Beck as in looks like David Beckham, and that was exactly who West looked like. Tattoo Artist West.
And he was looking right at me with a golden eyebrow arching.
I twisted around so my back was to him, keeping my camera hovering over my heated face as I moved it without taking shots.
Famous? West, was famous? The burning in my face ignited throughout my body, just like when his fingers ran over the skin of my wrist up to the spot where he put my arrow tattoo. How was he famous? Maybe it was a different guy that just happened to also look like David Beckham that was the womanizing cousin. Although, the womanizing part did seem plausible. We openly flirted before, during and after he gave me my tattoos.
A cough came from behind me, and I turned back, the camera still covering my expression to find the very man staring down at me.
God, he’s tall. I already knew that, but suddenly I was examining everything about him, more so than I did before. His nose was angular, fitting into the perfection that was his chiseled jaw line. Part of the length of his hair had come undone and was hanging over his eyes. He put his hand on the exterior of my camera lens and lowered it from my face.
“River,” he said, and his voice sent heat rushing to my face again, but I managed to push an eyebrow up as my frown trained on him.
“West,” I replied, and my voice was far more breathy than I wanted it to be. He looked even better in a button-up than his black cotton v-neck t-shirts. The hunter green shirt was unbuttoned to show the tattoo gracing his collarbone, and the pushed up sleeves to showed his tattooed forearms.
“I thought I’d never see you again,” he said as he put one hand in his slacks, the other holding a whiskey glass. “Well, unless you wanted another tattoo.”
“It’s not like you don’t have my phone number,” I said, cocking my head at him. “So if you wanted to see me again, you could call.”
West pursed his lips and shook his head. “That would violate client-artist privilege.”
My heart beat quickened. “Not telling me you’re famous kind of did that already.”
“Shit. Who said that I’m famous?” His neck flushed up to his cheekbones as he pushed the stray hair back over his head.
“Maggie mentioned her cousin nicknamed Beck was famous. I would never put two together…I mean how are you famous?” I asked, and I felt my body leaning towards his.
“I wish she’d stop calling me that. As for why I’m famous…” He stepped forward and my eyes fell as his chest rose. I blinked hard before looking back up and waiting for a response. West took his hand out of his pocket and reached for my wrist, flipping it, so the tattoo faced up. His fingers traced the shape, and my body trembled before I could stop it. My eyes rose slowly as his finger reached the tip of the arrow. “It’s because of these.”
My mouth worked before my brain as I asked,”So you’re like Kat Von Dee?”
He chuckled, brows rising. “Not really, but I guess so.”
“I didn’t see any cameras.”
“They aren’t there all the time,” he replied. “I do get a break, and besides, we always ask if clients want to be on camera, and I get the idea you wouldn’t have been receptive to that.”
“You already know me too well,” I replied, laughing a little as his fingers lifted and left my skin cold.
He stuck his hands into his slack pockets, tilting forward slightly as his lips pursed and he shook his head. “I know your name and your tattoos, but I don’t really know you.”
Jesse hadn’t wanted me to talk to West, but I already had– not that he knew that. I scanned the room, wondering where he went. My eyes landed on Jesse at the bar where he was slowly shaking his gray head of hair at me. I rolled my eyes before returning my gaze to West.
He chewed the inside of his cheek, green eyes fixed on me. “I’d like to be your friend, River.”
“Why?” I asked, tilting my head up as the air in my lungs hitched.
“You need a friend, and I could always use a real one,” he replied, and his teeth raked over his lower lips as his eyes paced back and forth over mine.
“A real one?”
“One who wasn’t nice to me because they knew I was a famous tattoo artist and they wanted something for free,” he explained, and despite how tall he was, his face was inches away from mine. I realized why–he was leaning down, and I was on my tip toes.
Oh god.
I dropped back on the balls of my feet. “Friends?”
“That’s it,” he replied with a nod. “For now.”
For now. The thought made my cheeks burn, and as I looked up at him, he was blushing too. It was adorable that someone so obviously brash could be embarrassed. I bit my lip, and his eyes dropped to them, his Adam’s apple rising and falling.
“I’d like that,” I finally replied.
“Great,” he replied, and his eyes moved to the camera. He signaled with his hands for me to give it to him. “We’ll start with relieving you from your photographer duties.”
“But–” I began, and he nodded over my shoulder. My gaze followed where he was looking, right at Maggie whose smile confirmed it was okay. “Thanks,” I mouthed. I turned back to West and pulled the camera over my head, handing it to him. “Someplace safe.”
“Of course, and what can I get you to drink?”
“Moscato?”
His lips tipped up at the edges. “My pleasure, if I get a dance out of it.”
“I think I owe you two.”
“Even better,” he replied with a wink before turning away.
I was really, truly smiling and the warmth spreading through my limbs felt amazing.
Chapter 42
Bobby smiled at me, and my heart lifted. He looked so happy—so put back together, as if nothing had happened—as if he wasn’t…dead. My chest rose as I smiled at him sitting on the dock at the lake, his jeans pulled up over his muscular calves as he dunked his toes in the water. It had been months since we’d last spoken in my dreams– even longer since I really heard his voice. I swallowed– just over eight months; two since I left Adam.
“Hey, Riv,” he said, and his voice sent a shock to my system. My whole body trembled with the joy of hearing it, and I stepped forward. I knew it was a dream, but it felt so real I wanted to stay in it forever. My heartbeat quickened because I knew I had minutes before it would all fade away.
“Hey, Bobby,” I replied as I sat next to him, examining each of his features again. He looked like the angel he was as the sun cascaded over the contours of his face and reflected off of the blond highlights in his messy hair.
He put his arm around me and pulled us back, so our toes were still in the water, but we laid back in the sun. Bobby turned his head, opening one eye and then the other. “So…”
“So?”
“West Brighton,” he said the name, wiggling his brows at the same time.
The smile on my lips faded as I thought of the way I flirted with him the night before and forgot about every shitty thing in my life. I even forgot about Adam.
“I’m trying to make friends,” I managed to say, turning my face up to the sun, so I wasn’t looking at him.
“Friends? Riv, we both know that hardly ever works between a guy and a girl…look at all the shit that put you, Adam and me through. He really likes you…but you don’t know him,” Bobby said, and I turned my body towards him, leaning up on my elbow.
“I don’t even know myself anymore,” I replied, locking my eyes on his blue ones. They were so similar to the sky behind him.
Bobby turned to rest on his elbow, reaching forward and tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. “That’s why this is so dangerous for both your hearts. Not to mention Adam.”
“I think he’s doing fine.”
Bobby’s eyes narrowed as his jaw clenched. “He’s doing as fine as you are. He’s following a new dream because it’s the only thing he sees in front of him. You changed him — you fixed him.”
My throat made a ch
oking noise as I shook my head. “I left him broken.”
Bobby’s eyes drifted down and then locked on mine, stoic as his brows crushed over them. “No, but you’re going to leave Brighton broken.”
“He’s a womanizer.”
“So was I — so was Adam. We each have our reasons for protecting our hearts that way and River; you don’t know him. I know you need someone–just be careful. He can’t help you find yourself again because you won’t let him. And he’s not going to listen even if you try to push him away, but you need to be honest with him.”
“I know your right,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “God, I miss you.”
His forehead lowered to mine, and he held me there, his warmth and love encompassing me, so the anxiety in my soul disappeared. His eyes searched mine, and our noses met. “I miss you too, the real you—the you that you buried in the ground with me.”
“What am I supposed to do?” I whispered, but his body was starting to shimmer in and out. “Bobby? Please, don’t go!”
His lips rose to my forehead and pressed there.“You’ll figure it out, Riv. You always do.”
Then he was gone and every part of me that felt suddenly mended back together split at the seams. I woke up with a start, the morning sun streaming across the room and warming my body. I swallowed as I pulled my knees to my chest. You’re going to leave Brighton broken.
I didn’t want to leave anyone broken, and I knew at that moment that I could only let West in so much. I needed a friend, and he needed me to be only that because otherwise I could shatter him. I didn’t know how, but a part of me knew Bobby was right. My phone buzzing against my nightstand pulled me out of the thought. For a moment my heartbeat raced, thinking I forgot to text Dad last night that I wasn’t going to be up to hanging out. I grabbed the phone, glancing at the time above the text message– eight thirty. My whole body ached, but my mind raced. There was no way I could go back to sleep, especially when my eyes fell to the text message, not from Dad, but West.
West – Hey, I know it’s early, and you’re probably exhausted but if you’re interested, today is my day off, and I volunteer at a local animal shelter.
Volunteering at an animal shelter wasn’t date-like at all, and I didn’t have enough brain power to read a book today. At least this way I wouldn’t be watching television all day.
I can’t sleep anyway. What time were you thinking? And is there coffee involved?
My phone buzzed in my hand as I stood and stretched my muscles, tight from being overworked.
West – Makes two of us. If you want, I can pick you up in thirty minutes. We can get burgers after– as friends, of course.
I smiled, my mouth watering at the idea of a burger and fries.
Of course. Is there going to be coffee waiting for me when I get in your Lambo?
I placed the phone on the sink as I turned on the shower and pulled off my pajamas. Just as I was about to get into the hot pulsating water, my phone buzzed, and I couldn’t help but look down at it.
The coffee I can do. Afraid a Lambo is a bit out of my reach. You’ll have to deal with my Audi TT. It’s orange, if that helps.
I laughed as I typed quickly. Convertible?
His reply was a wink face, and I felt my body flush as I realized I was naked texting him. My mind rushed forward, wondering if he might be doing the same thing– and what exactly that tattoo on his chest said…and was there more?
Friends, River!
My shower was hot, but I was tempted to turn it ice cold until the warmth hit my aching muscles. The relief momentarily cooled off the hormones in my brain; that is until my doorbell rang. I fumbled with the shower nob, grabbing a towel and drying quickly as I slid my finger across my phone’s screen. I didn’t know how I managed to stay in the shower that long, but the last text message from West said received thirty-three minutes ago.
The doorbell rang again. Naked texting and now this. I wrapped the towel around my body, and then headed down the stairs, my hair still dripping water down my neck as I opened the door. West’s eyes locked on my face, green eyes twinkling as they stayed there.
“I’m not going to look down,” he said as his lips pulled up, dimpling his cheeks.
God, those dimples.
“Thanks,” I replied looking at the two Dunkin Donuts coffees in a tray and a paper bag that smelled like amazing pastry.
“I could’ve given you more time,” West said as I stepped aside so he could come in. His neck was red, and a vein in it pulsed quickly as he stared straight ahead.
I laughed, and my towel started to unravel, causing me to move quickly to catch it which also made West’s locked glance come down. The red traveled up to his cheeks, and he closed his eyes.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to look,” he said, and his voice was deep in a way that made my stomach flutter.
“Don’t worry if you came to the door in a towel I wouldn’t have your level of self-control,” I replied, and I bit my cheek hard.
Why the hell did I just say that?
West’s eyes opened, and an eyebrow arched over his eyes. “Is that so?”
It was my turn to blush, but I kept my eyes on his. “Maybe–I mean with all the tattoos teasing me through that v-neck, you can’t blame me for being curious at what they say.”
He chuckled to himself, nodding over his shoulder. “Mind if I take a seat while you get dressed?”
“Go ahead,” I said as I headed up the stairs. I paused halfway up the stairs and glanced over my shoulder at him. His eyes were on me, just like I thought they would be.
He licked his lips, eyes traveling from my bare legs to my face. “My soul, forever, yours to keep.”
My eyes widened as my jaw went slack. “What?”
“That’s what it says,” he replied, pulling at the v-neck so I could see the words my soul connecting to forever.
“That’s beautiful,” I said, and his eyes fell as he swallowed.
“Yeah.” He gave me a soft smile, but it strained at the edges as if the reason behind the tattoo pained him. He signaled to the living room. “I’ll wait to eat, but I can’t promise I won’t drink half my coffee.”
“As long as you don’t drink mine you’ll be safe,” I replied, and I heard his laughter as I made my way back up the stairs.
When I got back into the bedroom, I let the towel unravel, my eyes going to the ceiling.
Maybe Bobby was right. Friendship wasn’t a possibility. I needed to be honest with him then– when and if this bordered on something more than friendship and an undeniable attraction.
Chapter 43
We spent the ride over to the shelter talking about crazy things that happened at work, and West’s stories were far more insane than my own. When we arrived West slid across the hood and opened my door before I could, his eyebrows wiggling. I burst out laughing, shaking my head at him and he gave me one of those dimpled smiles that made my heart race. In the short periods we spent together all I seemed to do was smile and laugh–and that was a nice feeling.
“So let me introduce you to each of my friends,” West said, walking backward through the row of pens. Each had a doggy door to the outside so they could easily run out and exercise, and a nice soft bed as well. It was a shelter, but the dogs all seemed so happy, especially when they heard West’s voice. “This is Bella,” he began, and he introduced me to each dog, explaining what he knew of their background. At the last cage, he stopped, crossing his arms over his chest and narrowing his eyes. “You have to promise not to fall in love with these ones.”
I blinked at him. “What makes you think that I’ll fall in love with these ones more than the others?”
A wide smile spread across his lips as he opened his arms and signaled for me to come forward. I peered into the cage to see three beagle puppies sleeping in various positions on the bed in the corner. Every single one was as adorable as the next. I couldn’t help the sound of adoration that slipped through my lips, a bit high pitched and
very girly. It woke up the puppies who stumbled over one another before tripping over their ears to get to me. I looked over my shoulder and West looked up at the ceiling shaking his head. “Go ahead. Go in.”
I walked in and sat on the floor crossed legged so the puppies could crawl over me. I laughed as the littlest one attempted to climb up my chest to lick my chin. He slipped, and his paws went down my shirt.
“Watch out, they’re feisty,” West said as he stared down at me with that smile still plastered on his face.
I picked up the little pup and held him up, looking into his brown eyes, one circled by a black patch, the other a tan spot. I put my nose against the puppy’s moving it back and forth.
“Wow, Jesse was not kidding.” West’s laughter filled the cage, echoing off the concrete surround.
I opened my eyes, lowering the puppy to my lap where I scratched behind his ear, and he thumped his back foot. “I didn’t know you knew Jesse.”
West ran his hands through the length of hair slicked back over his head, stopping at his neck. His muscles flexed beneath his tattoos, so it appeared the petals of the flowers were moving. “I’ve known Jesse for a few years.”
Our eyes locked and his shoulders rose before he sat down across from me. He put his forearms over the top of his knees.
“A few years?” I asked. My stomach twisted as I wondered if the reason Jesse didn’t want me to talk to West was the same reason Bobby warned me–maybe it wasn’t about protecting me but protecting West.
Faded Perfection (Beautifully Flawed Book 2) Page 20