Page 2 of Tattooed Boss
He flashed her a smile—a smile that had rendered her silent the first time they met and continued to do so every time he graced her with the knee wobbling gesture. “I trust you.”
“You’re giving a lot of trust to someone who’s going to mark you permanently.”
“I know your style. I love your style. It’s why I hired you.”
Her lips curved at the corners, and heat fluttered across her cheeks. She darted her gaze for a moment, trying to hide the pure joy that statement made her feel. It was more than joy. It was validation from a master in the industry she fought so hard to make a name in.
“I’ll get started on it now,” she said.
“Good. Maybe when we close up tonight, we can get started on the outline. That is, if you’re up for it.”
“Yes! Absolutely.”
“Then you better get to sketching.” He flashed her that damn smile again, grabbed his coffee, and headed to his station.
She didn’t mean to stare after him, but the man had a presence that couldn’t be ignored.He’s your boss. She shook her head, bringing herself to reality, and retrieved her sketchpad and a pencil. She had a tattoo to create.
Chapter 2
Garrett stretched as his client walked to the mirror to check out his new piece. It had taken five hours, and Garrett was stiff and in desperate need of a caffeine fix.
“Damn, this is awesome!” Benny exclaimed as he contorted his shoulder to see the rest of the design that dipped around his bicep. “You managed to get everything in. Even my mom’s handwriting is spot on.”
“It’s a beautiful piece and an amazing way to honor your mother. I bet she would love it.”
“She’d kick my ass for marking up my body.” Benny choked out a laugh around the emotion evident in his eyes. “But she’d secretly love it. Brag to all her friends.”
Garrett patted the guy on the back, and Benny turned, throwing his arms around him.
“Thank you, man. It’s everything I wanted and more.”
“You’re welcome.” Pride filled Garrett’s chest. This wasn’t why he tattooed, but it had become a perk of the job he lived for. Being able to give people something meaningful was a beautiful thing.
Benny swiped at his eyes. He glanced at the mirror one more time, admiring Garrett’s work. Garrett followed the lines as Benny twisted his arm and contorted again. The tattoo came out really well, and the placement of the wedding ring was perfect. Harley saved his ass from obsessing for God knows how much longer. It was his biggest problem—second guessing himself, over analyzing, and overcomplicating. He didn’t necessarily think it was a bad thing. His drive for perfection was the reason he’d been dubbed a king within the industry. His mother, on the other hand, told him it was because he was anal, like his father. Garrett had to take her word since he never met the man.
He went over the aftercare as he applied an antibiotic ointment and covered the tattoo with plastic. “And you’re all set,” Garrett said.
“Great. Thank you again, man.” Benny hugged him one more time, then headed out the door.
Garrett waved him off and when he turned around, Harley handed him a cup of coffee.
“You are an angel on earth.”
She snorted, which he found strangely adorable. “My father would wholeheartedly disagree with you.”
He lifted an eyebrow as he took a sip, sighing as the magic elixir slid down his throat.
“His nickname for me is Little Devil.”
Garrett smiled, wondering how she got the nickname. They hadn’t known each other long, but from what he could tell, Harley was quiet and reserved, yet every now and again, he’d get the sense she was hiding a piece of herself. “Are you and your father close?”
Any happiness that radiated from her pretty features fell. Her sinfully dark brown eyes darted toward the floor. “Not really. At least not anymore.”
An obvious pain strangled her words, and he cursed himself for asking.
“I’m sorry.”
Her gaze lifted to his, and she shrugged. “No worries. Same sad tale. Mom died, and he remarried, replacing his old family with a new one.”