Tempting (Inked Hearts 1)

"Okay. But I get to pick the next one."

"I bet the plot will be incomprehensible."

I can help but chuckle. "Maybe."

She leans back against the couch. Crosses her legs. "You're too smart to enjoy that."

I turn toward her. Soak in the way her lips are turning upward, the brightness in her eyes, the softness in her shoulders. "Says who?"

"Me. Obviously." Her eyes spark.

It lights me up inside. "It's not the same for you. You're a writer. You see the strings."

Kaylee shakes her head. Her cheeks flush. "I'm not a writer. I write things sometimes. It's different."

"You write things. Doesn't that make you a writer?"

"No."

"No? I tattoo people. That makes me a tattoo artist."

"Well, what if you'd only done it once? Or only sometimes? If it was a hobby?"

"I'd still be a tattoo artist."

"It's different."

"How?"

"It just is."

"I hate to break it to you, but you're a writer. You're always scribbling in your notebook."

The last word makes her tense. Her shoulders go back to her ears. Her teeth sink into her lip.

She shakes it off. "It's just a hobby."

"It could be more."

"No... I don't think so."

"Why not?"

She looks me in the eyes. Her voice gets strong. Confident. "Because it's my life and I can do what I want."

I can't argue with that. But it's not the reason. "I have a proposition for you."

She perks. "I'm listening."

"I'll watch all four movies with you."

Kaylee claps her hands together. Joy spills over her expression. Her eyes get bright. Her lip corners turn upward. Her brow relaxes. "Okay. Right now? All night?"

"Right now. All night. Can you really stay awake?"

"For Katniss? Of course."

"I bet you can't."