by Adele Niles
She dipped one finger in my whiskey and swirled it around, then lifted it to her lips.
I watched as she sucked the liquor from her finger. She let out a soft moan as her finger popped free from her red lips.
My cock twitched.
She turned and walked away, throwing me a look over her shoulder.
Dak laughed and slapped me on the back once more. “That one’ll suck you dry if you let her. She’s fun, though.”
“I, uh. I’ll remember that.”
* * * * *
My alarm was going off, and it was too bright in my bedroom, even with the blackout curtains drawn.
Every beep coming from my phone made my head throb.
Too much whiskey last night, I decided, before pushing myself up.
This always happened when I went to The Depot. At The Republic, our regular drinking spot, I could pace myself. The guys would tease me about it, but I never got wasted. Just a healthy buzz.
But it was hard to say no to Dak.
Especially when the drinks were on his tab—his way of tipping after I did work from him.
Which got me here. Tired, hung-over, and awake at the asscrack of dawn to go open the shop.
I got in the shower, head still pounding, and leaned against the wall, letting hot water run over me.
Even if I had some regrets this morning, it had been a hell of a party. Loud music, a few good fights.
A lot of beautiful women.
I sighed at the thought. I could have taken some of them home. I hung around the King’s Devils enough to know who was fair game and who could get me in a world of trouble, and some of the girls had been flirting pretty hard.
I thought about Jazz.
I could’ve gotten her home easy.
But I wasn’t ready yet. It wasn’t the right time to let a girl get into my head.
I had to focus on other things, like the new shop opening.
I’d sworn off girls for now, but maybe what I should’ve sworn off was drinking.
* * * * *
Ryker’s car was in the parking lot when I pulled into the shop. The front door was already unlocked, lights on, and he was sitting on one of the couches, drinking a coffee from Bakeology.
“Kenzie give you a freebie?” I asked. My cousin, Bradley’s kid sister, worked at the shop—practically ran it, really. She’d give us free drinks from time to time, and sometimes bring down muffins if she knew somebody was having a bad day.
Or if she was trying to flirt on the sly.
A problem on its own, but nothing Bradley and I couldn’t handle.
Ryker looked up, nodding. “Yeah. She said I looked like shit.”
He did—exhausted, at least, and with a streak of red paint still on one cheek.
“How late were you there?”
“Like, midnight.” He yawned. “You look like shit, too. Maybe Kenzie will give you a drink and a muffin.”
Not a bad idea, really. Maybe I’d walk down to the bakery in a little bit, once I’d done some of my opening work.
Ryker continued. “What’d you get up to last night? More fun than painting the new shop, I hope.”
I laughed and shrugged. “Dak took me to The Depot and drank me under the table.”
“Lightweight.”
Hardly. Dak was just capable of holding an unreal amount of liquor.
“I was there until they closed down. Don’t give me shit. Especially if you’re gonna bitch about painting some walls.”
Ryker scoffed. “I don’t see why we can’t just hire somebody to paint. It would probably be a hell of a lot faster than me and Logan doing it.”
“You wanna be an owner, you gotta do the work.” I shrugged, moving around the shop to check it out.
It wasn’t as clean as I liked it to be in the mornings.
“Who closed last night?”
“Zoe, Garrett, and Bradley, I think. I cut out a little after you to go paint.”
I nodded. I’d have to say something when they all got in. “Anyway. If you don’t wanna paint, you can give up your share. I’m sure Garrett would love to get a shot at being co-owner.”
“Nah. I’m good. I’ll do it, you just gotta listen to me complain a little.” He grinned, taking another sip of his coffee.
“Sure thing, dude.” I laughed, shaking my head. “C’mon. Help me clean this place up a little. They did a piss-poor job last night. I can tell everybody wanted to go drinking.”
Ryker got up, stretching and shaking his head. The dark circles under his eyes made them look greener.
He really was putting in a lot of work. I was proud of him. Logan, too. Since Bradley and I had decided to make them co-owners and put them in charge of No Regrets East, they’d stepped up bigtime.
“Oh—meant to show you!” Ryker approached, grabbing his phone from his back pocket. He tapped on the screen a few times. “The sign went up on the glass. It looks amazing. Here.”
He turned the phone toward me, showing me the photo he’d taken. The lighting was dim, but he was right—the sign looked amazing. Our logo was on the glass of the front window, huge and beautiful. A temporary sign was underneath—‘Opening Soon!’
“Soon is looking like six weeks or so.” I looked at Ryker and grinned. “The chairs we want are on backorder, and Bradley and I decided it was worth the wait to get the best equipment.”
“Absolutely. We want to be the best, right? Top of the line.”
“Exactly.”
We moved around the shop together. I swept while Ryker tidied up Bradley and Garrett’s stations. Zoe could do the front when she got in, since she hadn’t last night.
In time, the front door opened, then closed. Heavy boots thudded on the tile as somebody walked in.
Zoe. She was dressed all in black, like usual, half of her head shaved bald and what was left dyed in layers of pink and yellow. She smiled. Her lips were painted purple this morning.
“Morning, boss. Bosses, I guess.”
“Morning,” I replied, holding the broom out to her. “You wanna take over and finish this up, since it didn’t get done last night?”
She nodded and put her bag down on the front counter. “Sorry. We got to talking and everybody had to go all of a sudden. Lora started blowing up Bradley’s phone, and Garrett said he had to go do something. I did some of it. Bathroom’s clean.”
That was good, at least.
I put the broom in Zoe’s hands and sighed, turning toward my own station. I’d cleaned before leaving with Dak, so I was ready to go. I’d take the first client that came in, I guessed. Everything looked in order.
Except one of the pictures on my wall.
The illustration of a lotus blossom was crooked, almost to the point of looking like it would fall.
I started up the steps to fix it, but the front door opened again.
I turned back to our first customer of the day. That was more important. “Hey man, welcome to No Regrets. What can I do for you?”
Chapter Six
Bryn
Quiet days like this were the best.
It wasn’t often that I got to sleep in and be lazy. I usually opened the shop, but today, I’d let myself have a day off that wasn’t Sunday.
I hadn’t done that in years.
I’d cooked myself a good breakfast—biscuits with sausage gravy—and a good pot of coffee.
And now I was sitting in the living room, the back door open to let some fresh air in, drawing.
It was almost meditative. My mind was clear from everything except for the piece I was working on. My art supplies were laid out neatly—a few different pencils, some erasers, my inking pens and a gorgeous set of Copic markers.
The tiger lilies on my paper were starting to come together beautifully, shaded in carefully-blended pink and orange.
This was what I loved most.
I loved owning my own shop. I loved tattooing. But I loved drawing more than the rest of it. If I could have only done this, I would have jumped a
t the chance.
But there were bills to pay, and sitting in my living room drawing wouldn’t cut it.
I sighed, capping one marker and reaching for the blender. Soon, this piece could get matted and framed, hung up as an idea for people who weren’t sure about what to get. I smiled as I ran the blender over the color I’d just laid down, the inks running together seamlessly.
And then I heard the one sound that could break my calm.
The distant roar of a motorcycle engine.
I closed my eyes tight and took a deep breath.
It came closer, rumbling to a stop in front of my apartment.
Would it be Bryan? Or one of his so-called “brothers,” coming to tell me he’d done something stupid and gotten himself killed?
The front door opened.
He came inside, sporting a ridiculous-looking beard and sunglasses. He shrugged his leather jacket off as the door slammed shut and tossed it on my armchair, instead of hanging it up.
King’s Devils MC.
I hated that stupid patch.
“Hey, what’s up?” he asked.
“Hi, Bryan.” My voice was cold.
It was always cold when I talked to him now.
He smiled at me, leaning on the back of my armchair. He stank. He was probably still drunk, probably hadn’t showered in a day or so.
This man was nothing like my little brother.
“What’s for breakfast, huh? You cook something?”
“I had breakfast four hours ago. It’s time for lunch.”
“Oh. Bitchin’. What’s for lunch?”
I put my marker down and looked up at him. “I don’t know. You’re a grown man. Go look in the fridge and figure something out.”
Bryan’s brows furrowed. “Jesus Christ. Don’t be a fucking bitch, Bryn.”
I looked up.
He was living in my apartment. He barely paid bills—he’d give me a wad of cash every three months or so, promising to pay me more later.
He ate my food, used my things, and still expected me to baby him.
Not anymore.
“If you’re so big and bad, maybe you should find your own place to live.”
Bryan rolled his eyes. “Okay, fine. I’m sorry.”
I didn’t accept his apology.
I never did.
But somehow, I hadn’t kicked him out yet.
Deep down, I knew that, no matter how bad it got, I never would.
Even if he was an asshole now, Bryan was all I had left.
“Where were you last night, anyway?” I asked.
“Out.”
That’s all I got. Vague answers.
He was up to something criminal, I was sure of it, but he wouldn’t tell me what.
Either because he knew I’d be furious, or…to try and protect me.
But if he crossed the wrong people, it wouldn’t matter how hard he tried to protect me. They’d kill me, or him, or both of us.
I sighed heavily. “That’s what you always say. Out. Were you with the motorcycle club, then?”
“Yeah. Who the hell else would I be with?”
“God, Bryan, don’t talk to me like that.”
“Well, quit nagging! It’s club business. I can’t talk about it to anyone but club members.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’ve changed. And it’s bad.”
“Okay, so?”
“I don’t like it.”
“Good for you.”
“God, Bryan, you’re such a dick now!”
“Yeah? And when did you turn into such a bitch?”
I clenched my jaw.
So much for my calm, quiet day off.
“I’m angry because I care about you. If you gave even half a shit about me, you wouldn’t be talking to me like this.”
“I just want you to get off my fucking back!”
I rolled my eyes. “Okay. Fine. Fine! I won’t fucking ask anymore. Since you’re a grown-ass adult and can handle yourself and don’t need anybody.”
“Jesus. It’s about time you got it.”
God, I’d never wanted to hit my brother so badly in my life.
If he’d been any closer, I probably would have.
“Oh,” he said. “By the way.”
“If you’re asking me for money, Bryan, the answer’s no. Bank’s closed.”
“Shut up. I was going to tell you something you might want to know.”
I sighed. “What? There’s a warrant out for you?”
“No.”
I frowned, waiting, arms crossed under my breasts.
“No Regrets is opening a new location. A little competition here in Malone.”
Shit.
Fucking Benny.
“Where?” I stood up, scowling.
“Dillon Street. Like, a block and a half from Skin Buzz.”
“Fucking Benny!” I grabbed one of the throw pillows off the couch and threw it to the floor.
Bryan laughed. “Yeah, that’ll show him. Real tough, Bryn.”
“Shut up.” I shook my head.
I moved across the room, grabbing my purse.
I had to do something about this, right now.
Bryan grinned, watching me. “What, you gonna go kick his ass?”
I looked back, scowling. “Yes.”
Chapter Seven
Benny
The bell up front chimed as I applied the bandage to my client’s new ink. “There you go, man.”
I heard Zoe greet the newcomer up front. “Welcome to No Regrets! Do you have an appointment?”
A woman snorted. “I wouldn’t get a tattoo in this shithole if somebody held a gun to my head.”
No.
Bryn.
I smiled at my client, sure that it was tight. “Thanks for coming in. Zoe’ll take care of you up front.”
We shook hands and he left.
She was coming up the stairs. “Bradley, hey.”
“Bryn?” Bradley sounded shocked. “Hey, uh…what’s up?”
“Just gotta talk to Benny.” She sounded conversational, but I was sure she looked ready to kill.
She must’ve found out about the new shop.
Ryker and Logan heard her voice. Ryker greeted her first, like an old friend. “Holy shit, Bryn, we haven’t seen you in ages! How’s business?”
“Great. Never been better.”
Yeah, she was pissed.
She only talked like that when she was angry.
She was in my booth now, coming closer, her footfalls heavy.
Her breath felt hot against my ear as she leaned over my shoulder.
“Hi, Benny.”
My cock stood up immediately.
She shouldn’t have been able to do that so easily, not after all this time.
She still made me nervous.
And horny.
God, no woman had ever been able to turn me on like Bryn.
I turned, swallowing.
She looked amazing.
Her hair was a little shorter than it had been a year ago, but otherwise, she looked exactly the same. Stunning in every way.
It was hard not to miss her, or at least miss the sex we used to have.
“Bryn.” My mouth felt dry. What the hell was wrong with me?
“So, is there something you want to tell me?”
Yeah, she definitely knew about the shop.
But what the hell was I supposed to do? We didn’t talk anymore.
“We’re expanding.”
“Right down the street from Skin Buzz? Are you kidding me?”
“It’s a good location. The rent was a good price and it has room for the kind of setup we want.”
“Is that all?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re insinuating.”
“I’m insinuating that you think you can steal my clients.” She paused, smiling. “Or do you just miss me that bad?”
I raised my eyebrows. I definitely did not miss her.
Or at least, I wasn’t going to
let her know it if I did.
“Fuck no. And I never accused you of stealing clients from us.”
“When would I have stolen clients from you?” Bryn folded her arms, scowling at me.
“When you went to Ink Spot four years ago.” I snorted. “That was a shitty name for a shop, anyway. No wonder they went out of business.”
“Like No Regrets is any better.”
That was unfair.
“No Regrets is a great name. Better than Skin Buzz. And by the way, you opened a shop twenty minutes from us. That’s stealing our clients.”
“It’s giving them options!” Bryn shifted her stance—hands on her hips, feet apart.
The tough girl look.
She used to pull that on me as a joke. Something playful, fun.
I used to pull her close and kiss her when she got tough on me.
If I tried that now, she’d probably slap me.
“You set up shop with the intention of taking business away from us.” I shrugged. “I’m just doing what’s right for my business. If people want to keep going to Skin Buzz, they will.”
She looked at me, her eyes cold. I hated that look.
I wanted to tell her that I missed her. I wanted to tell her that we used to have something special.
But then she opened her mouth again.
“If you think I’m just gonna roll over and let you screw me out of my business, you’re wrong. I’m not going down without a fight.” She took a step closer.
God, I didn’t want to have to fight a woman in front of the rest of the guys.
But she didn’t hit me. She leaned down and kissed me on the cheek.
“Consider this a warning,” she said. “I’m watching you.”
“I’ll consider myself warned.”
“Good.” And she spun on her heel.
She walked to the entrance of my booth, then stopped and turned, looking over her shoulder.
“By the way,” she said. “The lotus is crooked.”
She smirked, then continued walking.
The door slammed behind her as she left.
For a moment, we were all silent.
My head was spinning. I couldn’t think of what to say or do.
I wanted her. Bad.
And I hated her.
“Who the hell was that?” When I looked up, Zoe was still staring at the door. “What the hell just happened?”
“Benny? You good?” Garrett stood at the entrance to his booth, staring at me. “Who was she?”