I roll my lips inward and feel my cheeks heat. “Yeah? Back at you. You must be busy.”
“I am, but never too busy for you. What are you up to, Savage?”
“I want a new tattoo. Headed to my usual spot.”
“Good for you. I might have to leave town overnight. I’ll let you know if I do.” I hear the strain in his voice, and I frown as I press the phone tighter to my ear and climb into the back of the SUV.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Long day. Don’t worry about me, baby, I’ll call you later.”
“Okay. Talk to you soon.”
I hang up and pass Bobby his phone, then pick my own up and text my man. I didn’t like the sound of his voice.
Me: If you need me to skip this, I will. You sounded worried.
The dots dance on my screen as I wait for him to reply.
Mateo: You’re safe, Savage. Enjoy.
Me: Okay. x
The stress of Mateo’s business, and the strain I hear in his voice because of it, might just be something I have to get used to and remember not to take personally.
Bobby pulls up in front of the tattoo shop, and I wait the way I’ve been taught for both the guys to join me at the door before I climb out of the vehicle. They escort me inside, and Archie’s waiting by his table. He smiles at me, and then blinks at Bobby and Lucky.
“Is it a party?” Archie asks.
“They’re with me. They won’t get in the way.” I’m not sure how to explain to him that my new boyfriend is an organized crime boss, and because of that, I have to have guards with me at all times.
“You can come back in a couple hours,” he tells the guys, but they shake their heads and stand firm.
“It’s okay, I’ll explain later,” I tell him. “Now, let’s get started. I want a back piece, woven into the flowers ...”
I show him where I want it, and then he passes me his iPad and I draw the image from memory. Archie watches over my shoulder, nodding.
“That’s badass.”
“I know.”
“What does it mean?”
“That’s private.”
He licks his lips. “Does it have anything to do with the fact that you have two bodyguards?”
“Sort of.”
He nods again and then sighs. “You were bound to get scooped up. Okay, I’ll print this out, and we’ll get you started.”
“Thanks.”
This studio is on the small side, with just three stations, and Archie’s the only one working tonight.
“Why’s it so dead in here tonight?” I call out to him. He’s in the back printing off the stencil.
“It’s a Wednesday night,” he says as he returns to me. Archie’s a good-looking guy. Tall, with muscles and plenty of ink.