Temporary (Indelibly Marked #2) (25 page)

“Thank you.” She gave her brother a hug and turned to
Lindsay who gave her a thumbs up. Even her conservative sister-in-law boasted a
tattoo. It was on her upper thigh and done in Shane’s signature style. The art
portrayed a scene beneath her skin, all hearts and money rather than bones and
muscle.

She fought the need to look at Ivan, not wanting to remember
who or how she got her so-called stripes. Shane’s style didn’t fit her anymore,
and she couldn’t have Ivan. At least she had her art.

“And finally, one for you.” He presented Ivan with a
matching gold box to hers.

“You named your child after me, I think I got enough.” Ivan
tapped his fingers on the box top.

“Fine, this isn’t nearly as good as forever being a part of
me, Lindsay, my family and my daughter, but it’s pretty cool.” Shane shook the
box.

Ivan rubbed his neck and flicked off the lid. “I don’t
understand.”

“I should have done this a long time ago.” Shane lowered his
voice.

Emily leaned over trying to figure out what caused all the
fuss.

“What is it already?” Carson slapped him.

“The Elliotts gave me part ownership in the shop,” Ivan said
and wiped his face. “You don’t have to do this.”

Sweat broke out over her body but she remained perfectly
still. The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on her. Her stupid self thought
they would be convincing Shane to open up another shop and then run it
together.

“We want to.” Lindsay whispered.

“You’ve always been there for me. You took care of the
shop.” Shane came over and stood by his side. “You have redefined family.”

In a move she’d only witnessed once or twice since the day
Ivan entered their lives, the men hugged.

“Grats.” Carson slugged him in the arm.

Ivan pulled back. “I couldn’t have done anything without
Emily.”

She moved closer to the bed and stared at Harlow, touching
the blanket covering the infant. The whole time she had fought to be a real
makeup artist and fought for Ivan, but maybe she fought too hard.

Lindsay put her hand over hers. “You okay?”

“Behind every awesome dude, is an even more awesome chick,
and in your case the chick is my baby sister so she is the crème de la crème.”
Shane put his fingers to his lips and kissed them as if he were some grand chef
tasting a delicacy.

“You’re not understanding…” He grabbed Shane’s arm.

Emily couldn’t allow Ivan to play his game, say words he
didn’t mean because he didn’t want to lose, or wanted things to stay the same
between them. She tensed, the sweat surrounding her chilled her to her core.
“There’s other family you should thank as well.”

“Is this about that law stuff you guys were talking about?
Is that why Dillon’s here?” Carson pointed behind him.

“Dillon is here?” Shane glared at her. “Why is Dillon here?”

She crossed her arms. “Shane, if it wasn’t for Dillon you
and your new partner would all be in big trouble right now.”

“What?” Shane put his hands on his hips and shook his head
slightly. “What do you mean? What law stuff could have possibly happened? What
was so bad that you called Dillon?”

“You don’t even know.” With a concerted effort not to scream
for fear of scaring the baby, Emily pushed Carson and Ivan out of the way and
stood in front of her brother. “The week after you went on leave we got hit with
a lawsuit. For your information the guy almost did die, and me, Ivan, Dillon,
and James…who happens to be our lawyer… have spent every waking moment saving
your shop.” She poked her finger into his shoulder.

“What are you talking about?” He caught her arm and held it
high.

Her shirt rode up her side.

“What is that?” He pointed to her tattoo. “I told you no
tattoos!”

“Do you really want to go there now?” She tried to wiggle
away from him.

Still keeping hold of her arm, he bent down. “Have you guys
been having a flipping free for all? Now you are marked for the rest of your
life, and there is no doubt who did the work.” He turned to Ivan. “What the
hell have you been allowing while I’ve been gone?”

“Shane,” Lindsay cooed to him.

“My sister has been traipsing around Hollywood with
tattoos!” He swallowed. “My baby sister.” His voice came out a strangled
whisper.

“Okay, but it’s there now and there is nothing you can do
about it.” Lindsay’s tone dripped with maternal sensibilities.

“We are in a hospital. It’s the perfect place to do
something about it.” Once more he stared at the tattoo.

“Shane, now is not the time. The baby.” With her free hand,
Emily pulled her shirt down.

“I agree. Maybe right now is not the time.” Dillon stepped
into the doorway.

“It’s never the time for you.” Shane squared his jaw.

“Shane, let him in. Let him see the baby.” If nothing else,
maybe their relationship could be mended a little. “He helped, you don’t even
know how much.”

“So let me get everything straight, you guys got hit with
some lawsuit, and you went to the one person you knew I don’t allow in my shop
to help?” Shane stared Emily down, moving in until they were nose to nose. “He
stole from us, each one of us, or did you forget that? How do you know he
didn’t make it worse? The shop practically runs itself; all you needed to do
everyday is show up and make sure no one died. How hard can it be to unlock a
door in the morning and lock it again at night?”

A flash of the last several weeks went through her mind.
Quick snapshots of what they went through, the hours spent trying to fix the
shop, the sacrifices they each made. Each image like a turn of a key winding
her tighter and tighter, until the gears broke and she lifted her hand and
slapped her brother squarely across the face. The hot sting radiated up her
arm.

“Emily!” Shane leaned forward with his hand to his chin.

“You don’t know what we went through to make sure you and
Lindsay and the baby came back to a thriving shop. You are coming back to
everything and don’t even know what everyone else has lost. I can’t work with
you or Ivan anymore.” She threw the box with her certificate at his feet and
ran out of the room. No more losing for her. No wonder Ivan never wanted them
together in the first place, would never make the commitment. He didn’t want
the aftermath and repercussions.

At last she understood. She wasn’t as stupid as she’d always
thought.

Chapter
Twenty-Two

Now or never. At the end of the day everything in life
barreled down to now or never, and because no one could ever guarantee what
would happen in the future, they lived on hope. Starting that moment,
everything Ivan did would be for Emily until the day he met his never.

Carson rushed back into the hospital room. “Emily bolted,
she was crying.”

“She can’t go anywhere. I drove her,” Dillon said.

“Stop acting like you know anything about my sister.” Shane
straightened up.

“She’s my sister, too.”

“Right. That’s why you left when she needed you most.”

“He left because he made some mistakes. He left because he
loved Courtney.” Though Ivan ached to run after her, he needed to attend to his
business there first. “Maybe you need to think how you were the few days
Lindsay went to San Francisco. Maybe you need to remember some of your mistakes.”

“Is that so?” Shane cocked his head. “I didn’t leave
everyone.”

“But you would have.”

“Since when do you know so much?” Shane stared him right in
the eye. “Speak right now, oh partner of mine.”

“I’ve signed nothing, and you can wait to hear me out to see
if you still want to call me partner.” He put the box on the foot of the bed.

“Start by getting him out of here.” Shane motioned to
Dillon.

Ivan glanced over at the eldest Elliott and back to his best
friend. “No. He stays or we both go.”

Shane took one step closer to him and looked him in the eye.
“Don’t make me beat the crap out of you in front of my newborn daughter.”

“Then open your ears and shut your mouth or you’ll be
beating me only after I knock you on your ass.” He squared his shoulders. Without
Shane’s Mohawk, Ivan stood at least an inch taller.

Shane answered by crossing his arms.

“I know and understand how you feel about Dillon, but when
we needed to make sure you didn’t have stress and we needed help, he stepped in
without question.” He inched closer to Shane. “If it were not for Dillon, we’d
be in a lot of trouble.”

“He called us losers.” Shane lifted his chin.

“I believe I called you thugs.” Dillon added.

“Really, Dillon?” Ivan crossed his arms. “We’re not thugs
and you know it.”

“He stole from me and my family, which means he stole from
you.” Shane pointed at Ivan. “He stole from my daughter, your namesake.”

“I got involved to try to help.” Dillon interrupted. “Guess
what? You have your shop and you won, as always. When Emily called and told me
what was happening, I had to help you.”

“Shane,” Lindsay whispered.

Shane glanced between his wife and his brother.

“He knows he screwed up. Sometimes you have to lose
something to know you want it.” Ivan took a huge breath, filling his lungs until
they hit maximum capacity. “Sometimes you can’t even talk about what you want.”

“Damn it, Dillon.” Shane shook his head. “What part did you
have in the giant fiasco that happened while I was gone?”

“I got the attorney and helped when I could.”

“He paid for the attorney.” Ivan let out that tidbit of
information that James told him after the mediation.

“Someone had to bail you out; I just thought I would be
visiting you in jail, not a hospital.” Dillon tilted his head toward the baby.
“Hospital is better in this case. May I see my niece?”

After a pause, Shane nodded. “Just for a minute, I want calm
around my daughter.”

Ivan looked down at the linoleum floor as the brothers made
their way to the baby, wishing Emily were there to witness even a little crack
in the wall between Shane and Dillon. His indecisions deprived her of too many
things. If his father would finally arrive, maybe he could find her and prove
he meant things to be different.

“Ivan,” Lindsay called to him.

He turned to find the baby asleep in her arms. A perfect
little symbol of what happened when two people were together. Rather than
warming him, his heart hurt. Emily wanted to have a life together, and damn it,
he wanted it as well. “Yes?”

“Is everything okay now?” She handed the baby to Shane.
“Tell me the truth, and remember I know when you’re lying.”

He wrinkled his nose. Lindsay had a sixth sense. “We found
out the guy framed us and we killed it in the mediation today. No worries. If
anything we’ll get some nice press.”

“How did you find that out?” Shane raised his voice as he
spoke to the baby. “What did Uncle Ivan do, break into the guy’s house and
shake the information out of him?”

“Well, that’s not totally accurate. Uncle Ivan, Uncle Dillon
and Billy broke in when he wasn’t there and found what we needed.” Dillon
continued to stare at the baby.

“You broke in? Good job.” Shane patted Dillon on the back
and then narrowed his eyes at Ivan. “Why on earth would you break in anywhere?
Are you nuts?”

“Why is it okay for Dillon?” Ivan tapped his foot.

“Because he is Dillon and he needs to stop being a wimp. You
are Ivan and you do not need to.”

“That’s what Emily was talking about when she was mad at you
for breaking the law.” Carson nodded.

“How are you and Emily?” Lindsay leaned over until she
caught his gaze.

Now or never. “Shane I need to talk to you.”

“Well, you will be happy to know Ivan didn’t get her
pregnant, but she’s still pissed at him.” Carson made a face at little Harlow.

“How would Ivan get Emily pregnant?” With slow overcautious
movements, Shane returned the baby to Lindsay. “Would that be around the time
you were tattooing her?”

“She wanted a tattoo.” He crossed his arms.

“What did you want?” Shane made his way around the bed. “To
play something other than substitute big brother to my baby sister?”

“I’m not her big brother. That job has been taken three
times.” Once again he found himself face to face with Shane. “I wanted to make
her happy.”

“You can’t get pregnant by giving someone a tattoo.”

Now or never. Ivan repeated his mantra. “No. You also can’t
get pregnant from a toilet seat.”

“Remember when she used to play with dolls? Remember when we
went to her tea parties? Remember how young she is?” Shane cleared his throat.
“Is there anything you did with the only Elliott sister that would give my good
brother cause to think you had the potential of getting her pregnant?”

Now. He swallowed, reminding himself of Dillon’s story. Like
the wayward Elliott, he had to move forward. “Yes.”

“What!”

At Shane’s outburst Harlow let out a cry.

“My sister is not a one night stand. Are you out of your
mind?” He got up in Ivan’s face and hit the wall right next to his head.

The baby went into full-blown wailing.

“Shane Elliott, lower your voice.” Lindsay’s tone was more
than parental, it was that of a general leading an army.

“Answer me.” Shane growled through his teeth.

“I know she is not a one night stand. I’ve been sleeping
with her for over a year.” He didn’t flinch.

“A year?” Shane inhaled as if to yell, and pulled back his
fist.

“Yes, a year and during that time I fell in love with her.”
There, he said the words. He tensed, priming himself for the impact. Rather
than the admission weighing him down, the pressure on his shoulders lightened.
“She’s not a baby anymore.”

The room became absolutely silent. Even little Harlow
quieted down.

Shane held up a finger and turned away.

“He loves her.” Lindsay hugged the baby closer.

“They’re good together.” Dillon sat down in one of the
chairs.

Carson shrugged. “He’s better than that suit guy.”

Shane turned back. “She’s young.”

“Not as young as you think. She’s an old soul and smarter
than all of us.” Ivan lifted his chin to give Shane a better shot.

“Does she know you love her?”

He shook his head. “I’ve sort of been a dick to her.” It was
wonderful to have his best friend to talk to again.

Both Carson and Dillon grunted.

“I just made you my business partner.” Shane put his hand on
Ivan’s shoulder. “I just named my daughter after you.”

“I know. I love little Harlow.” The calm demeanor of his best
friend concerned him, but they were conversing,
and
he was still
conscious. “And I have an idea about the partnership thing.”

“Do you want to have a business meeting?” Shane tightened
his grip, squeezing a bit harder than needed.

“Speaking of which, I thought it may be time expand to a
second shop and Emily and I can run it.”

“Oh.” Lindsay sat up. “I’ve been thinking that too.”

He gave Shane a huge smile. “Running the shop suited me.”

Shane shoved him back against the wall. “Before we expand,
don’t you think it might be a good idea not to treat her like a dick, and maybe
tell her you love her?”

“I was planning on that part. She broke up with me
yesterday.” He leaned in to Shane’s ear. “You were right when you said I
shouldn’t have broken into that guy’s place.”

At last a little nuance of a smile crossed Shane’s face.
“They don’t like it when we’re thugs.” He peeked over his shoulder at his wife.

“No we don’t.” Lindsay wagged her finger at him.

“Shane,” Ivan said with a sigh.

“What else do you need from me? The name and the business
thing wasn’t enough?”

“I want your sister too.” He shut his eyes. “And I want you
to approve.”

“Does she love you too?”

“I know she loves me, but I need her to believe in me
again.” The world blurred without Emily in it. “You know, having a sofa and
living room and a formal dining room might be kind of cool.”

“Honestly, I can’t think of anyone better for her than you.”
As if he tasted something bitter, Shane stuck his tongue out and released him.
“Go get her.”

Energy surged through him and Ivan pushed away from the
wall. “I was waiting for my dad to get here, but I can’t wait any more.” He
shook Shane’s hand, kissed Lindsay’s cheek and the top of the baby’s head.
“I’ll be back, Harlow.”

“Hey.” Lindsay caught his wrist. “Thank you for saving our
family’s business.”

“All in a day’s work.” He saluted and dashed out, almost
colliding with the senior Elliotts and his dad. Hopefully his father’s arrival
meant that luck was on his side.

“Whoa cowboy!” His dad held him at arm’s length.

“Ivan, have you seen the baby?” Kathleen asked with a smile.

“I have and now you must.” He gave her a kiss and Ronald a
handshake, trying to make them leave in order to get what he needed from his
dad. “The name is the best. I just have to go somewhere but I’ll be back.”

“Oh, okay. Go do what you were doing.” Kathleen motioned for
him to leave.

“I brought what you wanted for Emily.” His dad reached into
his pocket, handed him a black box and socked him in the shoulder. “Good job.”

Subtlety was never his father’s strong suit. With the stupid
smile still frozen on his face Ivan took the box. “Well, I’m off.” He tried
backing away.

“What does Emily need that’s in that tiny box?” Kathleen’s
female radar had zeroed in. “Ronald, what is that?”

Kathleen may have had the female radar, but Ronald had the
father of the girl genes. “I don’t know. What is that?” He got up in his face.

If he wanted to be with Emily, he needed to do it all the
way. He wrapped his fingers around the box. “I love your daughter and I have to
go tell her. Do you have an issue with that?”

Kathleen clapped. “I had a feeling.”

“Hopefully our family will be your family.” Ronald pointed
the way to the exit. “Get out of here.”

“Family.” He glanced at his dad. “What if…”

“Always go after what you want and never be scared if it
will end.” His dad gave him a hug.

Ivan took off; his only prayer that he hadn’t damaged things
too much, and she’d trust him to always be there. Either way it was time to be
a man. “It’s now or never.”