His Curvy Woman (Curvy Women Wanted Book 5)(11)

“I love her, Mom. I’ve loved her for a long time, and I’m not going to lose her or let her go.” He had been a nervous wreck when she first came into his parlor asking for the ink across the base of her back. He’d nearly screwed the design up just because touching her had given him pleasure.

In the past three years of her working for him, he had wanted to ask her out, to change the dynamics of their relationship, and he hadn’t. He’d held back as he knew she wasn’t ready, or in the right place.

“I’m going to marry her, Mom.”

His mother screamed. “When do I get to meet her?”

“When I know you can keep my own plans to yourself. Give me time with Trixie. I don’t want to lose her.”

He opened his kitchen cupboard taking out the pancake mix he had already made the day before. “Do you think you could give us some space?” he asked.

“Of course, I will. I won’s say anything.”

“And no surprise visits either. Call ahead first, okay? I don’t want to mess this up, and she may freak out if my mother is here for some reason.”

“Consider it all done. I’m so happy for you, Ace.”

He hung up the phone after she said goodbye. It was only going to be a matter of time before she made her appearance.

“Is everything okay with your mom?” Trixie asked, coming out of the bedroom. She wore one of his shirts, and it came down to her knees, making her look sexy.

“Yes, everything is fine.” He didn’t find out what she wanted, but he’d call her back after breakfast.

“I have no spare clothes. Will you drop me off home before we head into work?” she asked, taking a seat at his table.

“Of course. I always have pancakes with bacon and eggs. That good for you?”

“Sounds great. I’m starving.”

“We worked up an appetite last night, and a bowl of cereal wouldn’t cut it.” He whisked the eggs and milk into the batter, and let it sit on the side. “So, I was thinking that tonight I could pick up a movie, a pizza, and we could spend tonight together. What do you think?”

He didn’t realize that he had tensed up waiting for her answer until after she gave it.

“I was going to suggest the same thing.” She stood beside him. “Would you like me to make the eggs? I love scrambled eggs. Do you have maple syrup? I drown my pancakes in the stuff. Totally bad for you, but I think it’s one of the reasons I got these hips.”

“Then I’m going to keep an endless supply because your hips are a thing of beauty.”

****

“This is going to look so sick,” the kid said.

Trixie leaned against the doorframe watching as Ace inked a superhero on the guy’s arm. He was nineteen, nearly twenty, and he had originally asked for a tattoo on his dick. Ace, being the guy he was, told the kid to fuck off. There was no way he was going to touch any guy’s cock.

“It’s going to be something.”

“This man is the rock. I mean totally. My girl is going to love this.”

“You’ve got a girlfriend?” Trixie asked. Ace gave her a smile but said nothing.

“Yep. She’s my rock, and she totally got her own ink as well.” He moved around, and Ace snapped at him. “Sorry, dude, wanted to show your girl a picture of mine.”

Trixie stepped into the room and looked at the picture. The woman had long black hair, heavy makeup, but she also had a superhero tattoo on her stomach. “She’s beautiful.”

“She’s my girl, and has been since we were little kids. She’s like my rib, right?”

“Rib?” Trixie asked, looking at Ace once again. Was this some kind of slang she hadn’t grown up with?

“Like a guy has one less rib than a girl right? Some people think that your rib is attached to your girl. Well my girl is like my lost rib, and she’s totally bitchin’.”

“I have never heard that, but I do think that is really sweet,” Trixie said, handing him back the picture, and keeping her distance.

“I wanted to do something special. I’ve got a ring, but I wanted to show her I mean for life.”

“With the tattoo?”

“Yeah, lady. It says for life, right? Marking your skin, she’ll know I’m not messing around and that I mean forever.”

“You won’t get forever if you keep moving,” Ace said. “I can only do so much, and you keep taking deep breaths.”

“Shit, man, yeah, I’m sorry. How do you tell a girl that you love her and want to spend the rest of your life with her? It’s not something you just come out and say.”

“Why don’t you ask my girl there what she’d like?” Ace said.