Rigid (Whiskey Run Savage Ink 3)

“Okay, I’ll be right back.”

I shut the door behind me and go back out front. “Hey, I’ll let you have this one.”

Emily’s head is down as she pretends she’s looking at something on the computer. Without looking up, she shakes her head. “That’s okay. I should have known—"

I grunt because that’s all I can seem to do around her. “Known what?”

She still won’t look at me. “You and Kelly...” She blows out a breath. “Look, it’s no big deal. I’ll get the next one.”

I flinch. Is that really what she thinks of me? Man, I didn’t think I had the best reputation, but I didn’t know she thought I would sleep with Kelly of all people. She’s known for getting around. “There’s no me and Kelly. I didn’t look at the appointment book. I didn’t know it was her.”

She looks down at her nails. “It’s fine. You got this one.” She throws my words right back at me.

I almost stalk off. I’m not going to beg, but as soon as I turn, I know I can’t face Kelly. She’s been known to be really persuasive, and there’s no doubt she’s going to think this fuckin’ bulge in my jeans is for her. “Look at me,” I say to Emily.

Even though she looks at me, there’s defiance in her eyes. “What?”

I hate asking anything from anyone, but I know I can’t go back in that room like this. I’ve got a fuckin hard-on for Emily, and I’m tense and sexually frustrated. There’s no way I’d let something happen with Kelly, but I just don’t want to deal with her shit right now. “Would you please go with me? I need your help.”

She blinks, no more surprised than I am right now. I never ask for help. It doesn’t even sound right coming out of my mouth. Thankfully, she doesn’t ask questions. She makes a big to-do about getting up and even huffs about it. I gesture for her to walk in front of me, and I follow behind, inhaling her sweet scent and watching as her tight ass moves back and forth as she walks. With one hand on the door, she looks at me over her shoulder. Her cheeks are red. “If you decide you want me to leave or anything, just say the word.”

Obviously, the rumor mill has reached Emily about Kelly’s reputation. I put my hand on Emily’s back and pull it back quickly. Even an innocent touch on her back is too much for me. I definitely shouldn’t be touching her. “No! Stay until she’s out the door.”

Emily looks surprised, but she nods her head and pushes the door open, only to stop in her tracks. I run into the back of her and reach out, putting my hands on her hips to steady her. I’m at least a foot taller than Emily and look over her to see Kelly sitting on the chair, shirtless.

“Uh, you didn’t have to take your shirt off,” I tell her at the same time Kelly asks, “What’s she doing here?”

Emily looks at Kelly and then back at me. I go over to the corner and stand, crossing my arms over my chest. “Emily is going to do your piercing today.”

Kelly’s mouth drops open. “What? No! I want you to do it.”

“Emily is great at her job. And I’ll be here to guide her the whole way.”

Kelly isn’t even embarrassed to be sitting here, having this discussion bare breasted. “No! I want you to do it, or I’m not getting it done. I’ll go somewhere else.”

Emily’s face is flushed, no doubt embarrassed. “It’s fine, Dawson.”

But I’m already shaking my head. “No. It’s not fine,” I tell her before glaring over at Kelly. “Emily does it or you leave. It’s up to you.”

Her mouth drops, and she grabs her shirt. She doesn’t even cover her breasts before she’s walking toward the door, her shirt still in her hand. “Fine. I’ll find someone else to do it.”

Emily and I stand here, staring at one another, not moving until the jingle over the front door rings, alerting us that Kelly has walked out of the building.

“Dawson... I’m sorry. I didn’t...”

She’s walking toward me, her hand outstretched like she’s going to touch me, and I back up, shaking my head. “You have nothing to apologize for, but if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”

She draws her hand back as if I’m a snake about to bite her, and in all honesty, it’s probably like that for her. I should be thanking her right now. I can’t help but snap at her all the time. It’s better than what I want to do to her. I have a feeling if I let my true emotions come through, there’d be no coming back from that. Hurt fills her face before she turns and bolts for the exit. I hang my head. Somehow I have to figure out how to work with her without hurting her all the damn time.