Making His Baby(189)

“I can’t wait to see it, Trinity. That’s a great angel, and that’s not normally my thing.”

I did the most portrait tattoos in the shop, which were a hot item. I glance at the clock, knowing the shop opens in a little while before reaching for the keys.

“Let’s get some food and then we can take care of the meeting stuff before we open shop for the day.” Even if we ran a little over, she has some wiggle room with time since her first client isn’t going to be in for an hour after we unlock the door.

I am glad that we leave a little after twelve-thirty because there are a few empty tables in the restaurant. “Grab a table. I’ll get your usual.”

Trinity kisses my cheek before walking to a corner table as I shake my head. We’d grown up here together in the city. Our dads were friends back in the day so we were kind of stuck with it and luckily, we get along fine. I walk to the counter and order as a formality since they already know what we like, adding a couple of beers. I’ll need every bottle the restaurant has to get the pretty blonde from earlier out of my head. I turn to take the bottles to the table, earning a grin from Trinity before I go to get the order a minute later.

We discuss shop business over lunch, dragging it out a bit as I sip the beer. I can’t get buzzed since I have a few scattered appointments today, but it tastes fucking good after my morning. It’s thinning out a bit inside when I hear the chime, feeling something new in the room. I glance around, looking right at the door to see a familiar pair walking into the deli.

I narrow my eyes as Marshall leads Penelope to the counter with his hand on the small of her back, both laughing.

“What’s wrong with you?” Trinity asks me before she follows my gaze. “Do you know them?”

I hear the laughter in her tone since Penelope isn’t my type but my focus is on the way he leans close to her. Maybe Penelope isn’t a good girl and she’s fucking her boss. Maybe he just wants her too.

“Tanner?”

“What?” I snap at her as she raises a perfect eyebrow at me. “Who’s the blonde?”

“Tanner?” Marshall calls out as Trinity swings her head over to look. “Is that you?”

“Marshall,” I say dryly as I look at him, carrying a tray with sandwiches and sodas. “Fancy meeting you here.” I know he’s doing the ad so I’m not a total dick but my eyes rest on Penelope as she blushes and tries to hide behind him.

“It is the best. Come on, Penelope.” He moves to the table next to us and she slips into the seat as Trinity tilts her head at them. Penelope glances at me and then Trinity as I watch distress cross her face, making me wonder if she’s jealous. The idea makes me grin and I feel Trinity’s hand on my arm before I stare at her.

“What are you doing?” I hiss at her as she smiles.

“Who’s the girl, Tan?” Trinity asks in a low voice as her eyes light up at me, knowing that Penelope is seeing everything.

“I’ll tell you later.” I drink some more beer, draining it as Trinity smirks at me. Her hand is still on my arm and I know that she’s doing it to make Penelope jealous. It’s what we do for each other all the time but today, it feels wrong. I pull my arm down and rest it on my leg, glancing over to see Penelope staring at me with a mix of heat and something else in her eyes. Is it insecurity? Did Trinity do too good of a job?





CHAPTER 5


PENELOPE



Once starving, I now pick at my sandwich.

The whole room is filled with Tanner now that I saw him and I alternate between listening to Marshall and staring over at Tanner. I look to the girl he is with, her hand covering his arm as she smiles and I realize how gorgeous she is. Her hair is a bright pink but her skin and eyes are dark and the tattoos covering her body give her an edge.

Tanner probably likes girls like that. I see them speaking in low voices as he glances my way a few times.

“Pen?”

Marshall is looking at me and I have no clue what he just said, “What did you say, Marshall?”

“Aren’t you hungry?” Marshall searches my face and I gave him a small shrug.

“I think I drank too much coffee today. I’ll wrap it for later,” I offer as he turns his head to look at Tanner’s table. “You know me. I work late anyway.” I think of the text that Mollie sent me about later, telling me to wear something I wouldn’t consider wearing to the office. I plan to leave by seven tonight, or around there. If I’m to change, I need to get to my apartment six blocks away and catch a ride back to the shop.

Am I really going to go?

I look at Tanner again, seeing the intensity in his beautiful eyes as I breathe in. “I’m going to use the bathroom,” I tell Marshall and rise to make my way to the back. I can cancel tonight and just make phone calls to Norm, or have Marshall handle it. Mollie knows her stuff and she could handle this on her own.