Molly's Man (Haven, Texas 4)

She sighed. “Maybe I’m a bit old to take up skateboarding, but it’s good to try something different. I’m aiming attempt a new thing every day.”

“Yeah? That seems to be going well for you.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Better than yesterday when I decided to try some canned sardines. Ick. I still feel ill when I think about it.”

“Better an upset stomach than falling and breaking your ankle.”

“I didn’t break my ankle and I’m not exactly happy about this.” She waved down at her ankle. “I’d planned to get a tattoo this afternoon.”

He slammed his brakes down a little hard at the light. He managed to give a friendly wave to Mr. and Mrs. Ellingham as they shuffled their way across the road.

“Tattoo?” She couldn’t be serious.

“Yep. Are you okay? You sound a little odd.”

“I guess I can still get it, I’ll just have to get it done on my other ankle.”

Over my dead body.

He took a deep, calming breath. She was probably just teasing him.

“What sort of tattoo were you going to get?”

She frowned slightly as he pulled into the parking lot at the medical center.

“Do you have a problem with tattoos, Sheriff?”

“No.”

“Hmm, you sound like you do.”

“I do not have a problem with tattoos, it’s just . . . do you know how easily you can get an infection? What if the tattoo artist uses a dirty needle? Where were you going to get it done anyway?” They didn’t have a tattoo parlor in Haven.

“I was going to go to Freestown. And I’ve done my research; Devil is a very well-respected tattoo artist.”

“Devil? You’re getting a tattoo from a guy named Devil?” he yelled.

“Now, you shouldn’t judge someone by their name. Just because he used to ride with the Sons of Silence—”

“He’s in a gang?” He gaped at her. “No.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said no.”

“I heard you, I just wasn’t certain what you were saying no to.”

“To you getting a tattoo, obviously.”

“Oh, obviously,” she said sarcastically. “Funny, I don’t seem to recall asking you for permission.”

“Do you seriously think it’s a good idea to get a tattoo from a gang member called Devil?” What the hell is she thinking? “What were you going to get?”

“Oh, I thought I’d get property of the Devil tattooed above my ankle, but now I’m wondering if I should get it somewhere more obvious. Like around my neck, since he’s obviously going to kidnap me and force me to become his old lady.”

“I don’t think that’s funny.”

“Good. Because I wasn’t trying to be funny. I said he used to be in a gang. He isn’t anymore.”