Madigan had called the color distressed sangria. He didn’t know about that, but he hoped Chloe liked it.
He knocked on the door, and when Chloe answered it, there was no faking the happiness in her hazel eyes, waylaying his fears of her overthinking their being close. She looked beautiful in a glittery champagne-colored tank top and cropped black skinny jeans, with a pair of sexy heels with straps that wound around her ankles.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hello, sweet darlin’. Damn, you look fine. Give me a second to pick up my jaw from the porch.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she closed her eyes for a split second. In that moment of bashfulness, it was easy to imagine the innocent teenager she might have been had her mother not fed her to the wolves.
“These are for you.” He handed her the flowers and leaned in to kiss her cheek, breathing in her light, summery scent.
“They’re beautiful, thank you. Come in while I put them in a vase.” As he followed her into the kitchen, she said, “I like your shirt. You look good in red.” She grabbed a vase from beneath a cabinet and began filling it with water.
“Thanks. Mads bought it for me.” He wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her neck. “You look gorgeous in everything.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere,” she teased. “How did you know that I love irises?”
“I didn’t, but once I learned what they represented, I knew they were meant for you.” He kissed her shoulder and said, “The blue ones symbolize faith and hope.” He kissed her neck. “Yellow symbolizes passion.” Kiss, kiss. “And purple symbolizes wisdom. If only there was a color for drives me wild.”
She laughed. “You have some of the best, and che
esiest, lines.”
“Only for you, sweet cheeks.” He glanced at the table, which was covered with pictures of older people. “Are one of these pictures of your grandparents?”
“No. I don’t know my grandparents, which is one of the reasons I wanted to work with the elderly. Those are residents from LOCAL. I take pictures at our events and put up memory boards in the community room. Sometimes I make albums for them.”
“That’s nice. You must really enjoy your work.”
“More than you can imagine. The people are so grateful for every little thing, it makes me want to do more for them. You’d be surprised at how many families move their loved ones into the facility and promise weekly visits, but then don’t come nearly often enough—or at all. I make extra efforts to spend time with the ones who are left behind. And I really enjoy working on their behalf, trying to make their last years the best they can be. I’m always looking into new programs for them.”
She told him about her newest endeavor, the Junior/Senior Program, and about the puppetry program she and Madigan were working on. The passion in her voice, and the way her face lit up as she talked about her work, told of her sincerity.
“I had no idea you were so involved with the people there. How did you get into that line of work?”
“I volunteered at LOCAL during my first two years at community college, and a number of the people there suggested I go into the field. I’m glad I did. It fulfills me in so many ways.”
His gaze swept over the table and he said, “It sounds like you found the perfect job. I bet the residents really love all your extra touches.” He glanced at the counter by the refrigerator, where more pictures were spread out. There were pictures he’d texted to her of him with the dogs they’d rescued, along with a few pictures from his birthday party, Gavin’s wedding, and other times.
As she set the vase on the table, he said, “Speaking of all your touches.” He reached for her hand, enjoying the sparks of heat rising in her eyes, and said, “What’s this? Your new midnight fantasy lineup? Nubbin’-lovin’ material?”
“Ew, no!” She swatted him.
He caught her around the waist, hauling her against him. “Ew is not the word I think of with the thought of you pleasuring yourself. Hot, sexy as sin, and enticingly erotic are better descriptors.” Her cheeks pinked up and he said, “We could experiment, hit the bedroom and see what words come out of my mouth as I watch you.”
“Ohmygod.” She twisted out of his grip and grabbed him by the collar, dragging him toward the front door. “Come on, biker boy, before I decide you embarrass me too much to go out with you.” She grabbed her purse on the way out the door.
“What are you doing with all those pictures?” He opened the passenger door and helped her into the truck.
“I’m not sure yet. I just can’t stop thinking about the dogs.”
He put his hands on the top of the doorframe and leaned in. “The dogs, huh? Not the guy with the dogs?”
“Well, maybe a tiny bit.” Her expression turned serious and she shifted in the seat, facing him. “I really can’t stop thinking about them and all they’ve been through. I know you said they were good with people, but are they really? Do they ever try to bite?”
“The night we picked them up, some of them got a little aggressive with all the chaos, and when we passed by other dogs at the rescue. But they’re not aggressive toward people, and Gunner is keeping them away from the other dogs. Some of them are scared of loud noises, and you know, I’m sure certain noises trigger fear and aggression. They need their wounds to heal, and that takes time.”
“Emotional wounds, too. The poor things,” she said. “Did you see them today?”
“For a little while. They were happy to see me. The one with one eye cries when I leave him.”
“Do you think Dwayne would mind if we stopped by?”
The hope in her eyes tugged at him. “Darlin’, do you have a soft spot for dogs?”
“For all animals, and I guess people, too. We’re not so different. We didn’t ask for the parents we were born to, the people at LOCAL whose families don’t come see them didn’t ask to be forgotten, and those dogs didn’t ask to be owned by monsters. My heart goes out to them.”
“I dig that big heart of yours. Do you really want to meet the dogs?”
“Yes. Unless you mind? Will it mess up your plans for our date?”
“Not even a little.”
WICKED ANIMAL RESCUE was located on several gated and secure acres in Harwich. Baz’s veterinary clinic and the two animal shelters were set far back from the road, and Dwayne’s rustic farmhouse was on the west side of the property as they drove in. There were fenced areas with smaller shelters for farm animals like sheep, goats, and pigs, which Dwayne occasionally rescued.
“Dwayne owns all this land?” Chloe said as she stepped from the truck.
“He and Baz do. Dwayne lives in the farmhouse over there.” He pointed across the property. “Baz lives above the clinic. Those two long buildings are the shelters. The one on the right is where the rescued dogs are staying. The rescued animals that aren’t from the dogfighting ring are kept in the other one.” He spotted Sidney Carver, who worked with Dwayne at the shelter, coming across the field toward them with a dog on a leash. He’d know that dog’s limping gait anywhere. “That’s Sidney and my one-eyed buddy.”
“Who is Sidney?”
“She’s a canine physical therapist and trainer. She works with Dwayne and rents a room in his house.”
“Brave girl,” Chloe said.
Justin chuckled. “She’s the daughter of a Dark Knight. She’s seen the harsh realities of life, and she’s not afraid to give Dwayne shit. She’s a cool chick, a total tomboy.” Sidney was lean all over, with narrow hips and small breasts. Her brown hair was cut just above her shoulders, and she liked to hide behind it. “I doubt there’s anything going on between her and Dwayne, but you know, it’s Dwayne, so…”
“She’s really pretty,” Chloe pointed out. “Why is the dog limping?”
“He has a bruised hip.” The dog was trying to run to him, barking and whining, pulling against the leash.
“He’s so cute!” Chloe exclaimed. “Come on.” She grabbed Justin’s hand and headed for Sid and the dog, moving like she was wearing sneakers instead of heels.
Sidney said, “Someone’s happy to see you. I swear he’s been looking for you all evening.”
“Hey, buddy.” Justin crouched to love him up. The dog went paws-up on Justin’s shoulders and licked his face. “I missed you, too, my friend. Sid, this is…” He glanced up at Chloe and couldn’t suppress his smile as he said, “My girlfriend, Chloe. Chloe, this is Sid, the best PT and dog trainer on the Cape.”
Chloe looked at Justin with a spark of elation in her eyes, and he knew she was reacting to him calling her his girlfriend because he’d felt the same giddiness when he said it.
Chloe looked at Sid and said, “Hi. I hope it’s okay that we dropped by.”
“Are you kidding? This one thinks Maverick is his daddy.” Sidney slipped her fingers into the front pockets of her jeans and said, “I’ve been with him for the last half hour and he was just lollygagging along, but one look at Mav, and it’s like he’s had a triple espresso.”
“Will he be okay if I pet him?” Chloe asked.
“Yeah, just go slow. He’s been great with people.”
Chloe crouched beside Justin, letting the dog smell her hand. “Hello, sweet boy.” He licked her face, and she stroked his back. “Oh, look at your little ear and all those cuts. Poor thing.” The dog pushed forward, pawing at her lap, and she sank down to her butt to pet him.
“He likes you,” Sidney said.
“It’s mutual,” Chloe said. “He’s so skinny. Is he going to be okay?”
“He’s been through a lot, but he’s eating well. He’ll put on weight quickly.” Sidney reassured her.
The dog pawed at Chloe’s shirt.
“Uh-uh, bud.
Don’t rip her shirt,” Justin said gently.
“He’s okay.” Chloe looked up at Sidney and said, “He’s been through so much—it’s good for him to be excited about people, right?”
“Yeah, it is,” Sidney said. “He’ll need to learn manners, but right now he just needs to know he’s loved.”
The dog climbed into Chloe’s lap, and she kissed his head. “He’s so sweet.”
“You’re not worried about getting dog hair on your clothes?” Justin asked.
She kissed the dog’s snout and said, “Nope. I can wash them.”
“Hey, Mav, Mike and your parents are hanging out at the picnic table by the kennels with Gunner,” Sidney said.
“Okay. Are Gunner’s dogs outside?”
“No. I put them inside when I work with the dogs from the fighting ring. You can bring your buddy over there to see your family if you’d like. But if you’ve got him for a bit, I’d like to go clean out his kennel.”
Even though Chloe seemed happy playing with the dog, Justin didn’t want her to feel trapped into hanging out there when they were supposed to be on a date. “Are you ready to go, Chloe, or do you want to stick around?”
“Can we stick around? Or are you ready to go?”
Justin couldn’t believe she was decked out in a glittery top and heels and happy to sit in the grass playing with the dog. “I’m in no rush, babe. I just don’t want to rip you off from going on our date.”
“We have plenty of time. I’d love to stay and play with him and meet the other dogs, if that’s okay.”
“Everything’s okay. Go ahead, Sid. We’ve got him.”
As Sidney walked away, Chloe said, “I like Sid. She seems nice.”
“Yeah, she is,” he said, wondering if Chloe would want to meet the rest of his family, or if that would seem like he was pushing her too fast.
A Little Bit Wicked (The Wickeds Page 17