Fighting His Desire: So Inked, #4

Prologue

October, somewhere in God-forsaken Kentucky...

Lucas Hewitt stared into the dark, adoring eyes of the black mop with legs. Its whole body wiggled and squirmed as he held it an arms’ length from his body.

Yeah, we should all take one home! That’s a great idea, Kenny exclaimed.

Oh, the good ideas people had when they were drunk. The groom-to-be was a couple beers into it, and something of a lightweight.

Lucas wasn’t sold on the idea of another dog. No one could replace Morticia, but this squirmy thing was trying. When they’d found the skinny mamma dog lurking outside the backwoods cabin, he’d wholeheartedly agreed feeding her was the right thing to do. She was far too sweet and well-mannered to have been a stray her whole life, and judging by the full sway of her stomach, she’d given birth to a litter of pups somewhere.

He didn’t recall who’d suggested searching for the babies, but once the idea was out there they’d set off for a wandering hike. The mamma showed up after five minutes, as though she’d pegged them for the suckers they were, and led them back to her babies. It was at that point they’d kissed goodbye to the beer fund.

Instead of spending their time drinking, playing pool, and helping their buddy Kenny enjoy his last few days as a bachelor they’d scrubbed pups, bought dog food, and tracked down a local vet who’d make a house call for the mamma and her puppies.

One by one, the other guys laid claim to the puppies.

There were six guys.

And by some odd stroke of fate there were six puppies.

Lucas cringed, listening to the others exclaim about what a great idea it would be if they each took a puppy.

Well, shit, he muttered.

He didn’t want to be the stick in the mud. He didn’t have anything against this little runt of a mutt, but between Kenny’s wedding coming up and now a black dog being dumped on him, it was too much. Everything reminded him of her. The woman he’d loved and lost before he ever truly had her to begin with.

What are you going to name it? Kenny grinned at him, a puppy tucked up under his arm.

Not sure yet. I reckon something’ll come to me. Lucas set the dog down, but it only edged closer, staring up at him as though he’d hung the stars.

He should never have shared that hamburger with the mutt. It was a mistake. Mom had always said, if you feed it, you keep it, and here was proof.

Hey, where did that sack of treats go? Kenny glanced around.

You know, I don’t think we brought it in. I’ll go grab it. Lucas picked up his beer and ducked out of the cabin, a black shape darting out the door to weave through his legs, nearly tripping him.

He glared down at the bit of darker darkness, and in his mind he could see Morticia staring back up at him. His mother had named the dog. Morticia was supposed to have been Mom’s, but Morticia had adopted Lucas as her own. For most of his teen years she’d been his shadow. The day he’d gone to boot camp he’d scratched her on the head, told her to be a good girl.

He’d been more excited about his trips home to see Morticia than the humans. When he’d retired and gone into tattooing, there hadn’t been a question in anyone’s mind where Morticia was going.

They’d had many long, good years there before she’d passed of old age.

Getting a new dog felt like he was forgetting her.

What am I going to do with you? Lucas trudged toward the truck and slapped his thigh.

The little scamp kept up with him, never straying far. Neither of them seemed to like the woods much. Lucas wasn’t much of a country boy, regardless of his redneck upbringing. If it weren’t for the odd circumstances that brought him together with these guys, he’d probably still be in California, wondering what the hell he was doing with his life.

It was a common refrain these days.

What was he doing with his life?

What was he doing with a dog?

What was he doing on a bachelor trip?

What was he doing here?

Watching these two people so deeply in love get married was killing a bit of him.

It must be the beer. He’d drank too much of it while the others were cooing over their pups.

He opened the back seat of the SUV they’d rented for this trip and stared at his cell phone sitting on the bench seat and the treat bag on the floor board.

Huh, he’d wondered where that was, but not enough to actually look for it.

Two problems, one stone.

He grabbed the bag and ripped the package open, offering a treat to the runt. He’d felt for the little thing, and that was why he’d shared that burger, no other reason.

Lucas checked his phone, surprised by the last missed call.

Before he could think about it, he hit dial and leaned against the vehicle, staring up through the trees at the night sky.

Hey, gray beard.

Hey, haven’t heard from you in a while. He ignored the jibe. Mary was one of the most resilient women he’d ever had as an apprentice. She’d put up with his shit. She got to poke at him.

I’m desperate, Lucas.

"Chill, chica. What’s going on?" The seriousness of her tone set off alarms.

I need to hire someone.

I can think of a few people.

I was kind of hoping you might want to come back. Work for me.

Fuck.

Lucas swallowed.

Mary had opened a tattoo shop in the heart of Dallas, Texas, with her friend Kellie. He’d heard great things about their shop, and taken a measure of pride that he’d been the last person to employ both women. He’d taught them the ropes of managing a shop. But going back to Dallas meant being closer to the woman who still owned his heart after almost six years being apart. He didn’t know if he could do it, even for Mary.

The guilt of being that close to Jenny might kill him. Lucas, hey, take your eyes off whatever pair of tits you’re looking at and pay attention to me. Mary always did have a way with words when she chose to speak.

The only tits I’m looking at are on a dog. He glanced down at the little black creature that’d draped itself over his feet and was chewing on the laces to his boots.

Well, that’s a change. Come on, come home. Work with me. Don’t make me beg.

Lucas kept staring into the little dog’s face.

Was this an omen? A new dog, a new shot? Could he do it?

1

A week later...

Lucas pulled up to the back of the brick strip mall that housed the So Inked tattoo shop. His hands were sweating more than they had in a decade or more. Omen whined from her crate, sensing his nerves.

It was odd how full circle things were.

He was coming home to Texas, working with Mary and Kellie again, and he had a new dog. Mom and Dad were glad to see him, and had promptly informed him of all the family activities he could attend in the coming weeks, namely the big reunion.

There was just one person missing from all this, and he wasn’t sure she’d ever want to see his face again.

He hoped that eventually, after he settled into the shop and got his life set up once more, he’d find the peace he’d been lacking since the day that Jenny walked into his life. Jenny had had the great misfortune to marry her high school sweetheart, who just happened to be Lucas’ piece of shit cousin. Jenny had been a shining bit of brightness for Lucas. Falling in love with her wasn’t the smartest thing he’d done, and there wasn’t any excuse for it other than the heart loved who it loved.

Come on, Omen. Here’s to a new start.

Lucas got out of his Jeep, circled to the other side and hauled Omen’s crate out after him, and only then did he get his kit from the back. He’d barely gotten into town day before yesterday and found a place to rent close enough to the shop he wouldn’t spend hours in traffic, but he still had next to nothing lined up for the pup, so she’d have to stick with him until he figured out what he was doing with her.

He knocked on the back door since it was pretty early yet. Kellie and her boyfriend had swung by the apartment to say hello last night, but this would be the first chance he got to see both women and their shop.

The door opened and a woman with long, dark hair and tanned skin leaned out. Mary didn’t smile, she just arched her brow at him.

You really are a gray beard now, huh?

Fuck you. He grinned.

Are you moving in or something? Mary held the door for him and eyed the crate. A dog? Seriously?

It’s only for today, unless you want me to start tomorrow? He had a good guess things were dire if she was willing to admit to needing the favor.

Put it in the office. Mary sighed.

Is that Lucas? Kellie leaned out of the only door on the left. Hey, old man.

Fuck you, too. He paused to set his bag down and give the Asian artist a quick hug.

Put your stuff out front, then let’s talk. Kellie glanced at the clock on the wall. I don’t mean to rush you, but I’d like for us to all chat before Carly gets here.

Sure. Where you want me?

Either of the middle stations is fine, Kellie said.

Lucas rolled his kit out to the front and left Omen in the hall.

The shop was wide, with space for six stations, three on either wall, and a main desk area. The shop space was painted and decorated with an eclectic display of art pieces. The floors, furniture and equipment were clean. The fixtures were all new and modern. All in all, it was a classy joint, especially compared to some of the shitholes he’d tattooed in.

He slid his kit under the desk hanging from the wall on the left side of the shop and glanced around one last time.

This place felt good.

There was just a vibe to the shop that made him excited about what was coming next, as opposed to just going through the motions to get by.

Lucas ducked back into the office.

Kellie had moved Omen’s travel crate into the office next to the sofa. Both women had desks on opposite sides of the room.

Have a seat? Mary folded her hands in front of her, expression serious.

Shit, how bad are things? He perched on the cushions and stuck his fingers through the bars. Omen licked the digits then leaned against him, soothed by the touch.

Financially we’re good. Solid, Kellie said.

Then why do you need me here? he asked slowly.

Because... Mary sighed and glanced away.

Kellie stared at the back of Mary’s head.

What have I just walked into? he asked.

I didn’t tell Kellie until a few days ago that I’d sort of hired you. Mary turned to face him, the stubborn set of her jaw familiar to him. She was the quiet sort of woman who preferred to say as little as possible and bottled everything up inside. He’d seen her explode a number of times over the years, and it was never pretty. She might be little, but her tongue could cut and she had a mean little fist.

We have had growing pains, Kellie said, taking over. When we started, we were four, single women out to tattoo our way across the state. Now, two of us are married—

You might as well be married, Mary interjected.

True. Kellie nodded. All three of us travel a lot with our significant others. That leaves the burden of being the person here almost every day on Mary, and our shop manager, Carly.

That’s the one who isn’t in yet today? he asked.

Correct, Kellie said.

Yeah, it sounds like you need more people. You’ve got stations for six out there. He thumbed at the front of the shop.

We’ve had a lot of guests rotating for the last year, and it’s worked out, but I’m still here almost seven days a week. Sometimes I have to close the shop just so I can take care of things. Mary stared at him, her shoulders slumping. She was tired. Work like that wore on the body. Tattooing was hard on the back and the nerves in the arms. It wasn’t easy just because a person sat there all day.

What’s the catch? he asked.

The other girls... Kellie glanced at Mary.

Pandora won’t be a problem, but Carly and Autumn...they aren’t going to take a new person in the shop—permanently—well. Mary grimaced.

Well, if they aren’t going to pull their fair share of the weight, tough titty. Lucas shrugged. He’d been in Mary’s shoes so many times over the years he had a hard time seeing how the other ladies could be pissed about easing the load.

Look—this could have been handled a lot better if we’d eased them into it. I’m not saying this isn’t the right thing to do, just...cut them some slack for a week or two before you bust their balls, okay? Kellie stared at him, the request edging over the line of command.

May I offer some feedback? He scrubbed his hand across his jaw. It was too early to be bullshitting people.

Please. We would never have opened the shop without your support and guidance. Kellie gestured at everything around them.

"I’m your employee. You need to treat me like that. Don’t ask me to do stuff you’d tell the others to do. It’ll set us apart, and if you’re trying to not rock the boat, treating us the same will help. He spread his hands. Just a suggestion."

It’s just weird, you working for us after we worked for you. Kellie shoved her hand back smoothing her pony tail over her shoulder.

Yeah, I don’t miss being the boss. He chuckled and eased back onto the sofa. So long as these other ladies were professional about their behavior, he could work around some hurt feelings. A shop was an extension of home, and he was the new person on their turf.

A bit of a broader look at things—I wouldn’t be surprised if we turn over half the shop in the next year. Mary was all business, keeping her gaze on him. There was clearly some tension between the two owners.

No. Kellie shook her head.

Carly is going to graduate in December. Her website building business brings in almost as much as we pay her.

That doesn’t mean—

The back door clanged open.

Both Mary and Kellie’s mouths snapped closed. They winced in unison and glanced at the open space.

Dude, some dumbass in a Jeep parked in my space, a woman called out.

Lucas made a mental note to park in a different spot tomorrow.

A woman in a wheelchair rolled by. He heard the squeal of her wheels on the tile, and then she eased backward into view, one brow arched.

Who’s he? she asked.

Carly, this is Lucas. You’ve heard us talk about him, haven’t you? Kellie gestured at him.

He nodded at her.

Yeah. He here until Autumn gets back? Carly gave him a once over, the hostility palpable.

Lucas is going to be joining us permanently, Mary said, biting the bullet.

Carly’s mouth opened and closed. She closed her eyes, turned her face forward and disappeared into the front of shop.

Both Kellie and Mary put their heads down on their desks.

Lucas had his work cut out, that was clear. Fitting into any shop was always a trial, but the girls had something special going here. He’d followed their success with pride, and they had greatness in them yet.

Why don’t I take Omen out for a walk around the block and give you ladies a moment to chat? He dug into his pocket for the short leash he’d brought with him for the day.

That’s a good idea.  Mary propped her chin in her hand. Pandora is having one of her pregger appointments today, so she’ll be in tomorrow. I figure she’s got another month—maybe—before she’s out for maternity leave.

My money’s on two weeks, if that. Between us? Kellie glanced at the door. "I’m not sure Pandora will come back