She gazed in the mirror one more time.
I love it!
He stroked at the part he’d been working on with a fingertip before she handed him the mirror. He seemed like he wanted to reply but said nothing. His touch, even though his hands were gloved, inspired a wave of heat that coursed through her core. She knew it was just the endorphin rush that enhanced it, but she wanted him even more since he’d begun this work of art on her flesh.
That’s hormones talking, ninny. He already told you no once. Don’t make him feel worse by flinging yourself at him.
He continued on with the tattoo as her thoughts ranged freely. He’d made his point eloquently the night before. He thought she should save her virginity. By the time she found a man whom she felt comfortable enough with to marry, she might be forty. She had some living and loving and lost time to make up for, and that was a fact. In this day and age, her teenage resolution seemed obsolete.
Fuck it. I’m taking care of this on my own. Maybe then, down the road, I might have a chance with him.
In her endorphin-induced high, she slammed the mental door on the thought of how he might react if she ever told him that she’d taken matters into her own hands and her virginity was a nonissue.
Chapter Four
Jayne smiled happily at Ben Lawrence when he placed the Divine Margarita, Ethan Grant’s special recipe, on a square napkin in front of her at the bar.
This was her second.
“Sip that slowly. The last one was pretty potent, so I made this one just a bit weaker, okay? And thanks for not griping about handing over your keys. Ethan would kill me if I let you get toasted and then drive. I put your purse under the bar.”
Jayne giggled, and her joints felt loose and flexible as she scrunched up her shoulders and then sighed happily. She took a long sip. “Thank you, Ben. I understand and appreciate you looking out for me. This is delicious.” She happily took another sip as “Springsteen” by Eric Church played on the club’s sound system.
It had been a week and a half since her first tattoo session, and the work Seth had done so far had healed enough that she felt reasonably sure about going out and having some fun and just seeing where things went.
Condoms and lubricant tucked in the zipper pouch of my purse, and my loins are girded with one and a half kick-ass margaritas.
A loud snicker erupted from her as she was dazzled by her own brilliant, punny humor.
I need to remember to write that one down.
She flicked her tongue delicately at the salted rim, took a sip, looked up and down the bar, and then turned to gaze around the nightclub to see if there was anyone there whom she knew. It was a weeknight, so the club wasn’t at full capacity.
Turning like that made the room dip and swirl in her vision just a bit, and she giggled again and whispered, “Thank you, Señor Patrón.”
No way am I gonna get through this without lubricating the machinery, so to speak.
She barely resisted the urge to giggle at her mental pun. She wondered briefly if she should’ve taken the time to eat a decent supper before coming to the nightclub. Peanut butter and crackers was fast but not very filling.
“What was that, darlin’?” the dark-headed cowboy sitting next to her asked as he gave her a devilish grin. “You having a good time?”
“Yesirreee, I am,” she quipped, punctuating her thought with a nod of her head. The sudden motion made her head bob a little, which struck her as hilariously funny, and she had to stifle her giggle.
Sip this one slowly like Ben said. You don’t want to get so bombed that you can’t function. You just needed to loosen up a bit.
“And how is your evening so far, cowboy?”
The dark stranger smiled at her, turned slightly in his chair, and gave her his undivided attention. “So far…so good. I’m visiting from out of town.”
Just then, another man sauntered up in her somewhat blurry peripheral vision and said, “Jayney! How’re you doin’, sweet cheeks?” He reached out and shook the cowboy’s hand. “Good to see you again, Alvarez. You enjoying some of the nightlife while you’re in town?”
Mr. Alvarez grinned and nodded his head as he took a sip from his beer. “Yeah, gotta head back in the morning. Chase and Brian Benedict should be here in a little while with Angel, Joaquin, and Teresa. I’m liking the nightlife so far.”
Jayne blinked and squeaked happily when Buck Turnsell’s face finally came into focus. “Buck! Hi! I’m so happy to see you!” Wow, I didn’t mean to say that quite that loud. Shush, ninny! “How have you and Chad been?”
“Wonderful. Want to come and join us? He’s sitting right over there. If you don’t mind, Mr. Alvarez?”