Forbidden Harmony (Harmony Falls #3) - Elizabeth Kelly Page 0,20
to the ceiling. She waited a few minutes and when no one appeared from the other rooms, she stepped over to the counter, her hand hovering over the small ‘ring for service’ bell sitting next to the rack of keychains. She bent and stared into the top of the glass counter at the jewelry. There were rows of silver barbells and hoops, belly button rings, and some she didn’t even know where they would go. She had her ears pierced but she’d never gone beyond that.
“Can I help you?”
She jumped, her hand smacking the bell in her surprise, making it yell out a strangled ‘ding’.
“Sorry,” she said before smiling at the man. He had neon green hair pulled into a man bun on the top of his head, revealing a dark brown undercut. His septum was pierced with a big metal hoop and stretchers had turned the holes in his lobes large enough that she could have shoved one of the markers from her classroom through it with room to spare.
She stared in fascination at the full sleeve of tattoos on his left arm until he made a sound of annoyance and moved behind the counter. “Can I help you, lady?”
“Oh, uh, yes, I’m here for…”
He arched an eyebrow at her before pointing at the jewelry. “Let me guess… belly button piercing. Or maybe you’re gonna get real wild and get a nipple pierced?”
Hot colour flooded her cheeks. “No, no, I’m here for a tattoo.”
“Shop’s closing in ten minutes,” the young man said.
“Oh right. Of course. Could I book an appointment for tomorrow?” Her resolve to do something crazy like permanently alter her body would probably fade by tomorrow but maybe if she had an appointment, she wouldn’t chicken out.
The guy laughed. “Lady, this ain’t like TV. We do walk-ins during tourist season, but we’re already fully booked for those for the rest of the week. And Preacher’s regular appointment schedule is booked three months in advance.”
“Three months?” She blinked at him in surprise. Were there that many people in Harmony Falls who wanted tattoos?
“Yep,” he said. “I can book you for then if you’d like.”
“I’d really like to try and get it done sooner,” she said. “I don’t want a very big tattoo. Is there anyway that Preacher could squeeze me in tomorrow?”
“Nope.”
“Are you sure?” she wheedled. “We’re friends, he knows me.”
The man laughed out loud. “Yeah, sure you are.”
“No, really, we are.” She supposed that making out with him once didn’t exactly qualify them as friends, but a little white lie never hurt anyone. “If you just mention my name to him, I’m sure he’ll make an exception and -”
“Nope, he won’t,” the man said. “You know how many women come in here every day telling me they know Preacher personally? You ain’t the first to try and you won’t be the last. Now, you can book for three months or you can leave. Makes no difference to me what you do as long as you leave so I can close the goddamn shop and get the hell -”
“Nolan, enough.”
Preacher’s low voice washed over her, and she turned and stared at him as he stepped out of one of the unmarked rooms and closed the door.
“Hi there.” Her voice was too loud, and she winced as Nolan stared at her and then at Preacher.
“You know her, Preacher?”
Preacher nodded. “Good evening, Miss Moore.”
“Hi,” she said.
“She wants a tattoo,” Nolan said.
If Preacher was surprised, it didn’t show on his face.
“Not a very big one,” she said. “Um, just a small one.”
“I told her we’re booking three months in advance,” Nolan said.
“I can tattoo you tonight,” Preacher said.
Nolan’s mouth dropped open. “Tonight? I told Monica I’d meet her at the Falls in ten minutes and -”
“Go on, Nolan,” Preacher said. “I’ll close up when I’m done.”
Nolan frowned. “You sure?”
“I am. See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, sure, okay. I haven’t cashed out yet,” Nolan said as he grabbed his jacket.
Addison smiled a little smugly at Nolan as he walked past her and out the door. Her pulse sped up when Preacher walked toward her, but he passed by her and turned the open sign to close before locking the door and pulling the shade down over the big picture window.
“What kind of tattoo are you looking for?” he asked.
She licked her lips. “I was thinking a flower.”
“You want colour?”
“Yes, I think so.”
He walked to the seating area and brought back one of the black binders. He set it on the counter in front of