whatever it is you don’t want to discuss it in front of everyone. But when you come over tonight I’ll expect an honest answer.”
Atayla started to argue, and then stopped. He was right, and so was Abby. She needed to talk about this, make him understand. She couldn’t keep living in suspense, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“Okay.” She agreed and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. She licked her lips and smiled. He tasted like orange soda. The man loved orange soda, had cases of it stacked in his garage. It was charming, really, just one more thing that set him apart from the others.
The bells chimed over the door, admitting Paxton, Bridger, and a guy she didn’t know. Paxton and Bridger immediately honed in on the food and grabbed sandwiches and soda. Kissing her on the cheek in thanks, they settled in for their meal.
Aidan scooted out from underneath her and addressed the unknown man. Clasping his hand in a classic man shake he welcomed him.
“Hey, Jasper. What brings you here?”
“I was out running errands when I met up with those two.” He pointed towards Paxton and Bridger. “It reminded me that I hadn’t yet invited you guys to come over next weekend. “I’m having a cookout. Food, beer, football. You know, the usual stuff. Not a big powwow like last time, just the normal crowd.”
“Sure, we’ll be there.” He agreed quickly. “You haven’t met Atayla yet.”
He held his hand out to her. She stood up and allowed him to pull her into his embrace. He rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head.
“Atayla, this is Jasper. He and I grew up together in the dregs of Southport.”
Jasper held out his hand and gently shook hers. “Nice to meet you Atayla.”
“You too, Jasper”
Looking back at Aidan, he confirmed, “Next weekend then?”
“Sure thing.”
“Great, see you then.” He regarded Knox, “You be sure to let Seamus and Liam know, alright?”
When Knox gave him the thumbs up, his mouth too full to respond, Jasper waved at everyone and left.
Business started picking up around midafternoon. The guys were busy in their booths, customers kept pouring in, and the phone was ringing off the hook. Atayla decided to jump behind the counter to help. She may not know how to give tattoos, but she sure as shit knew how to answer a phone.
The next few hours flew by pretty fast. She had mastered the appointment book in no time and could answer the basic questions without interrupting one of the men. When the shop began to clear of customers, Aidan approached her. Grabbing her around the waist, he pulled her body flush against his and kissed her soft and sweet.
“Have I told you yet how pretty you look in that dress? I haven’t seen it before, is it new?”
“Yes, Abby talked me into buying it the other day when we were out shopping.” She answered, leaning her head back as he kissed down the side of her neck.
“I’ll be sure to thank her. You look amazing.” He nipped her ear lobe. “Good enough to eat.”
She laughed, “I could wear a burlap sack and you would say the same thing.”
Grinning, he admitted, “Probably. Thanks for your help today. I’m going to have to find some way to pay you back.”
“Don’t you worry about that. I already know how you’re going to pay me back.” She stroked her hand down his chest.
“Mm. I can’t wait to pay up either.”
The bells over the door chimed again, admitting a small blonde woman looking harried and about ten pounds underweight. Trailing behind her was quite possibly the cutest little boy Atayla had ever seen. His olive skin tone and dark hair and blue eyes bespoke of his genetic connection to man currently holding on to her.
She looked directly at Aidan. “Is Paxton here?”
“Yeah.” He raised his voice to be heard over the buzzing of tattoo guns as the miniature version of Paxton wrapped himself around
Atayla started to argue, and then stopped. He was right, and so was Abby. She needed to talk about this, make him understand. She couldn’t keep living in suspense, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“Okay.” She agreed and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. She licked her lips and smiled. He tasted like orange soda. The man loved orange soda, had cases of it stacked in his garage. It was charming, really, just one more thing that set him apart from the others.
The bells chimed over the door, admitting Paxton, Bridger, and a guy she didn’t know. Paxton and Bridger immediately honed in on the food and grabbed sandwiches and soda. Kissing her on the cheek in thanks, they settled in for their meal.
Aidan scooted out from underneath her and addressed the unknown man. Clasping his hand in a classic man shake he welcomed him.
“Hey, Jasper. What brings you here?”
“I was out running errands when I met up with those two.” He pointed towards Paxton and Bridger. “It reminded me that I hadn’t yet invited you guys to come over next weekend. “I’m having a cookout. Food, beer, football. You know, the usual stuff. Not a big powwow like last time, just the normal crowd.”
“Sure, we’ll be there.” He agreed quickly. “You haven’t met Atayla yet.”
He held his hand out to her. She stood up and allowed him to pull her into his embrace. He rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head.
“Atayla, this is Jasper. He and I grew up together in the dregs of Southport.”
Jasper held out his hand and gently shook hers. “Nice to meet you Atayla.”
“You too, Jasper”
Looking back at Aidan, he confirmed, “Next weekend then?”
“Sure thing.”
“Great, see you then.” He regarded Knox, “You be sure to let Seamus and Liam know, alright?”
When Knox gave him the thumbs up, his mouth too full to respond, Jasper waved at everyone and left.
Business started picking up around midafternoon. The guys were busy in their booths, customers kept pouring in, and the phone was ringing off the hook. Atayla decided to jump behind the counter to help. She may not know how to give tattoos, but she sure as shit knew how to answer a phone.
The next few hours flew by pretty fast. She had mastered the appointment book in no time and could answer the basic questions without interrupting one of the men. When the shop began to clear of customers, Aidan approached her. Grabbing her around the waist, he pulled her body flush against his and kissed her soft and sweet.
“Have I told you yet how pretty you look in that dress? I haven’t seen it before, is it new?”
“Yes, Abby talked me into buying it the other day when we were out shopping.” She answered, leaning her head back as he kissed down the side of her neck.
“I’ll be sure to thank her. You look amazing.” He nipped her ear lobe. “Good enough to eat.”
She laughed, “I could wear a burlap sack and you would say the same thing.”
Grinning, he admitted, “Probably. Thanks for your help today. I’m going to have to find some way to pay you back.”
“Don’t you worry about that. I already know how you’re going to pay me back.” She stroked her hand down his chest.
“Mm. I can’t wait to pay up either.”
The bells over the door chimed again, admitting a small blonde woman looking harried and about ten pounds underweight. Trailing behind her was quite possibly the cutest little boy Atayla had ever seen. His olive skin tone and dark hair and blue eyes bespoke of his genetic connection to man currently holding on to her.
She looked directly at Aidan. “Is Paxton here?”
“Yeah.” He raised his voice to be heard over the buzzing of tattoo guns as the miniature version of Paxton wrapped himself around
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