but only because she lived with me. I love it.”
“Did you design your tattoos?” he asked, looking at her arm.
“Some of them.” She let go of his hand and pointed to the black lace design on her right arm. “I designed this one.”
He ran a finger down her arm. “It’s beautiful. I’ve never seen a tattoo like that before.” He turned her arm to look at the inside. “I don’t know much about tattoos, but that seems like a lot of work.”
“It was. It took a few sessions.”
“Did it hurt?”
“Like a bitch.” She laughed. “Especially the inside of my arm.”
As they started to walk again he asked, “Is it your favorite one?”
She shook her head. “Nope.”
“Which one’s your favorite?”
She smiled flirtatiously but said nothing.
“You’re not going to show me, are you?”
“Nope,” she sassed.
“You’ll beg me to see it some other time,” he said as he caught up with her. That reminded her of the challenge he’d issued after the infamous kiss that had taken her breath away and made all her nerve endings tingle.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked a moment later, when she didn’t reply.
“Nothing.” They continued to walk down the pier. It was empty, the sun was shining brightly, and there were birds flying high in the clear blue sky. It was a beautiful day. “You don’t have any tattoos?”
“Nope. Not one.”
“You don’t like them, do you?” she asked.
“You’ve got to understand where and how I grew up. I went to the best boarding schools, then I went to Harvard. I lived a sheltered life.”
She said matter-of-factly, “People in your circle don’t have sleeves.”
“Or magenta-colored hair.” He ran his free hand through her hair.
“So why are you so interested in going out with me? Obviously I’m not your type, Enzo. Sometimes you look repulsed by what you see, and other times…” Her voice trailed off.
He cupped her face. “And other times I look like I want to lick every tattoo on your body?” He lowered his face, looking like he was about to kiss her. “That’s because I do. I find you so very attractive, Jamie Lynn. I would never, nor have I ever, found you repulsive,” he said firmly, leaving no room for misinterpreting his words.
They had reached a staircase that led from the pier down to the beach, and Enzo pulled her down the steps and toward the ocean. “I’d love to see your art one day.” When she held up her tattooed arm, he added, “Not just the ones on your body.” Then he leaned closer, his lips merely inches from her neck. “Although I’d love to see all the ones on your body.” She shuddered as his breath tickled her skin. “I mean your sketches. Your drawings.”
“Maybe one day.”
“That didn’t sound encouraging.”
“I don’t show my art to anyone. In fact, before yesterday, aside from Violet, no one even knew I drew. Maybe they suspected I designed my tattoos, but that’s about it.”
“So, what else do you do, Jamie Lynn? You’re an enigma to me.” He motioned for her to sit on the sand, and when she did, he followed. “You work at a bar, and not that it’s not a good job, but I can’t see you being a waitress forever. You like to draw, but you keep it a secret and it doesn’t look like you’re making a career out of it. Today people were falling at your feet to give you things. You know everyone, and everyone seems to like you. I just…I feel like I’m missing something.”
She shrugged and hugged her knees to her chest. “Not really. That’s about it. I didn’t have the economic means to go to a fancy art school. I work to pay my bills. I sketch because I love it. I also love yoga and food. Really, there’s not much else.” She nudged him a little with her elbow. “How about you? You act like you have it all figured out. You wear your suit all day. Make a shitload of money and your life is complete and perfect.”
He snorted. “It’s not perfect. Not at all. I have a failed marriage at thirty-two, my father’s up my ass to get me back to Brazil, I have business things to deal with here, people’s jobs are on the line if I don’t close these deals, and as of yesterday, I can’t do the one thing I love, which is fight.”
“What?”
“You see, in Brazil, MMA is a big thing. Huge. Brazilian jiujitsu is everywhere. But it’s not