Wilde Ink (Wilde Brothers Book 3) (4 page)

His skin was a work of art, painted over a body that was made for sin. A pair of what looked like raven’s wings covered most of his back, with the wingtips crossing just above the waistband of his jeans. The entire length of his spine was covered by a criss-cross pattern of interwoven black and gray lines. As she watched, she could almost see the feathers on his wings ripple and shift, they looked so real.

A gust of snow-laden wind struck her face, making her blink. How long had she been standing out here, staring at his bare back? And for that matter, why the hell was he shirtless? She better move it before he turned around and caught her gawking at him. His ego didn’t need that kind of boost.

She half expected the door to be locked, but he’d left it open for her. Lia wasn’t sure if she should be pleased at his thoughtfulness or irritated that he assumed she’d change her mind. She went with annoyed. It would make it easier to keep him at a distance. He’d been damned tempting with all his clothes on. Seeing him like this was a hundred times worse.

The door chimed, alerting him to her arrival and he glanced over his shoulder, smiling when he saw who it was. “I wasn’t really expecting to see you so soon. Having trouble getting home?”

She took a few steps into the shop and let the door fall shut behind her. Once inside, she was struck with a few impressions right off the bat. There was music playing, but it wasn’t a rock anthem or rap song like she’d expected. Instead, it was something classical, as dark and pounding as the storm outside. The shop itself wasn’t how she’d imagined, either. It was clean and well organized, with clearly defined work areas and not a speck of grime anywhere.

The door clicked shut behind her, and Lia’s heart beat a little faster. She felt a strong urge to turn around and march right back out again. This wasn’t just a bad idea. It was an idea so bad, monuments would be erected in its memory one day. She forced herself to stand her ground. For fuck’s sake, she could interrogate hardened criminals and make them confess, what was it about Nick Wilde that threw her so completely off her game? “You were right about the odds of me getting a cab any time before spring. I was hoping you might still be willing to give me a ride home.”

“I would be happy to give you a lift home, Lia.” He spun around on his stool, given her an eyeful of well-toned muscle and more tattoos. Just looking at him had her body temperature climbing and her fingers itching with the need to touch the whirling lines of color and form that graced his body from shoulder to wrist. She wanted to ask him why he was half naked, but she was also enjoying the view, so she opted to leave that question for now.

“Thank you. It’s a foul night and I wouldn’t blame you if you’d changed your mind”

He tipped his head to one side and gave her an assessing look, his storm-blue eyes narrowing just a little. “You really don’t think much of me if you think I’d take back my offer. If I said no, you’ve got no other means to get home, do you?”

“I could walk.”

“Not in this neighborhood, and not in this weather. My big brother would kick my ass if he found out I let one of his people freeze to death while trying to walk home. Well, he’d try and kick my ass. He hasn’t been able to since I hit puberty, and lord knows he’s tried a few times.” Nick shrugged and she was momentarily distracted by the way his muscles bunched and slid beneath his skin.

“Wait. You’re telling me you and he still fight?”

“We’re brothers. Of course we still fight. Don’t let the silk tie and “I am a professional” demeanor fool you either. Dave is a dirty fighting bastard when he gets mad.”

“I can’t see it.”

“He’s a Wilde. That’s not just our last name. It’s a working definition of who we are.”

“If that’s true, then I feel for your poor mother.”

Nick grinned and she felt the impact of his smile like a physical caress, heating her from the inside out. “You know, people say that a lot. I only need a couple of minutes to finish up what I’m working on, and then we can go. If that’s okay with you?”

She nodded, feeling a little off balance from his casual attitude. Where was the man who had stormed in and kissed her not that long ago? Not that she wasn’t happy that he was giving her a bit more space, but… No. She wasn’t going there. She was grateful he seemed to have accepted her lack of interest. Period. No buts.

“I won’t be long. Have a seat.”

“I’ve been sitting over at Jo’s for an hour, I think I’ll stand for a bit and stretch my legs.”

“Whatever works for you.” He gave her a lazy grin and then turned back toward his desk, leaving her in peace. She ignored the couch and the dog-eared magazines on the waiting room table, opting instead to take a look at the dozens of photographs that filled the walls. Each one was in a simple, black frame, and every photo was of a different tattoo. Some of pieces were small, and others were so elaborate they must have taken hours to complete. Lia had never understood why people would do that to themselves. Not just the permanent marking of their bodies, but the pain they endured in the process.

As she perused the pictures, she couldn’t help but glance over at Nick every few minutes. His tattoos were even more beautiful up close. She could see he had a tiger tattooed the length of his right arm. The beast’s head was near his shoulder, and its tail was wrapped several times around his wrist. His left arm was tattooed as well, but it was a collection of images rather than one large piece. She was more than a little tempted to go behind the counter and get a better look. Who was she kidding? There was no denying that she wanted to do more than look. She wanted to touch him, explore every swirl and line of ink, and do it all again with her mouth. She hadn’t felt like this about a guy in…shit. She’d never reacted like this to a man before, had never let herself be close to anyone who could tempt her, and yet here she was, alone with him and thinking of things that could only lead to trouble and heartache.

“Worst idea ever.”
Shit
! She hadn’t meant to say those words out loud.

“What is?” Nick asked, turning to look at her again. She latched on to the first thing that popped into her head, because she’d be damned if she was going to tell him the truth.

“Uh…tattoos.” She gestured to one of the pictures close to her, pretending that had been what she’d been talking about. It showed a man’s shoulder that had been tattooed so that a pair of skeletal hands appeared to be tearing away the man’s flesh from the inside. “That one, for example. That’s a terrifying image. Why would he want that on his body forever?”

“Everyone’s reasons are different. Some people do it for shock value, and some regret their choices later. Most don’t though. I take it you don’t have any ink?” Nick was watching her intently, and as he talked he lazily twirled the pen in his hand from finger to finger. He had taken her comment in stride, and Lia belatedly realized that he must hear negative comments about his work fairly often.

“Me? No. To be honest, I’ve never been in a tattoo shop that didn’t make me feel like taking a shower in disinfectant right afterward. Your place is different.”

He perked up a little at that, and there was pride in his voice as he gestured around the space. “We’re health board certified. You could eat off any surface in here. Not that I’d allow that. No eating at the workstations, it’s unhygienic.”

Nick caught sight of his bare arm and actually winced as he realized what his state of dress was…or wasn’t. “I don’t normally work half-dressed, either. Sorry. My top got wet earlier and I hate wearing clammy clothes.”

Lia couldn’t be sure, but she thought his ears turned the slightest shade of pink as he rose and snagged a dark blue sweater off the wall hook it had been hanging on. He tugged it over his head, and she felt a pang of loss as he covered up. Not that he was any less tempting fully dressed. She knew what he was hiding under that shirt now, and that memory was very likely going to become one of her favorite late night fantasies.

“Your tattoos…”she started and then trailed off, not sure what she was going to say.

“What about them?” He crossed his arms over his sculpted chest and she could almost see his shields going up.

“Why raven wings?”

He relaxed almost instantly. “They’re very smart birds, cunning and clever enough to problem solve on their own. Ravens are survivors too. Most people don’t appreciate them though. They think they’re bad omens, or carrion-eating pests.”

“And you do? Appreciate them, I mean.”

His eyes narrowed slightly and then he nodded once. “I do. To be honest I’m impressed you knew what my tats were. Most people who see them think they’re black angel wings.”

“Seriously? Who would mistake you for an angel?” Lia laughed and shook her head at that idea. “Maybe a fallen angel.”

“Did you just imply I’m a demon of hell, Lia Archer? Because that’s no way to speak of the man who is driving you home.”

“I didn’t imply it. I said it outright. If the feathers fit…” she threw his earlier words back at him with a grin.

He threw up his hands in mocking surrender. “I deserved that one. I think we’re done here. Let’s get you home.”

Minutes later he led her out the back of the shop. He actually opened the passenger door of his truck and helped her inside before he went to work clearing the snow off the windshield. Being that close to him, a part of her had hoped he’d try and kiss her again, but he was a complete gentleman. That was a good thing. Wasn’t it? She watched him through the windshield, trying to decide if she was happy or not that he was clearly respecting her declaration that there would be nothing between them.

By the time he joined her in the cab and pulled out of the parking lot, she still hadn’t made up her mind. All she knew for certain was that he had her thinking of things she hadn’t allowed herself to consider since the night she’d lost her virginity.

The night her brother died.

Chapter Four

Lia got to work early enough to make up for her lateness the day before, thanks to Danny’s promptness. He’d even picked up a latte from her favorite coffee shop on his way over. He’d apologized too, but the truth was, Lia wasn’t nearly as angry with him as she had been last night. Maybe it was because the storm had passed, leaving the city sparkling like a diamond in the rare winter sunshine, or maybe it was because crossing paths with Nick again hadn’t turned out to be a total fiasco. He had dropped her off at her parents’ store at her request, even opening her door for her and escorting her to the storefront before saying goodnight. He’d never once tried to kiss her, or even flirt with her during the drive.

She felt as if her life was finally back on solid ground again, which was how she wanted it. Safe, steady and stable, that was the goal. At least, that’s what she kept telling herself. Every time her thoughts strayed to Nick, she firmly pushed him out of her mind and went back to work. She and her partner, Alan, had been working a string of convenience store robberies, and they were closing in on their two suspects. So far, no one had been hurt, and Lia was determined to track them down before that changed. This was the reason she’d joined the police force. To prevent what had befallen her brother from happening to someone else.

Bill Nayer, one of the veteran detectives on her shift, wandered into the workroom sometime after lunch and bellowed at her. “Hey, Archer. Front desk gave me a message for ya’ when I was coming in. You got a delivery.”

She frowned, confused. She wasn’t expecting anything. “Did they say what it was?”

“Yeah. A delivery. You want more details, go downstairs and ask ‘em yourself, sweetheart.”

“That’s Detective Sweetheart to you,” she snapped at him as she saved her file on the computer and stood. Bill snorted with laughter and went back to his desk without further comment as she headed for the elevator. Lia had learned a long time ago that the easiest way to get along in a mostly male workforce was to have thick skin and a ready supply of snappy comebacks. In her case, she added another layer of defense by downplaying her looks. Usually that was enough to let her blend into the background, leaving people to judge her on her abilities, not her appearance.

Nick was apparently an exception. He’d kissed her last night despite the fact she was dressed for work, frazzled and tired after a long day. He’d wanted her anyway. But then he’d kept his distance.

Because I told him to.

The elevator doors opened and Lia banished all thoughts of Nick to the back of her mind for the hundredth time that day as she went to see about her delivery. It had to be a mistake. No one ever sent her anything.

It wasn’t a mistake. The card was addressed to Detective Lia Archer, but instead of a signature at the end, there was a tiny drawing of a raven’s wing. Nick. Well, of course he’d know where to find her. She’d told him she worked with his brother. Had she forgotten something in his truck last night? Curious, Lia picked up the plain cardboard box and was surprised at how heavy it was. Whatever Nick had sent her, it wasn’t something that had just fallen out of her purse. What the hell had he sent her, and why?

She took her gift back to her desk, ignoring the curious looks she was getting from the other detectives. She’d briefly considered going to the break room or even an empty interrogation room to open it in private, but the reality was there wasn’t anywhere truly private she could go. Hell, she worked with a group of people who sniffed out secrets and lies as a career, so there was nothing to do but brazen it out.

Something inside the box shifted and rolled as she set it down, and Lia’s curiosity got the better of her. She pulled her pocket knife out, sliced through the tape and tugged open the flaps to see what he’d sent her.

What the hell?

There were two small, gift wrapped boxes inside, along with a large, roundish object wrapped in silvery colored tissue paper. Each item had a number written on it in black felt pen. She picked up number one, the larger, oblong item, tearing away the tissue paper to find she was holding a yellow squash covered in drawings. She stared at it, her eyes widening as she realized what it was. Nick had transformed a simple vegetable into a fairytale carriage. Every detail had been done with painstaking care, and as she turned it this way and that in her hands she couldn’t help but wonder at all the work he’d put into it. Or why he was sending it to her at all.

“There’s a note there,” her partner had arrived at some point and was currently pointing to a sheet of folded paper lying on the bottom of the box. Lia glanced around and sighed as she realized she had an audience. Not one of her co-workers was at their desk anymore. They were all gathered around her, watching with great interest.

“You got an admirer, Archer?” someone asked.

“Or a stalker, maybe. Who the fuck sends a woman a vegetable with doodles? What happened to chocolates and flowers?”

“It’s just a gift from a friend. He’s an artist.” Several of the guys nodded as if that explained everything.

She set the carriage down carefully on her desk and picked up the note.

Cin,

Pumpkins are out of season, so I had to improvise. Place gift one and gift two together on your desk. To summon transportation for tonight, take gift three in your hand, call 312-555-4633, and speak the magic words.”

N.

PS. In case you haven’t guessed, the magic words are Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo.

“He’s out of his mind,” she muttered, setting the note face down on the table. If she was smart, she’d put everything back in the box without opening the other gifts. This was exactly the kind of attention she didn’t want to attract from her new co-workers. Here she was, distracted from her work in the middle of the day, playing with presents instead of working her leads. She was about to put everything away when Bill’s rough voice rumbled from somewhere behind her.

“C’mon, sweetheart, share with the class. Who is this guy and what’s in the other presents?”

“You guys don’t have anything better to do?” she asked.

“Nope. So get on with it already.” There was a general murmur of agreement, and Lia gave up arguing and opened the next gift. Four catnip mice were inside, each one with a bit of gold string tied around them in a makeshift harness. Mice? Why was he sending her tied up mice and what did they have to do with—shit. The answer came clear as she finally remembered where she’d heard the words Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo, before.
Cinderella.

She placed the four mice in front of the carriage, recreating a scene right out of the movie. “I’m going to fucking kill him.”

“Hey, that’s from that kid’s movie! You know, Prince Charming, glass slipper. My girls loved that show, watched it over and over again when they were little.”

“It’s called
Cinderella
.” Lia uttered the word softly. She had a sinking suspicion what was in the third package now. It was long, narrow and didn’t weight much at all. Once she stripped away the wrapping, her suspicions were confirmed. Nick had given her a magic wand. It was covered in glitter and had a large gold star at one end as well as a number of pink and gold ribbons that sent shimmering clouds of glitter dust everywhere.

“I’d say someone is trying to be your Prince Charming,” Alan said, trying, and failing, to keep his expression neutral.

“Brilliant detecting, partner. Tell me, is water still wet?”

Alan threw up his hands and laughed. “Don’t get tetchy with me. Whoever this guy is, you have to at least give him credit for originality.”

“He’s just a friend. A strange, creative, soon to be dead, friend.”

“Uh huh. I have plenty of friends. I’ve never sent any of them fairy wands.”

Lia just shot Alan a hostile look and shooed him away from her desk. Once they realized the show was over, the others wandered back to their desks as well, leaving her alone. She sank back into her chair and stared at Nick’s present, her fingers still wrapped around the ridiculous wand. What the hell was she going to do? Nick was everything she didn’t need in her life, a sexy distraction that appealed to the girl she’d once been. He was handsome, fun, and wickedly tempting. His smile made her heart flutter, and the memory of the kiss they’d shared last had fueled a long, frustrating evening alone with her vibrator. Like it or not, the man had gotten to her, and Lia was no longer sure she could walk away. She was even less certain that she wanted to. She was still wrestling with her doubts when a shadow crossed her desk.

“Lia, can I see you in my office for a minute?” It was her boss, David.

And so it begins.

Lia glanced up, ready to meet a disapproving glower or at the very least a frown, but David looked almost amused instead. He had one of the catnip mice in his hand, and when he set it down again he made sure to put it back in its proper place.

“Of course, sir.”

He nodded and she stood, barely remembering to put down the ridiculous wand before following her boss into his cramped office. She closed the door and turned around, an apology on her lips.

She never got a chance to speak.

“I need to talk to you about something, Lia, and I apologize if this ends up being too personal a topic,” David said, gesturing for her to take a seat.

“Of course, sir.” She dropped into the worn chair and waited, fighting the urge to fidget.

“I assume that collection of oddities on your desk is some kind of gift from my brother?”

“Yes, sir. I uh, wasn’t aware you knew about that…I mean us. Not that there is an
us
, exactly.”

David actually cracked a smile at that. “I think you just told me all I needed to know. Nick phoned me last night. He wanted to make sure there wasn’t any sort of rule that would stop him from going out with you. I told him there wasn’t, but then it occurred to me that might have been your way of deflecting his interest. If so, then I owe you an apology.” He paused for a beat and then added, “But, somehow, I don’t think that’s the case.”

“He
called
you? Last night?” Lia was having trouble making her mouth form words because her train of thought had completely derailed. Nick had called David, about her. Last night. Right after he’d seen her again. Was he insane? Did he want to tank her career, or was he really serious about seeing her?

“He did. And I want you to know that if you decide to go out with him, I’m not going to have a problem with it. You got here on your own merit, and what you do in your personal life is your call. For what it’s worth, I’m not exactly on Nick’s speed dial, so if he called me about you, he thought it was important.”

“I appreciate you telling me that. To be honest, I’m not sure I’m going to see him again. Not that we’re dating or anything, he just gave me a ride home from the garage last night.”

“I heard about the wedding too.”

Shit.

“You’re family seems to be remarkably well informed.”

“Two active cops, two retired cops, and one very determined matriarch. Nothing stays a secret in my family for long. You sort of get used to it. As I said, your personal life is your own business. Whatever happens, I trust that you’ll be able to keep your personal affairs out of the office. You know, dating in our line of work isn’t always easy. At least Nick knows what he’d be getting into.”

“I…I hadn’t thought about it that way,” Lia admitted. She was finding this whole conversation a little surreal.

“That’s all I wanted to talk to you about. Oh, and to tell you that I’ve heard nothing but good reports from your partner, and the rest of the guys. Keep up the good work.”

“Thank you, sir. I’m glad to hear that.” After that, she said goodbye and left, feeling a little dazed. Things were not going the way she’d expected, and that didn’t happen very often. Lia thrived on maintaining control of her world, but ever since Nick Wilde had entered her life, she seemed to have lost the knack.

When she got back to her desk, she looked at the wand, then at her phone. Every time she tried to avoid Nick, the world found a way to put him back in her path. Maybe it was time to stop fighting this thing.

She picked up the phone and dialed the number. Nick’s answered on the third ring, and her heart beat a little faster just hearing his voice.

“Hello.”

“Nick? It’s me, Lia. I called to say thank you for your gift.”

He chuckled, and the sound sent a dark thrill tripping down her spine to pool between her thighs. “Is there something else you’d like to say to me?”

She could almost see the smug, satisfied smile on his face as she took a deep breath and threw caution to the wind for the first time in years. “Yeah, I have something to say to you.
Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo
.”

“You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that. I’ll see you in the parking lot after your shift. Bring the wand.”

“Why?”

“Because there might be other things for you to wish for tonight. See you soon, Lia.” He hung up before she could say good bye, leaving her to wonder what the hell she’d just gotten herself into.

****

Score!

Nick couldn’t help but grin as he saved Lia’s phone number to his contact list. He was making progress. Yesterday she was reluctant to even speak to him, and today she was calling him up. His plan was working.