Skin Deep Page 27

  So yeah, Allie saved me. I didn’t even care that she was dragging me to a Down & Dirty party to be her assistant, which is something I usually tried to get out of. We pulled up to the house where the party was to be held and I recognized the neighborhood as my sister’s. Speaking of, Jenna walked down the sidewalk, grinning and holding her arms out to hug me as I got out of the car.

  “Hey!” I exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

  “Hey, Em, hey, Allie! My neighbor decided to have a fun party and invited me. I wasn’t going to come but then I found out that Allie was going to be the party rep so I couldn’t turn it down. I called Allie last week to make sure she would be the one showing up and she told me she was going to try to get you here, too. I’m glad she did!”

  “Me, too. I think I was going crazy. Did you know that Luke and Brandon have exactly 242 DVD’s? I didn’t either. Until I alphabetized them.”

  That made them look at me weird for a minute, but it was quickly forgotten as we headed inside and lost ourselves for a couple hours in the land of Nipple Dip, Slick Dick, Jack Rabbits and Turtle Tools.

  On Monday, since I wasn’t allowed to go back to work until after my doctor’s appointment the next day, I headed into Skin Deep with Luke and Brandon. The lobby started to fill up with their clients and even a couple walk-ins, so I stationed myself behind the counter and answered the phone, scheduled some appointments, and generally got people where they needed to be, when they needed to be there.

  That night while we were lying in bed, Luke turned to me with an earnest look in his eyes.

  “Ummm…that look kinda scares me. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. I was just kinda thinking…it actually helped having you there at the shop today. So, would you maybe think about not going back to work for Floyd and just working at the shop with me? I mean, I’ll pay you, but you really don’t even have to work if you don’t want to…” He trailed off, looking really uncertain.

  It surprised me that he brought it up, especially because I had been toying with the idea of asking him if I could help out at the shop. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to work for Floyd anymore; he was a great boss and I really would miss that job. Honestly, it was more just the fact that I liked being there with Luke and Brandon, helping out my boys. And I guess if I was being completely honest, I just couldn’t bring myself to face the parking lot where I was taken yet.

  I made a noncommittal sound and turned over, pretending to fall asleep. I had to hold my breath to keep from laughing when Luke let out a loud sigh, muttering to himself about ungrateful women. I fell asleep with a smile on my face, thinking that I’d let him stew for a bit before I accepted his offer.

  Chapter 26

  “NO!” I screamed. “For the last fucking time, I am NOT, I REPEAT- NOT going to get a tattoo of Luke’s penis on my ass! So QUIT suggesting it, Brandon!”

  I glared at Brandon as he leaned against the wall behind the counter, laughing so hard his face was turning red. Luke had been coming up with ideas for my tattoo like I had asked him to back around Christmas, and Brandon had decided to start chiming in with ideas and, let me tell ya, none of them were usable.

  It’d been four months since I was attacked outside Floyd’s office. I had never actually went back to work for Floyd, though I did help him out from time to time when he called. He was in the process of trying to find another secretary to take my place, but for now was using the floater pool. I don’t think he was very happy with it, but he couldn’t blame me for not returning full time.

  I’d taken Luke up on his offer and now basically was the front woman for Skin Deep. I handled all the scheduling, supply ordering, and even took over the books. The shop was busier than ever and Luke had even hired a couple of the part time guys on for full time. Needless to say, Jadalee wasn’t one of them, even though she was back home again to help her mom. She pretty much stayed away from the shop, although she had actually come and apologized to me for the way she acted. Being the nice person that I am, I graciously accepted it before extending an invitation to my wedding. Where I’d be marrying Luke. (Hee hee hee…)

  Allie spent quite a bit of time at the shop and at our house, which was almost a given because she was helping me plan the wedding. We had finally set the date for next spring and I’d even picked out my colors. I was going with hot pink and black with silver accents, and that’s only because I found a pair of stiletto heels that I HAD to have and wanted to wear them with my wedding dress for the wedding (whenever I finally found one I liked). They were hot pink with a black skull and crossbones design on the back of the heel area. The skull had a little silver bow on its head! I loved them so much that I was going to make that my wedding theme but Jenna threatened to disown me if I did. I conceded the theme but I’m still wearing the shoes.

  Allie also spent quite a bit of time with Brandon and Jackson, but swore that they were all just friends. I wished she’d finally just come to terms with the fact that she was in love with them both and do something about it. I think she just couldn’t get her mind around the fact that you weren’t supposed to be in love with more than one person. I wasn’t sure how she couldn’t because her parents were major hippies and touted “Free Love” all throughout our childhood…thank God they’d mellowed over the years. I shuddered at the unbidden thought of them having an orgy that flitted through my mind. Ugh.

  I shook my head to clear it and grabbed the stack of drawings Luke held out to me. He leaned in and kissed me sweetly on my lips before smacking Brandon upside his head as he walked past him, leading his next client into his studio. I shuffled through them and my breath whooshed out on a sigh as I saw it. It was perfect and I couldn’t wait for Luke to tattoo it!

  He’d drawn a single feather with stunning and intricate detail. The top of the feather looked like it was being blown away, almost disintegrating, but instead of there being nothing, a multitude of small birds flowed from it, interspersed with stars of varying sizes. I decided then and there that I would have it put on my shoulder blade, but I wanted the birds and stars to go up over my shoulder.

  I looked at the drawing again, and noted that I had missed one small detail. Along the spine of the feather in small script were the words ‘Always Ever’. I felt tears prick my eyes as I realized that Luke hadn’t forgotten the story I’d told him a long time ago about Jarrod when he was little. My mom had told him one day that she loved him and would always and forever. Since he was barely two at the time, he had responded with Always Ever, not getting the for in forever. From that point on, that was the little saying we had all used to say I love you.

  I waited (impatiently, might I add) for Luke to finish up with his client and as soon as he got near the counter, I jumped into his arms, kissing him deeply. He kissed me back for a minute before pulling back and looking at me in surprise.

  “What was that for?” he asked. “Not that I’m complaining, but…” He grinned at me.

  “Just because I love you and because you drew me the perfect tattoo and because you listen when I talk.”

  “Did you find one that you like?” He set me on my feet and grabbed the stack, looking at the one I’d left on top. He smiled down at me as I burrowed into his side. “I figured this would be the one. Don’t know why I even drew any of the others up afterwards.”

  I shrugged. “Doesn’t mean I still cant get them, you know.” I grinned up at him mischievously as he laughed and hugged me close.

  “And to think you were yelling at Allie about not getting one the first time you walked into my shop. Scared to death…” he trailed off, chuckling.

  “Yeah, I know. And look what it got me. I’m stuck with you, Brandon, Jackson, and Doug for the rest of my life. What’d I do to deserve that?” I asked teasingly.

  “You complainin’, sugar?” he drawled.

  “Nope.”

  “Didn’t think so. Now lets go stick some needles in you!” I laughed as he pulled me down the hall into his studio.

  I
t hurt way worse than my first one, but I got my tattoo. I was in love with it almost as much as I was with Luke.

  And for the record…sex in the tattoo studio is HOT. Just sayin’.

  Dear Readers:

  If you liked Skin Deep, then watch for the next installment in the Skin Deep series, Under My Skin!

  J.M. Stone

  Acknowledgements:

  First and foremost, my eternal thanks to my other half and my daughter for their patience with me during this process. Your support and encouragement means the world to me. I love you, always ever!

  Thank you to Jennifer Stone for being my #1 beta reader, idea bouncer-offer, horn-tooter, cheerleader, and all around BFF/ESIL. I’m not quite sure this would have happened without you. Muah!

  Big hugs and much thanks to Ben Baine for beta reading for me, and for becoming my Accidental Editor! I appreciate it more than you know! (Forgive me for my apparent aversion to apostrophes…I hope I fixed them all!)

  To my other beta readers, especially Tony, thank you from the bottom of my heart for being the first ones to test out my writing, for the feedback you gave, good or bad, and for your encouragement. You know who you are…and if you don’t, it’s you, Tony (but I think you knew that), Susan, Denise, Kate, Tiffany, Angela, and Brooke. I hope you stick around for the next one!

  To Josie Leigh, my new-found friend, because you didn’t automatically hate me (you know what I‘m talking about…;), and because you’ve been an immense help, whether it was beta reading, advice, or calming me down when I wanted to flip out with nerves. Thank you so much for everything!

  Thanks also to Colleen Hoover and S.C. Stephens for taking the time to try and answer my questions!

  Last, but not least, thank you to all you readers for taking a chance on me. I hope you enjoy Skin Deep, and love the characters just as much as I do!

  About the Author:

  J.M. Stone is a legal assistant by day, and a writer by night. She started writing at a young age, mostly poetry and song lyrics, some of which were published. She currently lives in Ohio where she's lived for most of her life, and enjoys spending time with her other-half, their mouthy daughter, two spoiled and crazy dogs, and the rest of her abnormal family. (Don't worry, abnormal is good!) In her spare time, she loves to read, write, sing, and make people laugh, which usually happens at her own expense! Skin Deep is her first novel, and is the first in the Skin Deep series.

  She loves to hear from her readers, so drop her line at jadelynna23@yahoo.com, or feel free to rate and review on Goodreads.com!

  Happy Reading!