“Sorry. I should’ve figured you would be after your night out. You and your friends definitely had a party going on.”
“Last time I drink White Russians. They make me do crazy things, like have my butt tattooed.” I can’t believe he called me. Wait. Don’t jump to conclusions. It’s his job to see how his customers are doing. This is routine.
“Sometimes doing crazy things is the spark we need in our lives to keep on going. Anyway, if having some flowers tatted on your ass is the craziest thing you do, then you need to get out more.” His voice, low and gravelly, stroked her senses like velvet.
“I haven’t been in Alina very long. I’d love to have someone show me the hot spots in town.” She held her breath. When he didn’t answer, her heart sank. Could you sound any more desperate? He only called to ask how you are. It’s routine. I made an ass out of myself. “I have to go.”
“Sure. If you have any questions or issues, just give us a call.” His smooth baritone sounded strained.
“Okay,” she mumbled and hung up. “Just give us a call.” He didn’t tell me to give him a call. She buried her face in her pillow as the blood rushed to her head. If she decided to get another tattoo, she’d never go back there. How could she ever show her face in that shop again? Even if she had to drive to Durango to get a tattoo, she’d do it before she went back there.
I so need to go out with a man. Maybe I should go out with Rory’s coworker. What was his name? Blake, or Blaine? Maybe it was Brandon. Anyway, he seemed nice, and he wasn’t super-hot so I wouldn’t make an ass out of myself. One thing was for sure: she did need to get out more.
She picked up her phone and sent a text to Rory, asking her to arrange a double date with her coworker. When Rory responded with a series of happy faces and exclamation points, Hailey groaned and buried her face in the pillow.
Chapter Three
Goldie sat at the table, his legs stretched out in front of him, and watched Brutus and Jigger play pool. He curled his fingers around a large can of Coors, then brought it to his lips and took a long drink.
“What’s happenin’, dude?” Army asked as he slid a chair out from the table and sat down.
“Not much. Just chillin’ until I have to go to work. What’re you up to?”
“I got a hot date for later tonight. She’s a real looker. She’s got big hair, big tits, and a big ass. She’s really something. The tats on her are awesome. It looks like your work. She said she had them done at Get Inked. Do you remember her?” Army picked up his glass of whiskey.
“Not offhand. I’ve worked on a lot of chicks who fit that description.”
“You’d remember her. Anyway, I was thinking that after you get off work, you could join us. She’s got a friend who’s got the right curves. I know you’d like her. What do you say?”
“Not tonight. Tattoo Mike’s gotta cut out early. His old lady’s having an anniversary party for her folks and he’s gotta be there. That just leaves me and Skull. I’ll probably be there past closing.”
“When have you ever passed up a sure thing? The chick’s friend doesn’t care what time you get to their apartment. She just wants you to get there.” Army smiled widely and leaned back in the chair.
“They roommates?”
“Yeah. It could get real fun.” Army chuckled.
Goldie wasn’t in the mood for hooking up with a citizen. His head was still reeling from the fact that the beautiful woman with the luscious ass was Hailey Shilley. His thoughts rolled back to when he and Ryan used to hang out and Hailey always wanted to tag along. Even when they’d climb up to their treehouse, she would stand at the base of the tree and call up to Ryan. He sniggered. She knew how to manipulate us. We always gave in and I’d scramble down and help her climb up.
“What’s so funny?” Army asked.
The memories scurried away as Army’s voice and the clack of the pool balls brought him back to the present. “Nothing. I’m going to pass for tonight. Ask Chains. He’s been itching for someone new. You know how he gets after being with the club girls for too long—he’s ready for some fresh game.”
Army busted out laughing. “Perfect way of putting it. Okay, I’ll ask him. It’s your loss.” He moved his chair around so he could watch the pool game.
Goldie stared at the players, but they were just fuzzy silhouettes as his mind brought back pictures of Hailey. When he was a teen, it’d seemed to him that she’d grown breasts and curves overnight. He remembered the first time he’d seen her in a tight-fitting sweater. His pants had grown tight and he’d beaten himself up over what a douchebag he was for getting hard at the sight of her. He’d realized in that moment that he’d like to hang out with her more, but he hadn’t dared to. How could he? She’d been his best friend’s sister, and her fourteen years were a little too young to his eighteen. But it didn’t stop him from glancing her way from time to time, and he’d caught her sneaking peeks at him when she’d thought he wasn’t looking.