Page 31 of Tattooed Boss

“We won’t miss it.” Garrett draped his arm over Harley, pulling her close and kissing her head. “You did awesome.”

She nuzzled into his side, allowing his heat to comfort her. “Do you think it’s finally over?”

“I think once people watch this segment, they will think twice about coming after you. Allison is even putting the footage of the person who damaged your car in. Even though it’s impossible to see them, maybe someone will recognize them, and it will show other people you aren’t going to allow this anymore. You’re fighting back. Besides, it is perfectly clear you were taken advantage of by the slimebag, and I swear if I ever see him in public, I’m going to knock his teeth in for what he did to you.”

A few weeks ago, Harley would have happily agreed, but not now. “He’s not worth it.”

“You’re right. He’s not.” Garrett wrapped his other arm around her, holding her close. “You want to go grab a coffee before we open?”

“That sounds great.”

They walked to the Local Bean, spoke with Cami for a bit before heading to the shop. Garrett flipped the sign to open, and Harley settled behind the counter. She slipped her phone out of her bag and tapped into her social media. If she was going to do this, then she needed to be all in.

She posted about her upcoming interview and said she would post a link for it later for those outside of the broadcast range. Then she posted the picture of Garrett’s tattoo and put her phone down.

Notifications lit up her phone, but she ignored them. She wouldn’t let the trolls win. Not anymore.

The morning moved at the speed of a snail. Anxiety knotted her gut, and every time she felt the need to run or hide, she looked at Garrett and his sexy face. His smile eased her anxious soul, and she settled again. By ten o’clock, Garrett stopped what he was doing and turned the TV on.

“You ready?” he asked.

“Yes, I just want this over.”

Allison came on the screen, and Garrett wrapped his arm around her. She rested her head on his chest and watched the segment in its entirety. Allison was right. She did look like a victim, and not because of the way Allison spun it, but because she was.

Tears filled her eyes and the pain, rejection, and anger she’d been shoving down for months poured out of her.

“Oh baby,” Garrett said, hugging her tight. She cried against his chest, and he rubbed circles on her back.

She felt like an idiot, but she didn’t care. Her body had been weighed by these ugly emotions, and she needed to purge in order to move on.

When she felt depleted, she pulled back. There was no judgement in Garrett’s blue eyes, just concern. “You okay?”

She swiped at the tears, ridding them from her cheeks and her mind. “I think I am. No matter what happens. I’m okay.”

The shrill of the phone echoed through the shop, but Garrett didn’t let go of her shoulders.

“I’m good,” she said.

He held her gaze for a moment before grabbing the phone. “Tattoo by the Sea,” he answered. “Yes, this is the shop Harley Love works at now.” His eyes met hers, and he smiled. “An appointment, sure. What day did you have in mind? You got it.” He hung up the phone. “This guy said he’s been waiting for you to post where you’ve been.”

A giddiness filled her as the phone rang again. Garrett answered. “Yes, this is it. Yes, Harley has availability.” She reached into her pocket and slipped out her phone. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before tapping into the notifications.

Allison had tagged her in the link already. Damn, that woman was fast.

Comment after comment was filled with kindness and apologies for what she had endured. Her regular clients and followers posted their gratitude that she was safe and how they’d been so worried about her. She had no idea. She was so blinded by the hatred she never noticed the people who cared.

Garrett hung up, and the phone rang again. “Yes, Harley has availability.”

All this time, she thought the world hated her. She thought her career was over, and she would never find love. But here in a small coastal town by the sea, she found it all.

Garrett hung up the phone and came to her, gathering her in his arms and swinging her around as if she weighed nothing. “This is unreal.”

“I can’t believe telling my story… it worked.”

“I hope you’re happy here because you are going to be booked up for a very long time.”

She took his face in her hands and smiled. “I’m not going anywhere.”