“Follow me,” the man says, and there’s zero tenderness in his voice. He doesn’t care that the woman in front of him is sunshine in the flesh. He looks like he’s going to make it hurt twice as much simply because she smiled at him. Why isn’t Annie scared? I’m scared, and I’ve sat through more than twenty hours of tattooing. I can’t let her be in pain tonight.
Annie starts after him and I tug her back. She whirls around and nearly bumps into my chest, her soft smell flooding my senses and illustrating her perfect contrast to this disgusting place. “What’s wrong?”
“This is a mistake.”
“What?” she asks with a laugh. “No, it’s not. It was the best idea. I’m so glad you thought of it.”
I wince. “Exactly. I thought of it. A tattoo should be your idea. Not something I push you to do.”
“But you’re not pushing me.” She looks down at where my hand is tightly holding hers. “Currently you’re actually holding me back.”
“Let’s just go,” I say, slicing my gaze over her shoulder to the burly man pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. “You don’t want a tattoo from him. Come on, I’ll drive you into Nashville on a different day and take you to my tattoo guy. We can make a weekend of it.” I sound desperate and I don’t know why.
Annie’s face tilts up to mine. Determination and a warning flash through her eyes in a way I have yet to see from her. It makes the hairs stand up on my arms and my heart race. And my knees go a little weak.
She pokes me in the chest. “Don’t you dare, Will.”
I frown. “What are you talking about?”
“I see what’s happening right now. You’re treating me like everyone else. Like I’m too sensitive and sweet for this. And I’m warning you…don’t. I can handle it from everyone else—but not you. Never you.”
And just like that, my apprehension melts. She’s right. And hearing that my opinion means more to her than anyone else’s…damn, give me the tattoo gun and I’ll do it myself. I’ll single-handedly make sure all her dreams come true this very night. She wants to travel? Let’s go. She wants to hike Mount Everest? I’ll get the gear.
I push Annie’s hair behind her ear. “Go get your tattoo, Annie.”
“Thank you,” she says, looking so proud of herself she’s practically glowing. “And actually, I think I want you to stay out here.”
Apprehension returns.
“No. I’m coming back there with you.”
She raises one saucy brow that sends heat spiraling through my veins. “Let me rephrase. I’m going back there by myself—and I’m going to surprise you with what I get. End of story, Will Griffin.”
I clench my fist at my side but not because I’m angry. Because I have to physically restrain myself from taking that hand, cupping her jaw, and taking her mouth in a frenzied kiss. I’ve never felt an urge so strong. An attraction so intense.
Every day Annie reveals a new layer to herself—and dammit if I don’t like each one more.
I have no choice but to stand back and smile as I watch Annie’s perfect ass stroll away from me.
* * *
—
Thirty minutes later I hear footsteps. I look up in just enough time to see Annie blaze past me—power walking out the front door. “Let’s go,” she says quickly. “I paid in the back.”
What in the world?
I follow her out, quickening my strides to catch her. “Annie! Hold up. What happened?”
She doesn’t answer. She thrusts open her truck door and jumps inside, slamming the door behind her.
I practically run to the driver’s side and hop inside. Worst-case scenarios are flying through my head. And then when I twist to fully look at her, and I take in her crumpled expression, fury and rage overtake me.
“What did that asshole do to you? Did he hurt you? Was he inappropriate? I’m going to kill him!” I say, putting my hand on the door latch and preparing to open it. Annie tugs the back of my shirt before I can.
“Stop. Grady didn’t do anything wrong. He was so nice, and I’m going to provide flowers for his six-year-old daughter’s princess birthday party next month.”
I relax only in the slightest measure because now Annie has a tear streaking down her cheek, and I’m inadvertently the cause of it. I pushed her to do this tonight. I’m the asshole.
“Then why did you storm out of there?”