Perfectly Broken (7 page)

“Little my ass,” Zane ground out between his teeth. “I’ll tell you what
,
Pix, you get more than a couple lines of script and we’ll talk.”

“It’s okay to be a pansy. It’s just Tish and I here. He’s probably known you’re a wuss since you were born
.
And
,
me? Well, I figured out you were a pussy the night I kicked your ass in the alley.”

“You kicked his ass?” Tish slid his stool back and raised an eyebrow at me.

“No!” Zane yelled to Tish, pinning me with a glare. “She fucking caught me off guard when she kicked me. I wasn’t about to fight a little girl.”

“At least I can get a little tattoo without crying like a bitch,” I said the words innocently and hopped up on the counter, grinning widely.

“Two words from that sentence, Pix. That’s all I heard. Little. Bitch
,
” he said and the dimple that appeared in his right cheek was the only thing that kept me from getting angry at his words. That dimple was a fucking weapon and he knew just how to wield it.

“Assclown.” I glared and turned my attention back to the design books. “I’m pretty sure I heard the girls you were with the other night using those same two words when they came back in the bar.”

He hissed again as Tish hit a tender spot and I laughed. He threw his shoe across the room at me. When Tish stopped working for a moment, I took my shot and threw it back at him. But
,
I missed horribly
.
Just as we all burst into laughter, Kas walked into the shop.

As soon as I noticed her, I cleared my throat and slid off the counter, moving to sit back down in the chair I'd dragged to Tish's station to watch him work. Kas had just started working there and I was nervous around her. I didn't really understand why. Later, I realized it was probably because Tish was nervous around her. He liked her and I was somehow picking up on that.

Kas walked to her station and started putting away some of the supplies she brought and hanging a few new pictures on the wall. When Tish finished the piece on Zane and was about to start cleaning him up, the shoe I had thrown flew over and hit Zane square in the back. The three of us looked over at Kas who had an innocent expression as she hummed to herself. She glanced sideways at us and we all started laughing.

After Tish had covered the tattoo, Zane pulled his shoe on and we wandered outside. I think it was Zane's way of trying to give Tish some privacy. I poked at his tattoo to mess with him and he kept swatting my hand away, laughing.

We sat on the bench outside the front door and waited for Tish for over an hour; me trying to get Zane to admit the tattoo hurt, him denying my claim. I had just gotten the quote tattoo along my forearms a few months prior so I remembered how painful it was
.

I tried to be sneaky as I reached out to slap his shoulder
,
but he caught my hand and pinned both my arms behind my back, moving us so I was on his lap and he had control of my arms.

“Give it up, Pix. I’ll always be faster,” he laughed as I struggled against his grip.

“Yeah, that’s what those girls told me,” I tried to sound angry but he dug his fingers into my side and I burst out laughing. “Don’t! Stop!”

“Don’t stop. That’s what
those girls
were screaming in the hotel room later.”

“Gross
,
Zane!”

“It was actually pretty hot.” I tensed as his voice came out seductively, his breath grazing my ear when he whispered. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, turning my head slowly to face him. “Two girls at once. That was a first for me. I might have to do that more often.”

“Perv,” I said, ignoring the hollow feeling his words caused as I tugged against his hold again. He laughed, pulling me tighter against his chest. The fact that I couldn’t breathe had nothing to do with the pressure of his grip.

“Better be careful, Pix. All this squirming around on my lap while we talk about this might make someone
else
decide he wants to come out to play.”

I groaned and leaned away from him, trying to clear my now foggy thoughts. “I so don’t want to talk about your junk right now.”

“He might enjoy the conversation.”
 

That's how we were sitting, laughing as I struggled in his grip, when Tish and Kas came out the door.

"You two make such a cute couple," Kas said and we froze, both of us looking over at her in confusion.
 

“They’re just friends,” Tish laughed and shook his head. “Although, I think the only reason they get along is because they both treat sex like a game. It would probably be perfect if they could dismiss one another after the actual act.”

Zane cleared his throat and helped me off his lap. It was an uncomfortable ride home after that.

I knew I had been smiling at the memory because I felt it fade at the end. That was the first time Zane pulled away from me. It had taken weeks after that to get him to go out or do anything if I was involved. He skipped eating meals with Tish and I and it almost felt as hard as when he had first moved in. There wasn't hostility but his obvious avoidance of me hurt. I talked to Tish about it a few times and he tried to tell me that Zane would let me in again when he was ready. I didn’t believe him at the time.

I cared about Zane so much more than I realized before that moment and it was crushing to go back to feeling like an outsider in the house. I didn't want to go through that again. I needed Zane in my life and I knew that my feelings for him were what caused him to cut me out before. It wouldn't happen again.

I noticed Kas watching me and I blinked to clear my eyes, smoothing my expression. I looked back at the guy Tish was working on with a grin. I needed to focus. If anyone could see through me, it was Kas. The guy was watching me with an amused smirk, no doubt assuming the pathetic tears I'd almost shed were from the pain
.
I decided to focus on him.

His dark hair was cropped short, buzzed close to his head
,
and something in the discipline he showed made me think he might be military. I always enjoyed the military boys because they were looking for the same thing I was: a quick distraction with no strings attached.

I pulled my lower lip between my teeth and gave him a small smile, wincing before Kas paused to wipe again. Soldier Boy raised an eyebrow and stretched his neck slightly to examine the piece Kas was finishing. His eyes widened as he took in the amount of exposed flesh on my body and the four large, brightly colored tiger lilies spanning my right side from high on my ribs to my hip. This was my third and final sitting for this piece and Kas was adding the color to the bottom flower.

I took another deep breath as Kas paused to wipe away the excess ink and blood again, letting my eyes fall closed for a moment. I clenched my hands, my nails almost breaking the skin as I tried to stop shaking.

"Almost done, baby girl. Just one more little section," she encouraged and I knew this would be the worst part.

I opened my eyes and watched Soldier Boy stand, stretching as he looked in the mirror to examine Tish's work. I could see the side of a wing from my angle and I assumed it was probably an eagle across his shoulders. I listened to their conversation to distract myself, practically able to recite Tish's spiel about after care by memory.

As Tish moved to clean his station, Solider Boy headed toward the door but paused by the short wall in front of Kas' station to watch my tattoo being finished.

He wasn't alone. My piece had drawn quite a crowd for Kas. Since I was a regular in the shop, everyone was waiting to see the final product. At least that's what they were trying to convince Cecile, the shop manager, they were staring at. I was almost positive it had more to do with the sheer amount of skin I was showing
,
but who was I to contradict the public?

Plus, why get a tattoo if you aren't planning to show it off?

I grinned as Kas' machine cut off and she raised both fists in the air, the way she always did to celebrate finishing a piece she was proud of. There were several cheers and I stood slowly, letting Kas steady me. I looked in the mirror, excited to see the design was even better than I'd hoped for.

I kept the sheet tucked carefully around my waist, letting it dip low on my right hip where Kas had been working while she covered the tattoo and wrapped plastic wrap around my hips and up my side. The cheers from before turned into whoops as I stood in just the sheet with my shirt tucked under my bra. I laughed and grabbed Kas by the elbow as she went to set the roll of plastic wrap on the tray. She raised an eyebrow at me, realizing my intention too late.

"Don't even thi—" I cut her off by pressing my lips against hers. It was brief and I flicked my tongue ring against her lips when it was over. Right after, I was hit with a roll of paper towels.

"How many times do I have to tell you to stop kissing my girl, Lee?" Tish shook his head and went back to cleaning up his station.

"I was just saying thank you." I winked at Kas and wiped away a smudge of her bright red lipstick from under my lip. She laughed and I snatched up my clothes from the chair, heading toward the bathroom to dress.

I paused as I passed Soldier Boy, who was staring wide-eyed after me. I glanced over my shoulder and met his gaze for a moment before I turned back and held the sheet and my skirt in my one hand while extending the other.

"Lili," I said by way of introduction. His eyes flashed down to my hand and then worked slowly up my body before he moved, closing his fingers around mine.

"Patrick," He replied, grinning. "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise. I need to get dressed but I'd love to have a chat. Hang out for a minute." I winked and
,
without waiting for a response, continued to the bathroom to get ready for work.

When I came out of the bathroom, I wasn't surprised to see Patrick waiting by the front door. He was leaning against the wall and I took a moment to appreciate his long, lean frame from a distance before he noticed me.

"You waited." I smirked as I walked to the front of the shop.

"I didn't know I had a choice," Patrick said with a grin. The grin looked dark and spoke of dangerous things. I loved it.

"We always have a choice," I responded, tossing a wave over my shoulder as I led Patrick out into the early summer heat. I immediately regretted leaving my hair down but I didn't want to stop to dig for a hair tie so there wasn't much to be done about it.

"So
,
you're a native?" Patrick asked
.
I turned my head, realizing just how tall he really was as he walked beside me down the sidewalk.

I had to shield my eyes from the sun behind him and I saw the rim of his baseball cap. With a quick jump, I snatched the hat from his head. He started to protest but I turned away, purposely bending over in front of him as I tucked the hat between my knees and wound my hair up, holding it in place as I pulled the hat over it. He was still blinking, his gaze sliding from my bare legs to my face several times as I winked.

"It looks better on me." I shrugged and started walking again, knowing he would follow. "And
,
what did you mean, a native?"

Patrick caught up, matching his longer strides to mine as we walked. "A local. Tish said you were his roommate. I just meant you live here."

I frowned, annoyed that Tish was giving out information about me but I knew it was only said in passing. "I live here," I verified.

"That's cool. This is my first time in Vegas. Well, in Nevada period
,
but I grew up not far from here. I was born and raised in Utah."

I raised an eyebrow at him and laughed. "Utah? I thought the only thing in Utah was Mormons."

Patrick looked shocked for a moment and then his eyes darted toward the street.

I stopped walking and turned to face him fully. "Holy shit! Are you a Mormon? For real?"

He stopped beside me, scowling at the sidewalk but he didn't answer.

"I didn't mean it was a bad thing…" I trailed off. I hated feeling guilty but he seemed genuinely offended.

"You didn't mind as much last night."

I stopped short, my entire body locked down for a moment as I repeated his words in my mind.
Last night?
I had met this guy before. I took a step away from him. And then another.

"Last night? Last night I was really trashed." I could feel my heart hammering in my chest as I watch Patrick closely for any sign that might tell me something about last night. I wracked my brain, trying to find any link to him in my mind but I couldn't find anything.

He laughed and, like his earlier smile, the laugh was dark. "Yeah. You were."

I swallowed past the lump in my throat, wondering just how big of a mistake I might have made the previous night. I pulled the hat from my head and flung it toward his chest. "Well, it was nice chatting with you again
,
Patrick, but I really should be getting to work."

I immediately turned and started up the sidewalk. I hadn't made it two steps before something else occurred to me. I spun to face Patrick again. "How is it that you ended up in Tish's shop today?"

Patrick stepped forward but I held my ground. He reached out and brushed my hair back, leaning in close enough that I could feel his hot breath against my ear. "You told me if I wanted the best, I'd found it in you. As far as tattoos went, you said he was the best. Plus, you said you'd be there today."

I shuddered and pulled away, my body trembling with adrenaline. I gave Patrick a nasty glare, wondering just how big of an asshat a guy had to be to show up for sloppy seconds with a girl who was too drunk to remember him the first time.

"I'd say it was nice to meet you, but since we met last night and I don't remember you, I'd say it was more than likely pretty dull. Have a nice life, Patrick." I turned my back to him and walked quickly in the direction of The Strip. I stayed alert but he didn't seem to be following me.

What the fuck had I done?

"Miss Liliosa." Donovan grinned widely and stepped aside, moving his large frame from the doorway to allow me inside the bar. He was easily one of the largest and most intimidating men I'd ever met physically
,
but he was a softy when it came to the girls that worked at the bar. I smiled and gave him a wink as I passed.