Authors: Lexy Timms
Heart of a Tattooist: Dark Romance MC Club Alpha Bad Boy Obsession (Tattooist Series Book 3) (13 page)
Cara set the gun down and smiled as she looked at the tat she had just done. Outside the windows of the shop the sun filtered in, and she gave it a longing glance as she wrapped her customer’s ankle and gave the young woman a reassuring smile and a quick talk on how to keep it clean and moist as she stripped off her gloves and began to clean up.
It had been a good day, a very good day, and she was as happy as she had ever been in her life. She walked the young woman out and then stepped outside, letting the sun beat down on her head.
She turned and took a look at the shop. The letters above the door read
Cara’s Art
and it made her smile even wider. She watched as one of her new employees, a heavily pierced and tatted-up young man jumped out of a car and headed toward her.
He waved and asked, “Hey, you ready for me?”
She nodded. “It’s been pretty busy for a weekday, so let’s hope that keeps up through the night.”
He grinned. “Yeah, it should. Hell, even if it’s just an okay day I get to do a tat or two, so who cares?”
She watched him walk past and shook her head. He was young, twenty-one and cocky. He reminded her of a young Hawk, and she suddenly wondered how he was doing. She knew from social media that he and Joy were having a baby.
She took a deep breath. Cliff had friended her on her social media not so long ago and she had looked at his latest photos. He looked radiantly happy and she was happy for him. The past was over and done, and they had all come a very long way from who they had been back in the days when they had all been struggling to ink their marks onto the skin of the people on the world.
She headed back inside and said, “Hey Craig, I’m out for the day.”
“Okay, boss. Harry’s around, ain’t he?”
She nodded. She had lured Harry away from Thomas’ shop, and while Thomas was pissed, he was smart enough to know that business was business and his way of doing business wasn’t going to fly forever. “Yeah he’s in the back, taking care of some new stock. Call if y’all need anything.”
She went to the curb and got in her car, a sedate little sedan, and climbed behind the wheel. She cranked up and headed out, driving toward the outer edges of Nashville and the recording studio where Mitch was working on his latest album.
The dam that had been his writer’s block had broken that night he, Dani, and Shane had come barreling in to rescue her, and he had written nearly a hundred songs both alone and with others, and now he was sorting through them trying to decide what to keep for the record.
He was happiest when he was singing. That was just the way things were. She got it. She was happiest holding a tattoo gun, and he got that. She would join him occasionally on tour and he had promised to keep the touring down as much as possible.
It was going to be a great record; they both just knew it. The world was waiting for it and they both knew that this was not just his next record but a return to his roots, and that any small flaw would set him up for a failure he didn’t deserve, so he was taking his time with it.
She made her way through the snarls of traffic, and then through the long stretches of road that led to the rather plain and bland buildings that housed some of the most famous names in the business during working hours—which were often odd and long.
There was a security guard at the door. She waved at him and he waved back and stepped aside to open the door for her. She entered the dim hallway and walked to the control room.
Mitch’s producer, Luke, sat behind the control panel. Mitch was in the booth, an acoustic guitar on his knee as he sat on a wooden stool, singing softly into a mic.
She watched him, her smile growing with every word. It was a soft and heartfelt ballad, played out against the strum of the guitar strings.
He finished and Luke leaned forward and spoke into a mic on his side of the glass panel. “That’s perfect, Mitch. Perfect. Let’s try the chorus for the other one again; you were still about half an octave too low, I think. I need you to really cut through the mix.”
Mitch nodded and gave her a wink and a smile. She studied him. He wore plain jeans and loose shirt and his hair was messy, probably from him raking his hands through it all day long. A single lock fell over his forehead and she wanted to reach out and brush it back for him.
The song he sang then was swaggering and up-tempo, slightly bawdy and raucous. He gave it his all but Luke shook his head and said, “No. Damn. I can’t figure out why but that chorus is still coming up short. Let’s wrap it until tomorrow.”
“Gladly.” Mitch’s voice was hoarse and she could see he was tired as he came around the booth. There were faint circles below his eyes and his smile was thin.
She smiled. “Hey, sexy. Can I interest you in dinner?”
“You can; that and a good stiff shot of something strong.” He frowned and she knew he was thinking about that damn chorus. He said to Luke, “See if you can figure out what’s wrong with it. You’re right; something’s off, but I’ll be damned if I can figure it out.”
“Maybe you should sing it higher instead of lower,” Cara said without thinking.
Mitch blinked. “What?”
Luke turned to her and asked, “What did you say?”
She bit her lip and then threw her hands up in the air. “Well, you see—when you sing it like that it’s like you’re dropping your voice. Um, I don’t know. I don’t sing or anything.”
“No, but you’ve got a good ear, and you have good taste in music, well except for that rap stuff you like so much, so spill it,” Mitch said.
She cleared her throat. “It sounds like you’re dropping it. Like you’re letting it just…fall. Like you’d open your hand and drop something. No offense. So why not try it higher? I mean, I know you’re trying to hit those low notes, but do they really belong there? It’s like putting black in a tattoo that really needs red or something.”
Luke grinned and slapped Mitch on the back. “Man, try it again. It can’t hurt. That is, if your voice can take it tonight. You put in a lot of work today.”
Mitch looked back at Cara. “Can you give me a minute?”
“I’ve got nothing but time,” she said with a smile.
He went back into the booth. Luke cued it up again and Mitch listened, swaying slightly to the beat. Then he began to sing, taking his voice higher. He came back out and said, “Better, way better, but my voice is pretty shot. That’s exactly what it needed.” He gave her a hug and she laughed as his jaw, bristling with stubble, met her cheeks and neck.
Luke started switching machines off. “Yup, you’re done for today. Go home, get some rest, and drink a lot of water. We’ll do it again tomorrow.”
Mitch took her hand and they headed out. “How was work today?”
“Good… not really busy, but good. I owe you a big thank you.”
“For what?”
“For letting me take that building at such a reduced rate. I know you could rent it for far more.”
He shrugged. “Yeah, but this way I get a nice tenant.”
She snorted. “I don’t know about nice. But thank you again.”
He stopped. “You know, I was going to wait to do this but…but what the hell.”
She blinked, wondering just what it was that he was getting at. He dropped to one knee and reached into his pants pocket. The ring box was small and slim, and her heart began to pound furiously. “Whatever you do, don’t fuckin’ run. Please? I’ll have to chase you. I’ll have to tackle you even, and I’m really tired.”
Tear sprang into her eyes but she blinked them back. “I’m not running,” she said in a husky voice. “I’m standing right here, waiting for you to ask me to marry you. You are about to ask me to marry you, I hope.”
“I am if you’ll quit talking and let me get around to it,” he growled, but humor lit his face. “Cara, will you do me the honor…?”
“Oh, hell yes!” She grabbed him and hugged him tight, pulling him up.
He came to his feet, laughing. “Can you let me show you the ring already!?”
The ring! She stared at him then burst into laughter. “Okay but hurry up, will you?”
He opened the case and the diamond winked.
She took a hard slow breath and said, “Oh, it’s beautiful. So very beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you are.” He held her tightly.
Cara leaned into his body, letting him hold her up and steady. He was rock-solid in every way. She whispered, “I’m so glad you hunted me down, I just wanted you to know that.”
“Me too.” He kissed her, a long searing kiss that sent her senses reeling and her body into a paroxysm of desire. He slid the ring onto her finger and she held her hand up to the light, watching fire shoot from the stone. “I love you, Mitch.”
“I love you, too, and I vote we find a preacher fast before you get the idea to haul ass in the middle of the church.”
“Again, not going anywhere.”
He looked into her face and she saw the shadow lift from his face. “You’re really not, are you?”
She shook her head. He laughed and swept her into his arms again, and then danced her to the doorway. They went out it, laughing.
THE END
Hopes & Dreams of a Tattooist
Coming soon!
Book Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w9Vi5yW3Yc
Confession of a Tattooist
Book 1
US:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BQYYMCK
UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01BQYYMCK
Surrender the Tattooist
Book 2
Us:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C827TKQ
UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01C827TKQ
Book 3
Heart of a Tattooist
US:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C7UW3QO
UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01C7UW3QO
Book 4
Hopes & Dreams of a Tattooist
Thanks for reading the Tattooist Series!
This is one of those series where I fell in love with the covers before the story was even created. My amazing cover designer, Kellie, from Book Cover by Design created the first cover and a story immediately formed in my head!
When photographer Dave Kelley shared his image for “Pixie” I knew exactly where the story was headed. It’s been so much fun to write this story and continue the series. Thanks for reading and letting my crazy imagination run wild!
I love to hear from my readers so feel free to get in touch with me. My contact information is on the next page!
If you have a moment, it would be great appreciated if you are able to leave a review on the site you purchased the book on!
I’ve added an excerpt of my new “Undercover Series’. Hope you enjoy it!
Sincerely, Lexy xx
