Abiding Ink (Inked in the Steel City #4) (3 page)

“Damn it.” The new volunteer Ms. Sherwin was crazy over swore under his breath, probably thinking she couldn’t hear.

She didn’t say anything, just stepped out of the way, narrowly avoiding banging her hip on the corner of the cart.

“Sorry,” he said, this time looking directly at her as he spoke.

“It’s okay,” she said, the wheels in her head turning so quickly that she feared he might hear them. “Better me than one of the patients. They might not be able to move out of the way so quickly.”

He grimaced, and she wished she could take back what she’d said. After all, he was a volunteer, taking time out of his day to help out just because he wanted to. No matter what he’d said about his sister, he could’ve just dropped her off and picked her up later. He was carting around meals and putting up with Ms. Sherwin’s sneaky gropings out of the kindness of his own heart.

And Mallory had to admit that it was easy to see why Ms. Sherwin looked forward to encountering him. Tall, blue-eyed and built solid with broad shoulders, he was gorgeous. His medium-brown hair was short, but just long enough to run one’s fingers through. Beneath the edges of his sleeves, tattoos just barely peeked out. He looked more like a sexy stranger Mallory would expect to glimpse on the street or in a bar than the typical hospital volunteer.

“I was only teasing,” she said, her mind whirling with thoughts of the web surfing she’d done the evening before. Tyler DeHaven. How weird would he think she was if he knew that she knew his full name even though he’d never told her?

He met her eyes, and a jolt of something hot and electric slipped down her spine. Dr. Anthony’s mega-grin couldn’t have inspired a spark like that in a million years. Hyper-aware of that fact, she fought to summon the courage to put her brand new plan into action. As she conjured up what willpower she could, her gaze was drawn irresistibly away from his face – baby blues, full pouting lips and all – to where his hands rested on the cart’s handle.

He shifted one hand and more ink peeked out from beneath the edge of his shirt sleeve, hinting at the tattoo sleeves she knew covered his well-muscled arms, thanks to the photo she’d seen on his artist page at Hot Ink’s website. He’d been wearing a t-shirt in the picture displayed there, and every inch of his arms had been tattooed, colorful ink spread over nicely-sculpted muscles. The effect was rugged, masculine and oh-so un-doctor-Anthony-like.

“Listen, I’m sorry if that sounded mean. I wasn’t trying to make fun. I’m Mallory Stephens, by the way.” She extended a hand and instantly second-guessed herself. Was the gesture too business-like, given what she was planning to ask?

Tyler took her hand before she could think better of it.

Her heart leapt – there was no other word for it. One moment it was thumping away quietly beneath her ribs, and then it was slamming against them. Tyler’s hand was large, his skin hot and softer than she’d expected. Wow, he had sex appeal. Which made him all the more perfect for what she hoped he’d agree to. Not that she had any reason to assume he’d be game, but…

Desperate times called for desperate measures. It was worth a shot.

“Mallory.” He said her name, and her heart started misbehaving again. “It’s nice to run into you again.” His lips twitched, and she could tell he was trying not to wince. “I mean—”

“I know what you mean,” she said, unable to resist a very genuine smile. “Actually, I was hoping to see you again.” That was no lie, though she hadn’t planned to admit that to anyone, let alone him. Even if it hadn’t been for her current plan, she certainly wouldn’t have minded getting an eyeful or ten of him throughout her workday.

“Oh yeah?” His expression was guarded, but a distinct light flashed in his eyes. “Decide you’re up for a little ink after all?”

“Actually…” She exhaled slowly, then took the quickest deep breath she could manage. “I know this is coming out of left field, but are you … seeing anybody?”

She lost her breath in a rush, an automatic sigh that relieved only the tiniest bit of the tension that had mounted inside her. She’d done it – she’d popped the question. And now, she felt like she was on pins and needles. If he had a girlfriend, she’d feel like a total bimbo for even hatching her plan.

He looked at her like a deer caught in headlights, and her heart sank all the way down to her toes.

“No,” he eventually said, surprising her. “Why?”

“There’s this holiday party I’m supposed to go to next week – a work thing.”

“The one that doctor asked you about yesterday?”

She nodded. “I’m surprised you remember. Anyway, yeah, it’s that one. I’ve never been to one of Dr. Anthony’s parties before, but everyone says they’re amazing. There’ll be food, drinks – should be lots of fun. I was invited to bring a date, and I was wondering if you’d like to, well, be my date.”

“Yeah.” His eyes were the bright blue of a clear winter sky, but his gaze inspired definite heat. “I’ll be your date.”

It took everything she had not to exhale and melt into a puddle right there on the floor. “Great. And thanks.”

“It’s no favor.”

She swallowed a knot, cringing inwardly. “Thanks” had been a weird thing to say, given the situation – that much was obvious now. “I mean… I’m just a little nervous. I think this is actually the first time I’ve ever asked someone out on a date.”

His lips curled the tiniest bit, hinting at a smile. “It’s because I almost ran you over with the cart, isn’t it? You like to live dangerously. You couldn’t resist me.”

She laughed, grateful to have an excuse to expel some tension. “My lunch break is in half an hour. How about I find you then and we can exchange phone numbers? The party is next Friday evening … will that work for you?” Crap, she hadn’t even thought to ask about his schedule until now.

“I’ll make it work.”

Relief hit her hard again, along with a wave of excitement. “See you in half an hour.”

As she slipped into a patient’s room, she realized that she actually did want to go with Wanda on her shopping trip. Sure, she’d asked Tyler to be her date so she wouldn’t be subjected to Dr. Anthony’s advances. This way, she wouldn’t be at the party as a single, and hopefully seeing her with Tyler would make Dr. Anthony realize that playboy doctors with peroxide grins weren’t her type. But that didn’t mean her heart wasn’t racing at the thought of spending an evening with Tyler just because he was incredibly sexy.

* * * * *

“Hey, Ty.”

Tyler pulled the door shut, his gaze flickering toward the TV. He’d expected to come home to a dark apartment; instead, everything was bathed in the big screen’s glow. “What are you doing here?”

Kassie popped her head up, meerkat-like, from where she lay stretched out on his couch. “I was outvoted on TV choices. My roommates wanted to watch some reality crap, and I wanted to watch
The Princess Bride
.”

So she’d let herself in. When he’d given her a key to his apartment, it’d been for use in case of an emergency. Turned out the only emergencies she’d encountered so far were movie
reruns and snack deficits. Such visits were a hazard of living in the same apartment complex as his sister. “I know what I’m getting you for Christmas – a TV of your own you can keep in your room.”

She sprang up like she’d been given an electric shock. “Really?”

“Don’t get too excited. I’m thinking a little black and white from a pawnshop or something.”

She stuck her bottom lip out. “I’m still going to come over here to watch stuff on your big screen, then.”

“Tell me the truth,” he said as he shed his jacket. “Did you eat the pizza I had on a paper plate in the fridge? Because I was saving that.”

A guilty look flashed in her blue eyes. “No. I figured you wanted it. I had pasta at my apartment, anyway.”

“Then why do you look like you know something that’s going to piss me off?”

“Um.” She glanced around the room, looking particularly interested in the toothpaste commercial that was blaring from the TV. “Mom called a few hours ago.”

“What for?”

“Dustin’s coming to visit for Christmas.”

“For Christmas … or for the entire winter break?” Dustin was a senior in college, which meant he had weeks of downtime coming up, just like Kassie.

“I don’t know. For a little while, at least. He’s getting here tomorrow.”

“By here you mean mom and dad’s, right?”

“Actually, that’s what mom called about. Their place is already going to be pretty crowded. They’ll have Aunt Brianna and Uncle Dave plus Grandpa and—”

“So what are you saying?”

“Mom wanted to know if Dustin could stay here. With you. You know, because you’ve got the extra room.”

“I’ve got a couch.” His apartment was just a one bedroom unit.

“Well, Dustin’s going to be sleeping on it.” Kassie shot him an apologetic look.

“Great.” Just what he needed – a visit from baby brother, frat boy extraordinaire. It wasn’t that he hated Dustin. It was just that even in moderate doses, he was incredibly annoying. And a holiday couch-surfing binge was bound to be one hell of a large dose. “Tell mom and dad that my letting him stay here is my Christmas present to them.”

“Okay.” Kassie stood, stretching. “It’s almost midnight. I’m heading back over to my place.” She darted forward and wrapped her arms around him, doing her best to use her skinny little limbs to break his ribs with a quick hug. “Thanks for the TV! I can’t wait to watch it. In color.”

“Fat chance,” he said, but she was already gone.

He locked up behind her and went to the fridge, pulling out the pizza he’d saved. Spending the first half of his day at the hospital and the second half at Hot Ink didn’t exactly leave time for home cooking. But that was okay. More than okay, really. Thinking of his upcoming date with Mallory, it was hard to give much of a damn about anything else – even Dustin’s impending visit.

* * * * *

“So Tyler, how’s it going?” Karen, Jed’s girlfriend, appeared just outside the wall of Tyler’s tattoo booth.

Something shiny fluttered down, landing on the tile.

“Oops,” she said. “Sorry.”

He rose from his chair and bent to pick it up. “What’s this?”

“An invitation.”

Tyler stared down at what was clearly a gingerbread man made from brown construction paper, complete with glitter-glue decorations.

“I was hanging out with Abby and her niece helped me make those,” Karen explained. “The info is on the back.”

“Jed’s Christmas party,” Tyler said, scanning the Allegheny West address that had been penned on the back of the card. The invitation was no surprise – the owner of the Hot Ink Tattoo Studio threw casual Christmas and New Year’s get-togethers for the Hot Ink staff every year. The occasion was nothing new, although this was the first time Tyler had ever received a physical invitation, let alone a glitter-encrusted one. Usually Jed just told everyone when the party would start.

Karen nodded. “New Year’s Eve. You’ll be able to make it, right?”

“Yeah. Wouldn’t miss it.”

“Okay, great. And don’t forget… You’re welcome to bring a date.” She winked at him and spun on one heel, her auburn ponytail whirling behind her like a helicopter blade.

“Hey James…” She moved on to the next booth, and Tyler stared down at the flimsy gingerbread man she’d left him with.

A date… Tyler’s thoughts turned immediately to Mallory. He’d volunteered at the hospital earlier that day, but hadn’t seen her – it’d been her day off. She’d told him yesterday she wouldn’t be there. Not that that had stopped him from thinking about her all day. Truth was, he was still in shock over the fact that she’d asked him to go to Dr. Creepster’s party with her. It’d been the last thing he’d been expecting, and she’d left him gaping over his cart like a dumbass, unable to believe his luck.

He must’ve read her all wrong – it was the only explanation. Then again, he’d never considered himself an expert on divining the secret thoughts of women. Still, as his mind filled with visions of her bombshell figure, teasing eyes and glossy lips, he wanted to try – wanted to understand what Mallory wanted.

Sure, sometimes women came on to him, and when they did, it was usually pretty clear what they wanted – nothing much, in the long run. Most women who were interested seemed to see him more in terms of a prospect for a little short term fun, nothing lasting. He wasn’t the kind of guy women schemed to snare in holy matrimony – ladies saved that sort of ingenuity for men like Dr. Creepster.

But that wasn’t really what Mallory had done. She’d asked him to be her date at a party – a work party. Something where all her colleagues and peers would see her with him, would meet him beneath the all-revealing glow of Christmas lights. What Mallory had asked was exactly the opposite of an adventurous female client trying to talk him into a quickie on Hot Ink’s waiting couch after hours.

Not that he’d ever taken anyone up on that particular invitation. Even if he’d been interested, what those girls hadn’t realized was that Jed had lived in the apartment above the shop and probably would’ve killed Tyler with his bare hands if he’d gone and contaminated the leather couch with any sort of bodily fluids.

Anyway, Mallory seemed classy. He could imagine her on that couch – naked – but only because of his own depravity. He was pretty sure she wouldn’t be willing to hop into his tattoo chair in the first place, let alone out of it and into his arms, granting him access to her freshly-inked body. The fantasy was something that would keep him awake at night though – an almost painful tightening in the vicinity of his jeans was enough to tell him that.

She was beautiful. She’d asked him on a date. And he’d be damned if he had the faintest idea of what she’d been thinking.

* * * * *

“Hey, sweetie.” Mallory’s mother was waiting when she opened the door, and pulled her straight into a hug.

“Wow, mom, you’re in a good mood.” Mallory leaned into the embrace, surprised by her mother’s uncharacteristic cheer. “Did something exciting happen while I was out?”

“I talked to your brother and sister on the phone. They both said they’re planning to spend all day here on Christmas. I thought you and I could start planning the menu now – a traditional dinner with all the trimmings. Something special.”