Lucas.”
“Nothing to apologize for,” Lucas said. “Addison, what do you think of this yarn?”
“It’s beautiful,” she said.
“I think Cora’s helped me pick out the perfect yarn.” Lucas winked at Cora, who blushed and handed him another four balls of yarn before grabbing four more.
“This should be enough to do a nice big blanket,” she said. “Come on up to the front and I’ll ring you through.”
Addison waited patiently as Lucas paid for his yarn. As they left the store, she said, “Did I see Cora writing her number on the back of your receipt?”
“Maybe,” Lucas said with a lazy smile.
Addison laughed. “Cora’s a really lovely woman.”
“She does seem sweet,” Lucas said. “So, what are your plans for the rest of the afternoon?”
“Not much. I thought about going for a hike at the Falls, but it’s way too frickin’ hot,” Addison said. “I’ll probably just go home and knit and watch some Netflix.”
She smiled up at him as they walked down the street. “Being the only schoolteacher in your group of friends means you spend a lot of time alone during the summer.”
“I bet,” Lucas said. “What grade do you teach again?”
“First grade,” she said. “I love it. It’s such a great age for kids, you know?”
“I haven’t really been around kids that much, to be honest,” Lucas said. “Thanks again for going to the yarn shop with me, Addison. I appreciate it.”
“Any time,” she said. “I’ll use any excuse to go to the yarn shop.”
He laughed and she smiled up at him again. “You know what? I have some really cute wrapping paper at home that has yarn and knitting needles printed on it. You should wrap your mom’s gift in it. She’d love it.”
“Hey, if you don’t mind sharing, I’d love to snag some from you,” Lucas said. “Mom’s birthday isn’t for another week and a half, but I’ll pop by your place sometime in the next week or so, if that’s okay?”
“Of course,” Addison said. “Just text me when a day works for you.”
They were approaching Preacher’s tattoo shop and she decided this time she would just casually glance in the window. If Preacher was near the window and happened to notice her, she would casually wave at him before casually walking on.
It would be all very… casual.
“Oh, hey,” Lucas said. “Let’s go into the Crimson Door for a minute.”
“What?’ She gave him a startled look and slowed to a stop. “You want to go into Preacher’s shop?”
“You don’t?” he said.
“Oh, um, well…”
“C’mon,” he coaxed. “Just for a few minutes. I’ve been thinking about getting another tattoo.”
“Sure, okay,” she said. The butterflies bouncing around in panicked circles in her stomach, Addison followed Lucas into the shop.
She glanced at the three tattoo stations. Nolan was setting up some equipment at one and Nix was tattooing a nervous looking man at the second one. The third one was empty. She glanced at the piercing room. The door was open and unless Preacher was hiding behind the door, he wasn’t in that room either.
Disappointment rolled through her, but she masked it with a bright smile when Lucas glanced at her. “What kind of tattoo are you thinking of getting?” she said.
Nolan ambled over, glancing at her. “Hey, Addison, right?”
“Yes,” she said. “Hi again.”
“Hey. How’s the tattoo?”
“It’s good.”
“You have a tattoo?” Lucas was obviously surprised.
“Yes. I just got it last week,” Addie said as the bell on the door jingled behind them.
“Cool. Can I see it?” Lucas said.
“No.”
The butterflies went on a real bender when they heard Preacher’s deep voice behind them. She turned, trying to ignore the way her pussy went damp when she saw him. He was holding a bag from Nan’s in one hand and he looked a little tired and a lot pissed off. “Her ink is in a spot you don’t get to fucking see.”
* * *
Walking into his shop to see Addison standing there made the tension in his neck and shoulders dissipate almost instantly. Hearing Lucas ask to see her tattoo brought it back full force.
He hadn’t meant to say what he said, but even just the thought of Lucas seeing a glimpse of Addison’s smooth back was driving him crazy. He’d never been the jealous type and he had no goddamn idea how to process it. But from the look Addison was giving him, his current method wasn’t exactly working.
“If I want to show Lucas my tattoo, I will,” she said.
He brushed past them and set the bag from Nan’s on the drawing table.