Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 99040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
“I pay attention.”
It was said with such sincerity that her stomach fluttered. The urge to kiss him reared up strong, but she shoved it down. Kissing was fine with sex, but kissing in gratitude or because her stupid emotions were bubbling up all over the place was too intimate. Instead, she cleared her throat and straightened her shoulders. “It’s perfect. Let’s do it.”
“Yes!” he said as though spending more of his time working thrilled him.
“But I want you to let me pay you.”
“Fuck no.” He spun his rolling stool away to gather supplies. “Shirt off, lie down. You can keep your bra on but pull the straps down. I won’t be able to work if those gorgeous tits are tempting me the entire time.”
“You’re ridiculous.” She rolled her eyes but did as he asked.
Fin turned around as she was settling on her back. He groaned. “I underestimated how hard this would be.” He glanced down at his lap. “Literally.”
Laughing, Jo shook her head. “Did I mention you are ridiculous?”
“You should be nicer to me. It’s your fault, after all.” He winked and then went to work.
It was then, lying half-naked on Fin’s table, that Jo realized she was having fun. After one of the worst days of work, all it’d taken was a few minutes in Fin’s presence to feel fantastic. The man had magic powers when it came to lifting her spirits.
Once he finished setting up, he prepped her skin and got ready to work. “Nervous?”
“A little. Just because I don’t know what to expect.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll be great. In fact, I have a feeling after this one, you’ll be back for more.”
“We’ll see.” Not from him, though. This couldn’t become a habit.
“Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
He kissed her bare shoulder and got to work. The pain was unpleasant, but nothing she couldn’t handle. Fin stayed quiet while he worked, which she appreciated. After the first few minutes, she found herself falling into a near trance. Maybe she was a freak, but she almost enjoyed the feel of the needle piercing her skin. He was right. This might not be her only tattoo. That thought had her smiling to herself and closing her eyes to settle into the process.
“So, tell me about your bad day?”
Her eyes flew open. Shit, shit, shit. He had to go and ruin it.
Jo looked at him. His dark head was bent over her upper arm as he worked. All his attention remained on his design, but she knew he’d be able to listen to her all the same. Her stomach clenched as the notion of opening up to him soured it. But he was giving her a free tattoo. And he’d made her laugh. And he’d been so damn sweet. The least she could do was repay him by acting like a normal human being and talking to him.
She sighed. Hopefully, this little heart-to-heart wouldn’t open a door she couldn’t close again.
“I had to make an unjust arrest today. A mom who was just protecting her kid. She didn’t deserve it.”
He lifted her head and the sincere sympathy in his gaze had her heart going mushy in her chest. “Damn, baby, I’m sorry. Tell me about it.”
And despite her better judgment, Jo found herself doing just that.
CHAPTER SIX
THE THRILL AT putting his art on her silky skin almost matched the thrill of fucking her.
Almost.
But what really had his heart racing was the opening he’d given her to talk to him and the way she’d walked through that door. Finally, after weeks of sleeping with her, she’d seemed ready to trust him enough to do more than fuck and run.
Now all he could do was hope her story included some inside information he could relay to his club.
He frowned as an unfamiliar feeling of disgust crawled under his skin. Here she was, finally tearing down some of her high walls to share her feelings with him, only to have him turn around and exploit the information.
Tracker was no saint by anyone’s definition of the word. He’d done plenty of shady shit in his day, including joining an outlaw MC. They laundered money, loan sharked, and the list went on from there. He’d never felt guilty and enjoyed sticking it to the man when he could.
But something about taking advantage of Jo no longer sat right. She was a good woman. So different from any cop he’d ever dealt with. He genuinely liked her.
However, she had the potential to benefit his club, so he swallowed his self-disgust and encouraged her to talk.
“She’s this young mom. Seriously, Fin, she’s maybe twenty-two with a sweet and shy three-year-old boy. The kid’s dad is a total douchebag. They have shared custody and lately, the kid has been freaking out when it’s time to go to his father’s house. He’s also come back with mysterious bruises. Dad always has some lame excuse, and the kid can’t really explain where they came from. There are recordings of him being awful to the mom. Just saying the vilest shit. And in front of the kid.” Jo blew out a breath. “Anyway, she hasn’t been dropping him off to his dad when she’s supposed to. Today was the fourth time, so a warrant was issued for her arrest. I flipped out and got into it with my boss, but in the end, I had no choice but to arrest her. And now I feel like the lowest piece of scum on the planet.”