Clipped Wings by Helena Hunting

lock up for a bit.”
    “Um . . .” She hesitated, maybe contemplating the request.
    I grinned and cut to the chase. “Some other time. You haven’t stopped by the shop yet to show me your design.”
    “Sorry.” She rubbed the back of her neck.
    That small physical sign of discomfort screamed of deeper meaning. I wanted to know if it had to do with me or the design, or both. I tried not to think about Tenley in my chair, partially undressed, or fully undressed. Tried being the operative word. “Uh, look,” I said, kind of sigh-groaning as she started to chew on her fingernail, drawing my attention to her mouth. “Why don’t you come over after you close up? I’ll schedule you after nine, yeah? Bring the sketch with you and I’ll take a look. No pressure to commit, though. Does that sound all right?”
    “Okay.” She said it like it was a question, looking at me with her big Bambi eyes, all hunched shoulders and wringing hands. It made me want to hug her, or jump her, or whatever. I was such a fucking mess over this girl.
    “Excellent.” I smiled and pushed away from the counter. “I’ll see you around nine.”
    “Sure.” Tenley gave me the sweetest, shyest smile.
    I left before I said or did something inappropriate. All I’d done this time was ogle her chest. That was definitely an improvement over the past two interactions. I sauntered into Inked Armor, pretty pleased with myself.
    Chris gave me an odd look. “Where’s my coffee?”
    I’d forgotten all about my cover for going over to Serendipity. “I said I was going for coffee, not that I was getting you one.”
    “Well, where the hell is your coffee, then?” He cocked a pierced brow.
    “I already drank it.”
    “Whatever you say, brother, but since you were gone for all of ten minutes, I’m calling bullshit.”
    I ignored him and perused the appointment book. My client would arrive soon, and I would likely be finished around eight thirty, which left me wide open for the remainder of the night. I would feel like an ass if I told Tenley to come over and I couldn’t see her. I penciled her name in, hoping the design was one I could put on her.
    Chris got up in my space, looking over my shoulder.
    I elbowed him in the side. “Christ, Chris, are you trying to make out with me? Back off.”
    Lisa came out of the office, beaming. Her joy was short-lived. “No coffees?”
    “Tenley’s coming by later,” Chris said.
    “It’s not a big deal, I’m just checking out her design,” I said, playing it off like it was nothing. I should definitely not be all worked up over the prospect of marking Tenley, since it wasn’t even a guarantee yet. But I was.
    Lisa scowled. “I already knew that.”
    “How is that possible? I only asked her a minute ago.”
    “I went over earlier. She told me she had the design with her. She was thinking about stopping by after work.”
    Well, wasn’t that a shot to my ego. Here I thought I’d done a great job convincing her to come see me and Lisa had already gotten to her. “Have you seen it?” I asked.
    “Nope, but I guess I will later.” She went back into the office.
    Later couldn’t come soon enough.
    * * *
    I was putting gauze on my client’s fresh tattoo when Tenley arrived. Chris and Jamie were in the stockroom, taking inventory, and Lisa was in the back, piercing some girl and her friend. If I was quick about getting rid of my client, I might have a few minutes alone with Tenley before they bombarded her. I wasn’t the only one happy to have her in the shop. Lisa was practically in love with her, in a platonic way, and Chris seemed to have taken a liking to her as well. I made it quite clear he was to keep his hands off and his comments on her assets to himself. Jamie, being Jamie, didn’t notice anyone but Lisa.
    Tenley looked around the near-empty shop before finally settling on me.
    “You can have a seat. I won’t be long.” I inclined my head toward the waiting area. There were plush chairs