Hating You, Loving You (Inked Hearts 4)

"Yeah. Damn. How the fuck do you get all the hot chicks?" His cheeks flush as he catches me staring.

Dean laughs.

I blush. I get that I'm in a male environment. That tattoos are masculine and a lot of guys think they're in some let's talk about babes and brews and sports place.

But tiny package of kink? Really?

I suck a breath through my teeth. A lot of artists turned me down for an apprenticeship because women just can't do tattoos. I'm already at a disadvantage here.

It sucks, but I have to play nice if I want to level the playing field.

Dean's eyes catch mine. He motions come here. "Be honest, Chloe. You like this tattoo?"

It's a bicep piece, a classic sailor girl pinup. Vertical. Dark lines. Bright colors. Big, clear details. "It's good."

"Just good? Fuck, which of us should take offense to that?" Dean asks.

"It's great." It's bold, eye-catching, classic and original at once. "It suits you."

Rick looks to Dean and raises a brow.

"She told me the same thing about mine." He pushes his shirt up his sleeve to show off his Han Solo temporary tattoo.

"She was right about you." He looks to me. "I'm sure she's right about me."

"You know Chloe isn't just a masterful artist," Dean says.

"No?" Rick says.

"She does aikido," Dean says.

Confusion streaks Rick's expression.

"Martial arts." Dean jumps out of his chair. Sinks into his heels. Karate chops the air. "She kicked Ryan's ass."

My shoulders tense. I anticipate their stupid commentary. Of course, the Asian girl does karate. Oh, you're only half Asian? Does that make you an egg or a Twinkie? What do you mean karate is Japanese not Korean?

But the commentary doesn't come.

Dean threw a lot of bullshit at me over the years, but he never brought up my heritage.

Concern flares in his eyes. He notices my discomfort. Stares at me, asking me something.

I'm not sure what it is, but I trust him not to go there. I wave him on.

He turns back to Rick and launches into a story. "Ryan had no idea what he was in for."

I play my part. Shrug as if I had no problem defeating Ryan. Even though the truth is I've never bested Ryan.

Dean continues. "He was all pissy about his ex. You know the way he was before Leighton. And he was out for blood. Saw Chloe. Saw that dark hair and thought of all the ways he wanted to hurt Penny. He went dirty. Did shady bar fight shit. But he was too slow. Chloe was bobbing and weaving. She wrapped her arm around his neck and threw him over her shoulder."

Rick hangs on every preposterous word.

Dean lights up like a pinball machine as he acts out our fight. He mimes my hold on an invisible Ryan. Throws the invisible Ryan over his shoulder.

Rick's eyes go wide. He looks to me with respect. "Badass."

"Thanks." I fight my blush.