Clipped Wings by Helena Hunting Page B

box of nothing while Lisa monopolizes my time with you,” I offered.
    Tenley gave her head a slow shake. “I don’t think so.”
    “Why not? You don’t trust me with a box of nothing?” I sidestepped Lisa when she tried to get between us. She wasn’t very effective, since she was half my size and I could easily move her out of the way if I were so inclined. At the moment, the inclination was strong.
    “Can you promise not to look inside?” Tenley asked. Despite her defiance I could see the hint of a smile.
    I shrugged. “Why don’t you give me a little peek and kill the curiosity?”
    “I’m still not leaving it with you,” she warned as she flipped the lid open.
    I was right about the contents. Inside were cupcakes, piled high with soft, fluffy icing, decorated with black skull and crossbones candies. As far as baked goods went, they were badass.
    I grabbed for Tenley, bearer of treats. I had one arm snaked around her waist while I carefully tried to wrestle the box free with the other. She let out a squeal and stomped on my foot. It had no impact; I had on old-school Docs with steel toes. Lisa, however, was far more creative. She kneed me in the side of the thigh and the resulting charley horse made my leg give out and my grip loosen. Tenley shut the lid, and Lisa yanked her out of my grasp. They skidded across the shop and disappeared into the piercing room before I could recover. I didn’t bother to follow—Lisa would lock the door. She knew how I felt about cupcakes. My mom used to make them for me when I was a kid; birthdays, holidays, just because. She always made the vanilla one with buttercream icing, totally from scratch. I used to eat them until I made myself sick. Then I’d go back for more.
    “What’s up with you?” Chris was standing in the doorway of the stockroom, looking at me like I’d lost my mind. I wondered how much he’d seen.
    “There were cupcakes in that box.” I pointed in the direction they had gone. With my cupcakes.
    “Uh, yeah, dickhead, I figured that out, only you would react like a kindergartener over baked goods. I mean, what the hell was that about?” He motioned to the closed door.
    “What do you mean?” I asked, shoving my hands in my pockets to do a little surreptitious rearranging.
    Jamie poked his head out of the supply room. “I’ve never met anyone so transparent in my life.”
    “What are you trying to say?” Jamie was the more observant of my two partners, so the fact that Chris had noticed anything was a worry.
    “Oh, shit!” Chris’s eyes went wide. “Is she why you bailed on me the other night?”
    I didn’t answer. I had no comeback because that would mean admitting I was interested in Tenley. Not just because she was hot, or because she wanted a tattoo. She seemed lost, keeping everyone at a distance even though there was a part of her that might be compelled to do the opposite. Just like me. Every time I talked to her, got a little closer, learned a little more, she would get skittish again. Beyond that, there was some sort of intense physical connection I couldn’t ignore. But I would have to learn how to keep a lid on it if I was going to mark her, given our strict rules in that regard.
    “Hayden bailed because Damen’s a fucknut who tries even my patience and Sienna is a shit-disturber,” Jamie answered and disappeared back into the supply room.
    Chris stood there for a few seconds, clearly debating whether or not he bought the excuse. I said nothing.

8

HAYDEN
    Tenley and Lisa took forever in the piercing room. I would be irritated if they were eating all of those cupcakes, but I wouldn’t put it past Lisa. She’d devour the box to spite me, even if it made her ill.
    The longer I sat and stewed, the more I realized what a huge douche I’d been. I’d unintentionally assaulted Tenley with my hard-on twice, kissed her without permission again—even if it had only been the side of her hand—and then tried to attack her for