“Lady, would you let me on some ideas?”
“Me?” she asked, placing a hand to her chest. “I don’t think I qualify for any of that. I’ve never been married or had anyone want to spend the rest of their life with me.”
“You do now,” Ace said, giving her a pointed look.
Okay, this was getting … yeah, she didn’t know what was happening, only that she was tingling all over.
“If it was me, and I’m a thirty-year-old woman, I’d want to be told the truth. I don’t need anything fancy, no flowers or anything, but you’re young.”
The kid groaned, flopping down. “Do you know how often we hear that? You’re too young to know what you want, and you are just supposed to have some fun. Life is not about taking it too seriously. It drives me crazy. Why do I have to be an old dude to realize that I love someone? Huh? Tell me that. Is a switch magically like flicked when I reach an age that my body deems old enough?”
Trixie shrugged. “You have a point.”
“Love is love no matter what age you are.”
“You can love anyone you want,” Ace said. “No one has the right to tell you who to love.”
“You know a thing or two about love, righteous dude.”
Ace changed the ink pads on his gun. “You see that woman right there?”
“Of course I do, dude, not blind.”
“I have been in love with her since kindergarten.”
Trixie stared at him, shocked.
“No shit! Rock on, lady. Are you two like together?”
“I never told her how I felt,” Ace said.
“No.” He prolonged the word making it last.
“I didn’t tell her how I felt at all. In fact, I didn’t even speak to her at all. I spent a lot of time thinking about what to say and never saying it. Someone convinced me that she was so far out of my league that there was no point in trying.” Ace went back to working on the kid’s tattoo. “Eventually, I got used to looking without saying a word. Then one day, she left. I heard bits of information about her over the years. The college she graduated from. The high-powered job, and then I heard about her upcoming wedding with some guy that thought he was good for her.” Tears filled her eyes at the pain she heard in his voice. “Then one night I decided to stay open late. I don’t even know why I did. I was sketching out some new designs, and lo and behold, she walks back into my life. For three years she has been in my life, and not once have I told her how I feel. What I’m trying to say to you, don’t wait around trying to please everyone else. If you love this girl, really love her, then you need to tell her. Don’t waste any time like I did.” Ace looked at her. “I know I wasted time, and I won’t allow for any more time to be wasted.”
The doorbell went, and Trixie looked behind her. An entire group of bikers had entered. She could neither say nor do anything. She smiled at Ace, and left the room. She was reeling from what he had just said. He loved her? Did he love her, or was he trying to help the kid on the table?
She had so many questions, and none of them got answered straight away. The parlor became busy. It was like someone wanted to torture her by making her wait for the answer.
Chapter Six
Ace knew she was on edge, and expected the questions the moment he closed the door to the tattoo parlor. They had become so busy that there had been no time for questions after his announcement. Every time he had looked her way, she’d been staring with so many questions in her eyes.
“Did you mean it?” she asked.
“I meant everything I said. I don’t tell lies. I never have.”
“Love is a strong emotion.”
“And I have felt it every time I am around you. From when we were kids to this very moment.” He moved away from the door. “Don’t you feel it every time that I’m around you? I know I do. I’ve spent the last three years waiting for you to be ready, and I suddenly realized that you didn’t have a clue how I felt.” He reached out, cupping her face. “I love you, Trixie. I have loved you for the longest time, and I will continue to do so.”
Tears filled her eyes, and he pressed up against the counter. Slamming his lips down on hers, he tasted her tears, and pulled her against him. Her soft body was what he craved. Suddenly, she began to tug at his shirt, tearing it up over his head.
“Trixie?”
“I want you, Ace. Please, right here, right now.” She tugged on his jeans, shoving them down his hips.
Within seconds she was before him, her hand wrapping around his length. The shop was all shut up. They were alone, and no one was going to interrupt them. All day he’d been without her touch, so he didn’t fight her.