I turned back to the door just as Robbie and Marcus walked in together. When Robbie’s eyes met mine, a surge of something like relief rocked through my body. I stuffed the last bite of cake into my mouth and rushed over, giving him a hug.
“Hey.” His face broke into the most gorgeous smile. “I take you havenae changed your mind about what we talked about last night?”
“Not on your life,” I said, rubbing his arm. I couldn’t wait to get my needle onto Robbie’s skin. His current tattoos were appalling – wonky lines, dribbling ink, crooked lettering … there was even a spelling mistake in his Maclean crest. He looked like he’d been attacked by a scratcher who was both drunk and blind. I knew by the way Robbie always wore long sleeves that he was embarrassed by his ink, and honestly, he should be. His was the only stencil I’d insisted on drawing myself. I had something special planned for him. “Come on in, Belinda brought life-giving cake.”
Over Robbie’s shoulder, I noticed Elinor and Marcus exchange a pointed look.
Ryan and Alex arrived last, rushing down the hall, their clothes covered with flecks of paint. Irvine trailed behind them, looking a little annoyed. Irvine wasn’t officially a member of the Lowe pack – he had his own pack, the Bairds, back in Scotland. However, he and Caleb had an alliance, and to seal that pact, they were both getting each other’s crests inked on their skin. Shifter politics were weird, but I wasn’t about to complain about all these new customers.
“Sorry,” Alex puffed, rubbing at a smear of forest green streaked across her cheek. “We were in the studio and lost track of time.”
Elinor groaned. “I don’t know how I can stand hanging out with so many bloody artists. I need to buy you all watches.”
Alex lifted up her wrist, showing a cheap beaded bracelet that was speckled with paint. “A watch will be unreadable inside of a week. Come on, let’s see this design you’re going to poke into my flesh.”
Now that everyone had arrived, I went back to preparing the inks and guns, while Elinor showed them her stencils.
“It’s awesome.” Caleb grinned, holding up the stencil. “You’ve perfectly captured what our pack is all about.”
“It’s so big.” Belinda bit her lip, rubbing her arm.
“You’ll be fine,” Elinor reassured her. “It doesn’t hurt as much as you expect. And I’ve made you a slightly smaller one.”
Belinda looked relieved. On her tiny Asian body, the large crest would look really out of proportion.
“Right.” I patted the chair next to me. “Who’s first?”
“Not me.” Belinda shuffled toward the back of the group. Alex joined her, shooting a nervous glance at Ryan.
Caleb slapped Luke on the shoulder. “What do you say, cousin? Let’s show them how it’s done.”
Luke slid into Elinor’s chair, and Caleb plonked down beside me. “I presume you want me to disrobe, or will that be too distracting?” He grinned.
“Keep up that lip, Caleb Lowe, and I’ll replace your wolf with a beautiful big bumble bee,“ I responded, as I flicked the switch on my power unit and pulled the foot pedal toward me.
Caleb didn’t flinch as I touched the needle to his skin. Because he was already heavily tattooed, I was reworking the edge of a previous piece into the Lowe crest, with the smaller Baird crest incorporated beneath it. Caleb kept up a steady line of chatter about the pack and their plans while I worked on him. He kept gesticulating with his free arm, causing his whole body to shift, including the canvas upon which I worked.
“Hold still,” I growled at him for the tenth time, after he shifted again just as I started to draw a particularly difficult line.
“Sure,” he said, lowering his arm. A few minutes later, it was back in the air again.
I sat back in defeat. “This is ridiculous. Robbie, come over here, and hold his arm down.”
Robbie pushed his way through the gate. I pulled over a chair next to Caleb and patted the cushion. Robbie slumped down, clamping his hands over Caleb’s forearm. I picked up my gun again and continued the tattoo.
As I leaned in close to work on Caleb’s arm, I couldn’t help but notice the atmosphere had changed. With Robbie here, the air around me charged with a nervous energy.
Robbie’s eyes burned in the back of my skull as I worked. Why did my body feel so odd, all tingly and weird? Maybe I was coming down with something. I traced the lines on Caleb’s skin and wiped away the blood, my hand shaking a little. I had to pull my hand away before I messed up the line.
Whoah, that never happened. I glanced over at Robbie, and saw he was focused on Caleb’s arm. Was I imagining it, or had his skin paled?
Don’t think about it. Just focus on the work. I managed to work through the weird feeling. I added the final flourish of colour, and wiped away the last of the blood. “All done.”
Robbie dropped Caleb’s arm. Caleb stood up and struck a pose for the rest of the pack, who cheered. “This is the beginning of something epic, you guys. As soon as we find the Benedict Ring, this symbol is going to be known the world over as the symbol of shifter freedom.”
“I have some news about the ring,” Ryan said. “But I don’t want to try and explain it now with all the tattoo guns going. Instead, you should all come over for dinner tonight to celebrate. Simon’s cooking a big roast lamb.”
“I’m in,” Marcus said automatically. Everyone laughed.
“Bianca’s got some news as well,” Robbie said.
I glanced at Elinor, suddenly nervous. “I don’t want to overshadow Ryan’s dinner,” I said.
“You don’t have Simon’s roast potatoes, so that’s unlikely,” Marcus growled.
“Go ahead, Bianca,” Ryan said. I took a deep breath, and told them about my aunt leaving me the house, and the stipulation in the will.
“That’s so crazy!” Rosa said. “How could you grandmother possibly make such a ridiculous stipulation like that? Surely it’s not legal.”
“It actually is,” Elinor said. “I worked on some pretty bizarre probate cases back in London. This is by no means the weirdest.”
“There’s nothing else for it,” Caleb declared. “You’re going to have to find some poor schmuck to marry you.”
Silently, Robbie raised his hand, grinning shyly. I smiled and threw my arm around his shoulder. “Robbie’s agreed to do the honours.”
Silence. Ten faces stared at us in gape-mouthed horror. Robbie’s grin froze on his face.
Finally, Alex said, in her most falsely-bright voice. “That’s … that’s great.”
My jaw clenched with annoyance. I slid my arm off Robbie’s shoulder. “Don’t congratulate me all at once,” I said, louder than I’d intended. “You’re all invited to the wedding, if that’s what you’re worried about. I might even ask Simon to bring a batch of roast potatoes.”
“It’s not that I’m not happy for you,” Rosa said, her dark eyes darting between us. “It’s just that it’s very, um … unconventional.”
I gestured to the room. “I’m not exactly conventional.”
“Exactly,” Rosa said. “You said you’d never get married.”
“I’m not getting married. I’m getting fake-married. Big difference.”
“Not to a court of law,” Belinda said. “Or the church. Don’t they excommunicate people for this kind of thing?”
I threw up my hands. “Since when would I care what the church thought? You guys are acting like we’re destroying the sanctity of marriage or something. I can’t believe I even have to defend this to you lot. People get married for all sorts of reason, and it’s not like my fake-marriage has any reflection on all your real lovey-dovey marriages. So could you all hop off the judgement express and just be happy for me?”
Ten faces exchanged pointed looks. Belinda stared at her shoes. Rosa folded her arms. Only Caleb met my eyes, a questioning look in his friendly gaze.
An awkward silence fell. Finally, Elinor stepped forward, placing her hand on my other shoulder.
; “We’re ready for the next two now,” Elinor said. “Bianca and I just need to wash and change our gloves. You guys decide who’s going to go next.”
Elinor and I crowded into the tiny washroom at the back of the shop. I elbowed her as she lathered up. “Okay, I waited to see their reactions. They look more like I invited them to a funeral than a wedding. What gives?”
“You really want my opinion?” Elinor asked, scrubbing her arms all the way up to the elbows.
“I really do.”
“Don’t marry Robbie.”
“I’m rather confused. I thought you loved my art house idea.”
“You know I do—”
“Right. Well, this is how I’m going to make it happen. It’s the only way I’m going to make it happen in this century.”
Elinor sighed. “I just … do you think fake-marrying Robbie is such a good idea?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Because he’s madly in love with you.”
I snorted. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“It’s true. He’s been crazy about you ever since he arrived in town. We can all see it. I can’t believe you’re so oblivious; you’re usually so clued into this stuff.”
“It’s not true. Robbie’s never made a move.”
“Have you met the guy? He may look tough, but he’s so shy I doubt he even knows what move to make. He probably thinks he’s not good enough, you being the daughter of a Lord and him being from the wrong side of the tracks. That’s why he’s agreed to marry you. He wants you to notice him.”
I peered around the corner of the washroom, out across the shop. Robbie sat on my bench, shirtless, swinging his legs as he waited his turn. His eyes darted nervously around the room, then settled on mine. His face broke out into a big, gorgeous smile, and my stomach flipped a little.
Does he like me? I’d never got that vibe off him, that “I want to bed you in a manly fashion” vibe you got from guys who just saw you as a conquest. Robbie and I were friends. We drank beer together and watched movies and ranted about the world and farted openly in front of each other. I didn’t even think he realised I was a girl.
But then … he would always drop everything to hang out with me. He laughed at all my stupid jokes. He even came clothes shopping with me and let me chatter all the way through every film we saw …
“But you don’t feel the same way, do you?”
“I …” For once, words failed me. I felt utterly flummoxed. It had never even occurred to me that Robbie might fancy me. What about the other night, when he walked me back from the pub? There was this moment, when I thought he was going to kiss me, and I wanted it?
But he was Robbie. He was my friend. And I did not date friends. I didn’t date, period. Dating always led to serious relationships, and I didn’t do serious. That wasn’t my style. Robbie knew that – maybe that was why he’d never said anything. He was more of a “wife-and-three-kids” kind of guy. He’d told me so on several occasions. His mother used to read him these stories when he was a kid, and Robbie memorised every single one by heart. There were always happy families, wife and husband and cheeky little kids. That’s was Robbie’s dream, but it made me want to retch.
Sure, Robbie was hot and all. And I guess we got on well, but I couldn’t give him what he wanted. I shook my head. Elinor sighed.
“Then what you’re doing is leading him on. It’s cruel.” She dried her hands, flinging the towel down on the side of the sink, and stormed out.
I sighed. Gripping the edge of the basin, I stared into my reflection. A deranged-looking woman stared back at me, ears heavy with metal piercings, colourful tattoos snaking up her skinny arms, tiny breasts snuggled inside a Ramones shirt with the neck cut out, eyes wild with the revelation of her friend’s feelings.
If Robbie looks at this and sees his future wife, then he’s crazy. Elinor’s right. He shouldn’t marry me if he can’t be honest about the reason.
But but but … if Robbie didn’t marry me, I could kiss Primrose House goodbye. The idea sent a sharp pain right through my chest. I couldn’t lose this chance. I just couldn’t.
There has to be a way to get the house without hurting Robbie. There just has to be—
My phone buzzed. I swiped it from my pocket and brought it to my ear without even checking who was called. “What?” I barked into the phone.
“Bianca Sinclair, that’s no way to address your mother.”
Great. My whole body stiffened as her grating voice screeched in my ear. Because this day couldn’t get any worse. “Yes, of course. Look, I’m very busy in the shop at the moment, so—”
Of course she wasn’t listening. “You should begin your salutation with a polite address, then identify yourself, then ask how you can assist the caller. ‘Good morning, Bianca speaking. How may I help you?’ Really, Bianca, you’ve been taught better manners than this.”
I rolled my eyes at the ceiling, the knot of tension already forming in my stomach. It had been months since we’d last spoken, and her first words to her only daughter were a lesson in manners. “I can’t talk right now, Mother. It’s loud here in the shop. What do you want?”
“What do I want? Is that the appropriate response for a daughter to give her mother while she’s in mourning? Your father and I haven’t heard from you in two years, but I would have thought you’d call after a member of your own family is buried.”
I rubbed my temple. Has it really been two blissful years of no contact before her call last week?
“You made it very clear I wasn’t to attend the funeral. I felt faking interest in it would seen disingenuous.”
“Bianca!” I held the phone away from ear as her screech echoed around the tiny bathroom.
“Kidding, Mother. I was going to call …” I started to say, but she cut me off.
“The lawyer has been to speak to us about June’s will. Now, I assume you’ll be passing on her kind offer of Primrose House in order to continue your heathen lifestyle, and I’ll need you to contact the lawyer with your statement so your father and I can continue probate—”
“I have no intention of giving you that house, Mother.”
“You don’t have any choice, dear. You cannot circumvent her conditions. She disapproved of your bohemian lifestyle just as much as I. I want to make it absolutely clear that one of your women will not be welcome in Primrose House. It is for bringing up a family, and you can’t—”
“Two women who love each other and decide to adopt are just as much a family as we are,” I explained through gritted teeth. “And I’d argue even more, since at least they have mutual respect, which you’ve never given me.”
“Children do not demand respect from their parents. They must earn it, and not by deserting their families to live a life of debauchery—”
“You can stop the tirade right there, because I am getting married. To a man. With a penis. Your puritan fantasies will be fulfilled.”
“Excuse me—”
“I’ve been seeing this guy, Robbie, and he’s great.” I peeked out the door again. There he was, still swinging his legs, deep in conversation with Caleb and Rosa. He caught my eye and gave me a nervous smile. Elinor’s words twisted in my gut, but I ignored them. For once, I wasn’t lying to my mother – Robbie was great. He’d be fine. I wasn’t going to let her get her hands on the house. “We were going to get engaged anyway, but Grandmother’s letter made the decision for us. Robbie asked me last night, and I said yes.”
“Bianca Sinclair, this isn’t how these things are done. We haven’t even met this man of yours yet. He hasn’t formally asked your father for his blessing. We don’t even know what family he’s from.”
Even though she was scolding me, she couldn’t hide the delight in her voice. She’d been waiting her whole life for the day I settled down and became a proper lady who liked men the way proper ladies did. She was so pleased it wasn’t a woman, I imagined her doing a little dance right there in her drawing room.
�
�I’ve been living on my own since I was sixteen. I don’t need Dad’s permission for anything.”
“Very well, I guess it’s too late now. Oh, Bianca, I can’t tell you how pleased I am. I’ve kept June’s engagement ring for you, just in case this day ever came. It has a beautiful emerald that will set off your eyes. And my wedding dress, if you think you’d like to wear it—”
Sixteen feet of Indian lace and a bodice so heavy with beads it would need a whole roll of duct tape to secure it to my non-existent chest? No thank you. “I’ve already chosen my dress, and Robbie’s given me a ring.” A delicious deep-fried ring, but I didn’t bother explaining that to her.
“Well, then. I expect you’ll want the wedding soon, so you can get into your new home. I shall set up a meeting with Father Henry. He’ll be delighted to have another Sinclair wedding in the cathedral—”
“Robbie and I aren’t very traditional. I don’t think we’ll be getting married in a church.”
“You must get married in a church, Bianca. Marriage is a sacred bond that should be given in the house of the Lord.”
I rolled my eyes as she railed through one of her religious sermons. She paused to take a breath and I managed to get a word in. “No church, and that’s final. If it will make you feel better, I’ll get one of my friends to dress up in a Cassock and—”
“Well,” she gushed, switching to her tactic of ignoring anything I said that didn’t fit her picture of how she wanted things to be. “You shall have to come over for dinner next week, we have a lot to do if we’re to start plans for your wedding. I’ll call the Devonshire Club, but I understand they’re booked up years in advance. Perhaps Ryan Raynard may let us use his ballroom. After all, Raynard Hall was the original seat of our family.”
I snorted. “Ryan turned his ballroom into a painting studio. That marble floor is covered with paint splatters. I did actually want to ask you … I know June’s will stipulated I couldn’t move into the house until I was married, but I wondered, if I could perhaps have the wedding at Primrose House?”
“You mean, a garden wedding? A little unconventional, I suppose, but then, that is you, isn’t it dear?”
Inking the Wolf: A wolf shifter paranormal romance (Wolves of Crookshollow Book 3) Page 4