A New Tattoo
811 Words
Alex sat at the cash register with her sketch pad and set of pens. She was designing her next tattoo. She had tattoos up her left arm, not a full sleeve yet, but close. This one was for her right shoulder. A silvery lake with the moon rising edged in night shade flowers.
The bell above the door jingled causing her to look up, ready to greet the customer. Her eyes met his and she faltered. He was back. She couldn't place what about him set her on edge. Instincts she'd kept long buried fought to rise to the surface. "How can I help you?" She managed to say.
He smiled warmly. A smile that shown in his eyes. "I have a new tattoo idea. I'd like to discuss it and see if it's something you can do."
"You just got a tattoo yesterday. Are you sure you're ready for another so soon?"
His eyes twinkled. "I think I am."
He seemed so normal and she was wildly attracted to him, but she couldn't let go of the feeling she felt in her gut.
"Let me see if I can find someone..."
"Reggy is out on errands and I'm way too deep in accounting work. You'll have to take him," Griff called from his office.
She sighed. "Alright, why don't you come back and I'll see what I can do?"
Griff peaked out and whispered. "If he's bothering you I can send him away."
She just shook her head and continued after the man. She couldn't send away a paying client for no reason. She'd take him on and be done with him.
"Do you have a reference picture or something?" she asked.
"I actually do." He pulled a sketch pad out of his bag and flipped to a page in the middle. He handed it to Alex.
A beautiful white wolf stared back at her. It's eyes so realistic she almost felt like it would move. It was just the head and shoulders on a dark background with the moon showing overhead. "You drew this?"
He nodded. "Is it clear enough what I'm going for? It's just a sketch..."
"It couldn't be more clear. I wish everyone came in with something like this. When do you want it done?"
"Do you have time right now?"
"If you have around $400 and some patience I have all the time in the world. Where is this going?"
"My right peck."
"Alright, take off your shirt and lean back."
He pulled his black t-shirt over his head and settled into the chair.
Alex took her tools out and prepped his skin. She turned back to him and had to stop herself from gasping. He was incredibly toned, but what caught her eye was the scars along his side. She quickly looked away and got to work.
It was incredibly hard to ignore the feeling she got when she touched him. It was like an electric current danced along her arms and up to her hairline. She actively pushed that to the side and kept up her work. Creating lines, this color and that, blending the blues and blacks in the background. She created shades to make the image come alive. Finally, she leaned back to admire her work. Her eyes met his, but she quickly looked away. She didn't like the way he looked straight into her soul. A voice in her head told her that he'd learn her secret if she let him close in any way.
She wrapped up his tattoo and brought him to the register. She went over the after care and supplied some products for it's care. She rang him up and took a wad of cash he handed her.
"Keep the change," he said with a wink.
"There's almost $100 extra dollars here," she said.
"Did I stutter?"
"Umm... thank you," she said. She tucked the money away and went back to her work station to clean up.
The man lingered. She tried to ignore him, knowing if he kept hanging around Griff would come handle him. He just unnerved her so much. When Griff didn't come out after a few minutes she turned and looked at the stranger. "Can I help you?"
"Actually, yes. Would you let me take you out tonight?"
"No, thank you," she answered simply.
"Any way I cou..."
Griff stepped out and the look on his face cut the man's words off before they could leave his mouth. "Alex doesn't date," he said firmly.
"Are you her dad?" the man asked.
"I'm her boss. She doesn't date. You can go ahead and be on your way. Come back if you need more work done, but not for anything else."
The man glanced at Alex and back and Griff. He didn't argue further. Alex felt pure relief when the door closed behind him.
- Writer
