The Sinister Silhouette-D2D, page 22
I shake my head. The girl probably just turned legal today and is on a high wanting to get a tattoo. Not because it’ll be meaningful, but to sow some weird wild oats.
I glance back down at the appointment book, deciding to let Dale handle the girl, when my head snaps back up. Another girl walks in, and I feel like some fucking pussy because I’d swear to Christ, time comes to a screeching halt and my heart stops beating. It just sits there in my chest, feeling like dead weight for all of five seconds before it starts slamming against my sternum.
Holy goddamn hell.
She’s absolutely fucking gorgeous, with long thick brown hair, round face, olive complexion, and eyes that glow a bright amber. She’s wearing a pair of black leggings that mold to her shapely body and a cream-colored long-sleeved shirt, the cuffs covering the heels of her palms. It’s plain to see she’s nervous being here from the way her eyes dart back and forth across the room and her teeth bite her bottom lip.
She looks as young as her friend, but that doesn’t stop my dick from turning to granite. I just hope like fuck I’m not lusting over a minor, especially one that looks like she doesn’t belong on this side of town.
My eyes are still locked on the brunette, who’s busy looking at the section dedicated to roses, when her friend traipses over to stand in front of me on the other side of the counter.
“Hi!” she chirps loudly.
Reluctantly, I pull my eyes away and look at her.
“Hey. You lookin’ for some ink?”
She flashes her smile and her teeth are so white it almost blinds me.
“Yes. My friend and I are going off to college in a few weeks and we’re celebrating by getting tattoos.”
I barely contain an eye roll. “Do you know what you want?” I ask.
My head twitches with the need to look back at the brunette when I notice her making her way down the wall closer to the counter.
“Not really. Just something pretty.” She turns to her gorgeous friend. “Hey, Jules, come over here.”
Jules. The name couldn’t have been more perfect.
When Jules turns to her friend, her expression appears nervous. Her fingers grip the ends of her sleeves as she makes her way over.
“I don’t know about this, Nicole….”
Her words trail off when her eyes lift to mine. I feel like someone just sucker punched me and stole all the breath in my lungs. Seeing her from across the room is nothing compared to seeing her full-on. I let my gaze show my appreciation and her eyes widen. Her face, naturally beautiful with minimal makeup, flushes at my blatant interest.
Her tongue darts out to lick her lips, and I’d give my left nut to lick away the moisture she left behind. Hell, I’d be willing to give both nuts. I’ve had a lot of women since the first time I had sex at the age of fourteen, but never has one caught my attention so fully before.
Once she’s standing beside her friend, her eyes fall from mine.
“I don’t think I can do this, Nicole,” she says quietly. Even the sound of her soft voice sends blood rushing to my dick.
“Come on, Jules. It can’t be that bad,” whines the one named Nicole.
Jules’s eyes slide to me, but they’re aimed at my chest and not my eyes, where I want them. I keep mine pinned on her.
“Maybe I’ll get one next time,” she tells her friend. “But I’ll stay here with you while you get one.”
“Fine,” she grumbles.
Dale walks up just then. “Afternoon, ladies. Are either of you looking to get a tattoo?”
Nicole turns away from Jules. “I am.” She throws her thumb sideways. “This one chickened out.”
I can’t see it, because I’m still looking at Jules, but I hear the smile in Dale’s voice. “That’s okay. I’ll get you taken care of.”
“I’ve got it, Dale.”
“Don’t you have an app—”
I cut him off. “I’ve got this one. You take my appointment.”
I look over at Dale and let him see I’m not budging. I’ve never used my status as the boss’s son, but in this instance I sure as fuck will. His eyes leave mine just long enough to look at Jules before coming back to mine. Understanding dawns, and one corner of his mouth quirks up.
“You got it.”
When I turn back to the girls, I see Jules quickly drop her eyes from mine. As she looks down at a sketchbook on the counter, her face once again flushes a pretty red.
As I take Nicole’s ID and have her complete a consent form, one thought keeps entering my mind.
This girl will be mine, no matter what the fuck I have to do.
I WAKE TO THE SMELL of bacon and coffee. My stomach rumbles, reminding me I never ate last night. Theo showed up right as the food was done, and my stomach was in too many knots after he left.
I get out of bed, slip on a shirt, and go to the bathroom. After, with my feet still bare, I go out to the living room. Over the bar, I spot Jules standing in front of the stove. I walk to the bar and lean against it, deciding to just watch her for a few minutes.
As I stand there, I remember my dream from last night. No, it was more than a dream, it was a memory. I still don’t remember her or those six weeks that I lost, but I have no doubt in my mind that what happened in my dream was real. I may not remember her, but I know the feeling I had in that dream. It’s one I’ve had since the first time I saw her in the hospital. I just wish I knew what happened afterward. That must have been right before she and Theo started dating, or she would have recognized me. Especially since he and I looked more alike back then, with us wearing our hair the same way. Was that when my fixation on her started or did something else happen to trigger it? Either way, it’s apparent I was attracted to her and wanted her from that moment on, but I still struggle to believe I would be manic enough to attack then rape her when I found out they got married. That shit is just too fucking much for my brain to comprehend. Or maybe it’s just because I don’t want to believe it.
Sensing my presence, she looks over her shoulder. Turning partially toward me, a pair of tongs in her hand, she offers a hesitant smile. Hating her uncertainty, I smile back at her.
“Good morning,” she greets.
“Morning.” I lean my elbows on the bar. “Did you sleep well?”
She nods then turns back to the stove to flip the bacon over before facing me again. “I slept better than I have in a long time.”
Something dark hits my stomach. I have no doubt the stress of living with someone she doesn’t remember is hard enough to handle. I’m sure adding in the fact that he obliterated an already precarious trust by attacking her makes it damn near unbearable.
I want to smash my fist into Theo’s face again at the thought. I didn’t do near enough damage like I wanted.
Jules clearing her throat brings me back to the moment.
“How did your conversation go with your parents yesterday?”
Walking to the coffeepot, I pour myself a cup and take a seat on one of the stools before answering.
“They know something’s up, but aren’t pushing the issue after I told them I couldn’t explain yet.”
She turns away, but I see her worriedly biting her bottom lip. She opens a cabinet, looks inside, not finding what she’s looking for, and closes it again.
“Second cabinet to the right of the stove,” I tell her.
Looking at me gratefully, she moves to the correct cabinet and pulls down two plates. After placing several pieces of bacon, two scoops of eggs, and two pieces of toast on it, she sets the plate down in front of me. Grabbing the butter and jelly from the fridge, she deposits them next to my plate.
“I wasn’t sure how you liked your toast, so I left them dry.”
“Thank you.”
Instead of eating, I watch as she makes her own plate. Her hair is braided over one shoulder, and it reminds me of the times I saw her when she was still in a coma. I try not to let my eyes wander, but they do so of their own accord. She has on a pair of mint-green cotton pants and a black V-neck T-shirt. My stupid fucking eyes notice the tiny bit of cleavage the V shows. I glance down at my coffee and silently reprimand myself.
Once she’s done, she carries her plate, along with her coffee, to the stool next to mine and we eat in companionable silence. It feels nice to do something so simple as share a meal with her.
I set my fork down and finish off the rest of my coffee.
“I have to go in to work in a couple of hours.” I notice her shoulders stiffen. “I’d like for you to go with me.”
When she lifts her head, the relief is apparent on her face. “I’d like that.”
Glad that she agreed, because I wouldn’t put it past Theo to come by and try to talk her into returning home with him, I get up from the stool. Grabbing both of our empty plates, I carry them to the sink.
“I can do the dishes,” she offers a few feet behind me.
“You cooked, I’ll clean.”
“Okay.” She hesitates for a moment before asking, “Do you mind if I take a shower?”
I turn to her. “For as long as you’re staying here, I want you to treat this house like it’s your own, okay?”
A smile tugs up her lips. “Okay. Thank you.”
I turn back to the sink, blow out a harsh breath, and run hot soapy water in the basin. I’m both nervous and anxious to see her reaction once she’s in Ink Me, wondering if it’ll spark a memory.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Jules
LUCA OPENS THE BACK door to Ink Me, and I step inside. Looking around, I take this to be a small break area. On one side there’s a small two-seater table against a wall. Across from that, on the other wall, there’s a fridge and a counter with upper and lower cabinets. The counter holds a microwave, a coffeepot, and a few other things.
I turn back to Luca when I hear the door close. When he mentioned this morning he had to go to work, anxiety was my first reaction. I didn’t want to be left alone, worrying the entire time if Theo was going to show up. I also just didn’t want to be alone, period. But it was more than that. I wanted to be where Luca was. He not only makes me feel safe, but so much more. I feel comfortable around him, and warm, and desired like a woman should feel. Not the creepy way that sends terrifying shivers down my body. Not the way Theo makes me feel. I hesitate with my thoughts, not wanting to get ahead of myself or stupidly give myself hope, but Luca makes me feel loved. There’s no reason or rhyme for it, but it’s there anyway.
“You can set your purse there.” He points to the table. “No one comes back here except employees, and it’ll just be us and Ella later.”
I nod and set my purse down. He leaves the room, and I follow him down a hallway. There are several doors on either side of the hallway. I peek inside each one and gather these are the rooms where he does tattoos. There are work benches and those big red metal tool boxes and chairs that look like ones you see in dentist offices.
When we walk into an open area with two long counters, a couple of leather couches and chairs, and the walls filled with pictures of tattoos and drawings, I come to a stop. Dizziness captures me, and I’m forced to grab on to the wall to hold myself up. I close my eyes and pull in several big lungful’s of air, trying to push the dizziness away.
“Jules?” Luca’s concerned voice has me opening my eyes. He’s standing in front of me, bent at the knees so we’re eye level, his beautiful blue eyes watching me worriedly. “Are you okay?”
I swallow, my mouth suddenly feeling like I swallowed cotton balls. “Yes.” My voice comes out scratchy. “A wave of dizziness just hit me.”
His expression turns troubled. “Come on. You need to sit.”
When he grabs my hand to lead me to one of the couches, an electrical wave zaps me. I feel his hesitation, so I know he felt it too. Just as we’re walking out from behind the counter, I pull him to a stop.
“Wait,” I tell him, and he turns to me. “I’m fine now.”
His eyes search mine. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
I want to snatch his hand back in mine when he releases me, but I refrain from doing so. He steps to the side, but I still feel his eyes on me as I look around the room. I move to the left and look inside the glass cases.
“You do piercings as well?” I ask as I look at all the different kinds of jewelry.
“I don’t, but Ella does.”
“Oh.”
I move along the counter until I reach the end, then start looking at the frames on the wall. Some of the pictures are ones of actual tattoos and some are drawings. I knew Luca had to be good because of his profession, but I didn’t realize just how good.
I come to a stop when a strong sense of déjà vu hits me. It takes me a minute to catch my breath because the feeling is so strong.
“I feel like I’ve been here before,” I murmur with a frown. I turn back to the counter, still expecting to see Luca behind it, but I’m surprised to see him standing only a few feet from me, staring at me watchfully. “I’ve been here before.” Somehow, I know it’s the truth.
“Yes.”
My brows drop further. “But how do you know?”
He shoves his hands in his pockets, his own frown forming between his eyes.
“I didn’t until last night. I had a dream of you coming in the shop, but I wasn’t sure if it was real or my imagination. With you saying you felt like you’ve been here, along with my dream, I’d say it’s probably true.”
I nod, agreeing with him. “And you don’t remember?”
“No.” I can tell he wants to say more. “You were with a girl named Nicole. You both came in to get a tattoo. It was a graduation present to yourselves. It was only your friend that ended up getting one. Or I assume so. I woke from my dream too soon to know for sure. It had to have been before you met Theo because you didn’t recognize me, and we looked more alike back then than we do now. But it couldn’t have been too soon before because I only lost six weeks.”
At his mention of Nicole, an image of a short blonde girl from school comes to mind. We had hung out a few times, but not often. She had more of a wild streak, and I was shy. I briefly remember us talking about tattoos once. When I mentioned to her that I had always wanted to get one, she was surprised, saying I must have an inner wild child inside me wanting to break free.
The tattoo on my side prickles. I purse my lips, a possibility coming to mind. Luca’s eyes never leave mine as I turn to the side and lift my shirt to just below my breasts. Heat creeps up my cheeks, but I determinedly don’t let it stop me.
“Does this look familiar?”
I feel a tingle of awareness as his eyes drift down me, as if in a soft caress. When his gaze lands on my tattoo, they narrow. I’m surprised when he drops to his knees at my side, then suck in a sharp breath when the tips of his fingers graze the skin. His eyes briefly flicker to mine before moving back to the tattoo.
“It’s beautiful work,” he comments. Goose bumps appear when he doesn’t move his fingers away and instead continues to examine the heart. He’s so close that I feel the heat from his breath. “I don’t know if it’s mine or not, but I’ve seen it before.” When he lifts his gaze back to me, there’s a crease in his brow “I’ve had visions of it. The full image didn’t come to me until a couple nights ago.”
“I don’t understand. What could all this mean? Theo said I got it to signify our love.”
His jaw tics at that revelation. I don’t know if he realizes what he’s doing, but his thumb is rubbing back and forth right above the tattoo. Shivers race up my spine when he looks back at it and his eyes darken. Feelings I’ve never felt before assail me, and I don’t know what to do with them. Years ago, before my coma, I had been only mildly curious about sex, focusing more on school than looking for any type of sexual relationship. I had kissed guys before and one even made it to second base, but I had never been tempted to go all the way.
Now though, with Luca kneeling beside me, just his hands on my sides, I’m feeling more than I ever had before. I want his hands on me. I want his hands to wander and explore more of me.
All too soon, he takes the shirt from my hand and pulls it back down. I immediately miss his warmth. The disappointment fades when he stands close. Now it’s his scent that surrounds me. His stunning blue eyes stare down at me, and I know I could get lost in them so easily.
“I don’t know what it means,” he says softly. “But something tells me there’s more going on than what we both think.”
It takes me a moment to fully understand what he’s saying. All I can think about is the unexpected way he makes me feel. I blink several times and push the foggy haze of being so close to him away.
I open my mouth to ask what he means, but a noise from the back interrupts me. Luca turns and we both look toward the hallway to see Ella coming toward us, her head bent as she looks at her phone.
Without looking up, she says, “Luca, Mom wants you to—” She comes to a halt when she sees Luca and me standing in the middle of the waiting area. “Oh, hi, Jules.”
My stomach is still fluttering crazily, but I manage a smile. “Hey.”
There’s questions in her eyes when she directs them to Luca.
“What are you doing here so early? You weren’t supposed to be here until two,” Luca asks, stepping away from me.
She looks at me then back to Luca before replying. “Sam called and asked if I could fit him in today. I told him I’d come in a couple hours early.”
“Bet Vicki didn’t like that much,” he remarks, a smirk tilting his lips up.
She rolls her eyes. “You’d bet right. She hates giving up any of our weekend hours.”
It turns quiet, and I shift uncomfortably on my feet. Ella’s eyes keep returning to me, and each time they do, I want to fidget. I know she must be wondering why I’m here. I don’t know if Luca called her yesterday when he called his parents, and if he did, what he told her.
