Yes to Everything (12 page)

He came up to the counter and planted his huge palms in a wide spread on the top. The way his black eyes touched her was like a physical caress over her skin and she thought a cold shower might be in order. “Dear lord, woman. Where have you been all my life?”

“Idabel, Oklahoma,” she told him in a whisper. His dark brows lifted in surprise. Laughing nervously, she held out her hand and he enveloped it in his. If his strength hadn’t already been obvious in his body, she would have felt it in his hand. “I…I’m Brooke Kincaid. I was referred to you by Sampson over at the arena.” Her voice sounded different and she didn’t know why, “About getting my brother a tattoo for his birthday. I was told to ask for Rex.”

His half grin broadened and showed dimples which offset the massive biker dude quality about him, “I would be Rex, thank God.” Brooke was wet. She knew it and she wanted to die from embarrassment.

He never took his eyes off her, never looked at the three males behind her. As if no one mattered but her. He still had her hand and felt the light tremble that coursed through her. With a light squeeze, he released her and said, “I tell you what, you sit where I can see you when I look up and I’ll do his tat for free. I’m going to give Samson a free tat for sending your fine self to my shop.”

Finally glancing up, he watched Jackson looking at designs. The twins were standing just inside the door and not looking happy in the least. His grin was smug as they scowled, “You boys look territorial. I’ll wrestle you for her.”

Trying to gather her wits, Brooke laughed lightly, “That won’t be necessary, I promise. I have a question.” She leaned in conspiratorially, “What’s the recovery time on something like this? I have another show tomorrow night, would I be able to work with it?” He nodded slowly and a small sigh escaped her at the flexing of the thick muscles in his neck. She didn’t have a clue what the hell was wrong with her.

Clearing her throat, she managed, “There’s a design I have in mind but I’d want it really small, where no one could see it if I didn’t want them to.” She grabbed a piece of paper and sketched a picture for him. It was a half moon and half sun, melded together with four stars around it, two flaming comets arcing over the top. Turning it to him, she asked, “I’m a crappy artist but hopefully you get the idea. Could you do that?”

His smile was contagious and she had the insane urge to curl up in his lap and just let him hug her. She’d spent way too much time around a lot of men without any male affection. “Oh yeah. This looks very personal. It symbolizes some very specific things in your life, doesn’t it?” She nodded. “I can do it, where do you want it?”

So quietly he barely heard her, she said, “The…the bend of my hip.”

“Thank you, lord. It will be my pleasure.” She laughed and motioned him closer. He leaned over the counter and she whispered something in his ear that none of the others could hear. When she pulled back, his eyes were huge and flicked down her body.

Every muscle in his body seemed to tighten. “Did the devil send you here to tempt me or something?” Brooke shook her head, tugging her lower lip between her teeth, and thought it was funny he said the same thing she was thinking about him. “Honey, I can do it but I can’t promise to be a gentleman.”

“Well, fortunately I’m a big girl so I can handle that.” He groaned and dropped his head for a moment. She watched the play of muscles across his upper back and shoulders, praying he didn’t hear her breath hitch.

Raising his head to meet her gaze, the look in his eyes told her he’d definitely heard. “Who goes first?”

“Jackson. Logan and Decklan can take him back to the hotel when he’s done then you can…do mine.” She never blinked and the heat in his eyes was sending shivers down her spine.

Footsteps approached and Decklan said behind her, “No damn way, Brooke.” Pausing, he looked at Rex. “Do you know who she is? I’m not asking to be a shit, I’m asking because we cannot just leave her here, damn it.”

He tilted his head, looking at her for a long time before he asked, “Are you that sweet little country singer who played the arena tonight? Is that who you are, honey?” She nodded with a self-mocking smile. “Well, I’ll be damned. I saw a billboard with a picture of the three of you on it. Broken…something.”

“Broken Bronco,” she supplied helpfully.

“It is not happening, Brooke.” Logan was beside her. “We’re not leaving you here.” Looking at the big man behind the counter, he added, “She goes first. Sorry, man, but we’re not leaving her. She’s eighteen and part of our band in an unfamiliar city. You’re a stranger in a tattoo parlor. Her brother and two sisters depend on her. Come on, you wouldn’t leave her either.”

Rex didn’t break eye contact but sighed, “Alright. I can kind of see their point, sweetheart. Come on in the back.” Logan made to follow and the huge man held up his hand. “Dude, there’s a limit. It takes less than five minutes. What kind of trouble can I get her into in five minutes?”

Decklan moaned, “Plenty. Dear god, look at her.”

Brooke laughed and shook her head. Rex chuckled, “Good point. Fuck, are you her big brothers or something?” He observed the protective stance the twins had around her, “No, you don’t stand like her brothers. You act like her lovers but she’s playing so you’re…no, not tapping that. Hmm. Her little brother can come in and turn the other way in the door. That should keep me honest. Considering where my hands will be, not entirely, I’m sure you can understand.” His smile was infuriating to the Bradshaws but he had them and all three of them knew it.

Logan growled, “Jackson, do not leave her alone for one second. I’m not kidding.” Jackson rolled his eyes and nodded as he followed Brooke and the tattoo artist back.

Jack took his place in a small doorway down the hall and they heard Brooke say, “I should probably ask your full name since we’ll hardly be strangers shortly.”

“Rex Black. I’m very pleased to make your acquaintance, pretty girl. Are you seriously only eighteen?” There was rustling and it sounded like clothes coming off. She must have nodded because he said, “Father Time is a killer. Oh what I would not give to have my youth back at this moment.”

“I think you look incredible. I don’t know how old you are but I see nothing remotely out of shape.” Jackson started to turn around and Brooke yelled, “Jack, damn it! I’m not dressed!” Logan leaned on the counter and Decklan ran his hands through his hair. “This table is cold.” Rex whistled and she said with a squeak, “Jesus, don’t ogle, it’s embarrassing. Shouldn’t you act all uninterested like a doctor or something?” They heard the smile in her voice.

“There isn’t a straight man on the planet that could take in this view and not ogle. Bare is a nice choice. Makes it easier to pierce you. You have that skin tone all over? No way this is fake bake. You tan nude?” The deep nature of his voice spoke of arousal and intent to seduce. Brooke didn’t seem to mind.

She laughed nervously, “Um, no, my mama was almost full Cherokee. Funny we’re all blond. Jackson! Crap! Don’t turn around! I am your sister and currently half naked and spread-eagle on a metal table. Behave or go up front.”

Jackson stared at the brothers and mouthed, ‘this is your fucking fault’ at them.

There was the clink of metal, more rustling, then, “Is this going to…ouch, shit. Wow, not as bad as one would think, actually. Already fading, thank god, considering the location. You’re very good. Very gentle.” Logan was actually shaking now and Decklan was barely containing the volume on the curses he was muttering.

Rex’s reply was a growl, “Oh baby girl, not always. I’ve never been so hungry in my life. You blush! Who knew there were women who still blushed? I like that. Hmm, this definitely turned you on and you smell fantastic. Oh honey, that is spectacular. I’m going to sit you up. Just rinse it in the shower for a couple of days and turn it a couple of times a day. If you need help, please feel free to call me and I’ll run right over. It shouldn’t hurt. I put in a twenty-four carat gold bar and loop. To match that pretty p…dear god, never mind. Wrap this towel around your waist and we’ll do your tat, honey. I’ll drape it to cover your new jewelry from your friends.”

Jackson said he was going to get them coffees and headed out the door.

Rex led her out of the backroom with a hand on her low back. Winking at the twins, they openly growled at him. Brooke rolled her eyes and climbed up on the table, Rex blocking the view of her lower body as she situated herself with the towel, stretching out comfortably. His eyes fixed on hers and she gave him a genuine smile that slammed the air from his lungs. “Sweet Brooke, I think you may be trouble.”

“I promise, I’m never any trouble,” her eyes stayed on his as she pulled her hair from beneath her.

He squeezed her shoulder, “Sit tight, sugar. I’m going to get set up.” She nodded and put her hands behind her head, singing along to an Eagles song playing on the stereo. “You have the voice of an angel and you know my generation’s music. I’m thirty-eight but you’re tempting like no other, Brooke.”

Smiling at him, she asked softly, “How is it you don’t have a lady love, Rex? You’re so charming. Brash and playful but I can tell you’d treat someone well, that you have a lot of respect for women. If I didn’t give you the impression I could handle your teasing, you wouldn’t do it. What’s the story?” Brooke focused on the ceiling to keep from staring at his muscles and dimples.

Rex rolled his chair and tool table beside her and stared down at her for a long moment, “You read people real well, sweetheart. Divorced eight years now. She cheated on me for two years, every time I was deployed.”

“I’m sorry. Then I wish for you to find a woman like my mom. No matter what, she stood by my father. Through his mid-life crisis when he was messing with a waitress and when he’d yell because he just felt so frustrated for being a rancher instead of a musician. She loved him unconditionally. He was a good man when she married him and she always saw that man, even when he was an ass. You deserve a woman like that. Who will love you no matter what. I bet I could find you someone perfect.”

Rex laughed and swabbed her hip. “You’re a unique pleasure for a man like me, Brooke. Sweet and innocent.” He glanced up at the other men, “Not as young as people want to believe, I think. You want anymore ink, you come here to me. If anyone were to put bad needles in this pretty body, I would be very upset.” Looking up into her face he added, “This might hurt at first, but I’ll be careful, alright, honey?” Brooke nodded with a trusting smile.

He went to work and the brothers came closer to watch. The sight of Brooke’s bare body from her toes to her belly button with a towel strategically placed to cover her pussy about dropped them. She was so smooth and tan. Stroking their eyes up her body, they realized she was watching them. “I told you guys not to come.”

“How long have you wanted to get a tattoo, Brooke?” Logan asked her, trying to ignore the painful pressure behind his zipper.

“Since I lost my parents. I knew when Jackson asked me for his tonight that I wouldn’t have any more excuses to hide behind.” She smiled at Rex, “Needles…” He nodded. “The sun is my father, the moon is my mother, and the stars are each of us kids.” Rex hit a sensitive spot and she hissed then assured him she was fine, to keep going.

Decklan couldn’t resist reaching out to trace the top of her foot with a fingertip, “And the comets?”

“To remind me that things you really want can be fleeting, sometimes only in your universe for a moment before they’re gone.” She stared at the ceiling and began to sing along to Hotel California. “We should cover this song as an encore. It’s one of my favorites. You’d rock the guitar solo, Decklan.”

“Consider it done. We’ll rehearse it and do it in the next city,” he told her quietly. They pulled chairs up by her head and sat with their arms crossed on the table. “Why didn’t you say anything about Kyle?”

Her shrug was casual as she stared down her body to watch Rex, “You didn’t ask. You assumed and I let you. It was a sin of omission at the most. Though I don’t know why you should care. You have your focus, I have mine. Kyle and I show up on time every night and do our jobs. We smile and flirt on cue, we do technically sleep together most nights, by the way, usually after watching action movies. We are action movie fanatics. I’m pretty sure I’m going to use my newfound fame to find and jump Jason Statham, Bruce Willis, then maybe Sly. He was so beautiful in Get Carter, kind of grizzled, but real, and gorgeous. Don’t get me started on Tango and Cash. Lord.”

Rex met her eyes with a chuckle, “I’m not feeling so bad, all those guys are my age or older.”

With a smug smile and a mischievous sparkle in her eyes, she assured him, “You’re in excellent shape, Rex. I wouldn’t lie to you. I’m noticing these things more and more lately. You are definitely a fine-looking man.”

He glanced back up her body and smiled slowly, “Sounds like you’ve been…without for a while, sweetheart.”

She nodded, “You have no idea.” Closing her eyes, she asked, “The…other thing, my piercing won’t, you know, hurt during something like that, right?”

“No, ma’am, that isn’t going to hurt at all.” He was about a third done with the freehand design on her hip when he looked at the twins, “Before the boy gets back, let me ask you two a question. You play with all the little pieces of ass who come to your shows?” They sighed. “Yeah, I can see you do. This young woman is a keeper. You can’t take it honest, don’t take it at all. Looks like she’s not going to wait for you two to grow up, finding options on her own…and you want to piss on her like a tree in your yard.”

Sitting back, he gazed at them with all the seriousness of a man who’d seen and done it all, “You’re toying with her. I’ve barely known you three for an hour and I can see what you’re doing. If you aren’t men enough to be satisfied with this,” he gestured down her body, “keep your dicks in your pants. I’m saying that man to man because she’s too young for me and too good for you. And you damn well know it.”

Brooke pretended she wasn’t about to cry and said softly, “You’re a good man, Rex.” She sighed, “Don’t worry, I know them, better than they think I do. If we had sex, it wouldn’t be enough. They’d go back to fucking their groupies.” Shrugging with a sad smile she added, “What else can you do?”