Cursed Love: Cursed Love (Cursed, #1) (11 page)

“Thanks,” he replies, wiping his face with the sleeve of his shirt.

“Eww, gross. Do you need a tissue or something?” I ask, making a disgusted face.

“Nope, I’m good, but thanks,” he says with a smile and a subtle dimple appearing on his cheek.

I shake my head and look back out the window.

“Where the hell are you taking us?” I ask, completely confused as to where the hell we are.

“Don’t worry; I know exactly where I’m going.” Linc replies, giving me a know-it-all smirk.

“Well, I would hope so, but from the looks of it you’re driving us to an abandoned lot. You sure your shop is downtown and not the Bermuda triangle?”

“Etty, enough. I’ve lived here long enough to know my way around. Sit back and be quiet.”

“Ugh, you’re aggravating. I’ve known you less than a day and already I can’t stand you.”

“Yeah, so I’ve been told,” he says with a smile.

“I don’t like the looks of this town. I feel like any minute I might get knifed.”

“Oh my god, you’re nuts and the term is shanked, Etty.”

“Ugh, whatever. The correct term is I don’t like it here.”

“Then why don’t you tell me why you even came here.”

I take in a deep breath and gulp down the air, causing me to start coughing. Linc looks over to me and I raise my hand to gesture that I’m okay.

Once I’ve settled the coughing attack, I clear my throat and let out a heavy sigh.

Our conversation goes silent. There’s no way in hell I’m telling him my life story. He doesn’t need to know where I came from or why I’m here. I don’t want to put a complete stranger in danger because of my past.

Linc must sense that our car ride has turned into an awkward moment. He turns up the radio and starts to drum his hands on the steering wheel.

I look over to him and see that he’s moving his head along to the beat of the song. He positions his head just enough so that he can see me out of the corner of his eye. A sly smile comes across his face as he returns his gaze to the road and starts to sing along.

This guy is a complete nutcase, but for some reason I already feel connected to him in a weird way. Not like ‘I wanna throw you up against the wall’ or anything, it’s more like a long lost friendship and we’ve reunited.

I watch as he pulls the car into a parking garage.

Good god, it’s like I’m in a scene from a horror movie. Any minute, the bad guys are going to come out and attack us both.

He pulls into a parking spot that reads
Cursed Magic
.

Holy fucking shit. What the hell is going on here?
I’m in the middle of a city that I’m completely clueless about and now he’s parking in a fucking magic parking spot.

My skin begins to crawl and I jump in my seat. I look to my right and Linc is standing next to my door tapping on the window.

The look on my face must be one of pure fear because the look that Linc is giving me says he’s concerned. He opens the door and reaches his hand into the car to help me out.

“You okay, Etty? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”

I swallow the lump that is now forming in my throat and nod my head.

“Yeah, I’m okay. Just a little outta sorts right now. I’m not used to driving around with a complete stranger and parking in a garage for a place that has to do with Cursed Magic.”

I bring my hands to my head and can feel the sweat on my forehead.

My hands fall from my face and I stare at Linc as he begins to laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“You, Etty. We aren’t going to a magic show if that’s what you’re thinking. Cursed Magic is my shop; it’s the place that Daulton and I bought a few years back. The guy that owned it named it and we never thought to change the name. It’s kinda grown on us.”

I don’t know what I was expecting, but a huge wave of relief runs through me. I may be stupid and naïve, but the way things were looking on the way in made me a bit afraid of what was going to happen next.

Linc gestures for me to move out of the way so he can shut the door.

“Come on, Etty, let’s go introduce you to the love of my life—my shop.”

“Well shit, and I thought
I
had issues,” I whisper under my breath.

I follow Linc through the garage and out to the main street of the city. We walk down the block a few stores before we stop.

“Why didn’t we park out front?” I ask, pointing to the street parking.

“Ehh, today I felt like parking in the garage. Plus, there are people that live around here that could use the upfront parking more than us.”

“Aww, well aren’t you sweet?”

“I have my moments,” he says with a wink.

I watch as he puts a k
ey into the lock, turns the knob, and opens the door.
We walk through the entrance and he heads toward the counter to the far left of the room.

My eyes start to scan the room. I haven’t been in a tattoo parlor in years.

The art along the walls and the framed tattoos bring back happy memories of the one I used to go to when I was younger.

The first tattoos I got were a butterfly on my ankle and a sun on my back. After the first two, it became an addiction. The pain of the needles turned into pleasure for me and once I got a taste of it, I needed more. Now I have both arms covered in full sleeves, my upper legs, my chest, and a large back piece that I was never able to finish.

Tattoos aren’t just color and ink on the skin—they’re a form of expression that the artist designs and only the client knows the hidden truths behind the pieces.

“You ready for the grand tour?” Linc asks, waving his arms in the air.

“Yeah sure, show me what you got,” I reply, walking toward him.

“Well, it’s still a work in progress. When Dault and I took over it was pretty run down. We’ve done a few renovations here and there, but it’s come a long way. I’m proud of this place. It’s my dream come true, something I never thought would be real to me.”

A smile comes across my face watching as Linc talks about this place. He’s so proud that he’s almost glowing.

I follow him through the hallway as he opens the artists’ rooms. They’re all decorated according to the specialty of the guy that sits in each room.

Linc takes me to the office at the end of the hall. He shows me the scheduling system and the inventory checklist.

The responsibilities I’ll have here are few, and it won’t take me long to pick up on what’s needed of me.

We walk back to the front and he tells me to make myself comfortable while he wraps up some loose ends.

I let myself look around a bit more and find a book of art with Linc’s name on the front cover.

Thumbing through the pages, I see a variety of pieces he’s done on some of his clients. He’s really talented and I’m in awe of his trade.

I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to pride myself with something like this. I can only hope that one day I can put my fears behind me and find something like this to share with the world.

I see Linc walking toward me out of the corner of my eye.

“What do you have there?” he asks.

“Oh, umm, I was just looking through some of your work.”

He sits down beside me and takes the book from my lap. He starts to page through the various designs and stops on one. It’s an image of a tiger.

His finger lingers over the animal as he stares down at the page.

“This one right here was my very first tattoo. Cricket, the guy that own Cursed Magic, gave it to me. At the time, I didn’t understand the importance and meaning of a tattoo. This guy right here started my addiction.”

He rolls up his shirt sleeve and shows me the tiger on his forearm.

My hand reaches out to him and I graze my fingers over the tattoo.

“It’s incredible,” I say in a whisper.

“Yeah, the first time I saw it, the eyes of the tiger stood out to me. It’s only a creature in form, but the eyes show no fear.”

I don’t know how to take his response.

Linc has, or maybe had, fears. There’s so much more about him that I want to know. He has me so intrigued that I need to find out what he’s hiding. From the first moment I met him I knew there was something hidden behind his dark eyes.

Maybe one day I’ll have the courage to ask, or he’ll find enough trust in me to tell me.

Regardless of how our relationship unfolds, I can already tell that the two of us will get along just fine.

Chapter 13

Once I finish showing Etty around the shop, I do some last minute organizing in the office and we head back to the house.

During the drive back to my place we sit in silence. I’m not much of a talker; in fact, I’ve really never had anyone around to chat with besides the guys and Jo.

I don’t mind the company, but I’m not too sure what kind of conversation to start with Etty. It’s not really my business to intrude and ask her where she came from, but it’s something that’s going to make me wonder until I find out.

She’s seems a bit off—reserved and maybe a little afraid of something. I just don’t know what it is, but I’m interested to learn more about this random girl that has popped into our lives.

I really am glad she showed up when she did—it’s almost too unreal to be true. I was in need of a replacement and she fell into my lap when I least expected it.

The banter between the two of us is fun and twisted; we click together so well. She’s exactly the distraction I need.

I know now is not the best time to be looking for someone to take Jo’s place, but without her here I know I’m going to fall apart.

I need someone to keep my mind occupied so that my thoughts don’t go back to what happened last night. It also helps to have someone to keep my mind off of what happens when I’m alone and in a deep sleep.

Going to bed tonight is already plaguing my thoughts. For far too long, Jo was able to help erase the nightmares and terrors that filled my sleep.

Before her, I would bring random girls home just for the comfort and easy lay. I’m not that guy anymore; I don’t want to be a man-whore like Daulton. Not saying I want to settle down, far from it, but the revolving door to our house got old quick.

I wish there was a way to call Jo, to hear her voice. Missing her isn’t something I ever thought I’d have to worry about. Having her around was just something I took for granted and now she’s really gone.

Letting out a heavy sigh, I try to clear my mind of Jo and the sleepless nights that will haunt me.

Glancing over to the passenger’s seat, I see Etty staring out the window.

This chick has been brought into my life for a reason, I know that. I just need to get my shit in order so that I don’t bring her down with me. I don’t want to cause anyone pain, and I sure as hell don’t want to break another girl’s heart.

Etty is a cute little thing, but I don’t think that I have to worry about any type of physical attraction between us. I just hope the feeling is mutual. I’m not in the right place to fill Jo’s shoes in that area of my mind or body. At least not yet—not until I figure out what the hell I want with my life.

I pull the car along the curb in front of Etty’s townhouse.

Shutting the engine off and pulling the keys out of the ignition, we both sit in silence.

She’s fidgeting her with hands in her lap and looking straight through the window, deep in thought.

I’d like to know what’s going on in that pretty little head of hers, but I don’t want to invade her privacy just yet.

Clearing my throat, I draw her attention to me. Her bright eyes meet mine and she gives me a small grin.

“I know you’re new to town and you just moved in, but is there anything you need for the house? I can run you to the store if you want.”

“Nah, I’m okay for now. I might venture out a little later. I’m kind of tired and might just lie down for a nap.”

“Yeah, a nap sounds good. Sundays are usually my lazy day anyway. I think I’ll turn on a movie and chill on the couch ‘til later tonight.”

“Why? What’s tonight?” she asks with a frown.

“It’s kind of stupid, actually. Daulton and I usually order some pizza and wings, and then the guys from the shop come over to play cards. We’re closed on Mondays so we make it our party night.”

“Ohh, sounds like fun,” she says, perking up in her seat.

“Don’t get yourself too excited. It’s not really like a party, just a bunch of tatted assholes getting together to steal one another’s money. You can pop over if you want. It’ll give you a chance to get to know the guys before Tuesday.”

“Great, thanks. I’ll come over after I run some errands later. Do you need me to grab anything for you guys?”

“Aww, Etty, you’re too kind. I think you’ll do just fine living next door to us. Thanks, though, I think we’ve got everything we need.”

“Okay. Well then, I’ll see you later.”

She opens her door and steps out onto the curb. I walk around the car and meet her as we walk up the steps and to the doors.

“Oh hey, Linc,” she says, turning toward me.

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“Thank you for everything. I mean, letting me rent the house and for giving me a job. I really do appreciate it. I promise I won’t let you down.”