Let’s just say she makes Leighton proud.
“I’ll be back next Friday.” She hugs Emma goodbye. Whispers something in her ear.
“You promise?” Emma releases her.
She nods.
They share a laugh.
Then she’s all mine.
She takes my hand, wraps her arms around me, holds me like she’ll never let go. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too.” I’ve barely seen her all week. She’s been working too hard to leave her apartment.
But that isn’t gonna matter soon.
Fuck, I hope that isn’t gonna matter soon.
I brush her short hair behind her ear. “Should we get out of here?”
“Thought you’d never ask.” She turns to our friends. Waves goodbye. “We don’t need the audience.”
“Baby, you wound me.” Dean blows her a kiss.
She feigns disgust.
But she can’t hide her smile.
She loves being here, at Inked Hearts, bantering with everyone.
I press my palm into her lower back to lead her out the door.
The orange glow of sunset fills our view. The street is incredibly California. Beach cottages, palm trees, the smell of salt mixing with the smell of gasoline.
“You miss working at Inked Hearts?” I intertwine my fingers with hers. I need to lead her here without making it obvious. I need it to be a surprise.
“Every day.” She looks to the ocean, some five blocks away. Watches the sun sink into the horizon. “But I love design more.”
“You can work here more often.”
“No. I can’t.” Her eyes fill with affection as she looks up at me. “You’re too distracting.”
“I can wear baggy clothes.”
She shakes her head.
“Cut off my hair?”
“Over my dead body.”
“Really? You’d die for my hair?”
She reaches up, runs her fingers through my waves. Address my locks. “I’m sorry he’s trying to hurt you. I promise I won’t let him.”
My laugh dissolves the tension in my shoulders.
But the relaxation is short lived.