Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“How can I help you?” the woman sitting behind the counter asks with a smile. She’s pretty, with her silky black locks tied into low pigtails, perfect porcelain skin, and big onyx eyes. Her arms look like beautiful canvases of colorful artwork.
“We have an appointment with Jaxson,” Olivia says.
“All of you?” the woman questions, her gaze following over each of us. Then it stops on someone, and her smile widens. My eyes follow her line of vision to…Killian.
“Kill!” She jumps off her stool and runs out from behind the counter, straight into his arms. And if I thought she was just pretty from behind the counter, I was wrong. She’s wearing a flowy yellow top and tiny cut-off jean shorts that on most would look trashy, but on her look seriously hot. She’s sexy and adorable, and with her arms wrapped around Killian, I kind of hate her, which doesn’t make any sense. Maybe I drank more than I thought at dinner…
“Quinn, how are you?” Killian asks once they’re done hugging.
“Same shit, different day. You here for another tattoo?” She waggles her eyebrows flirtatiously, and it’s confirmed, I hate her. Why? I have no fucking clue, I just do. Seriously, how much did I have to drink?
“Well, since I’m here, maybe.” Killian laughs, and his emerald eyes light up. “But we’re actually here for those two.” He nods toward Olivia and me. “Olivia, Giselle, this is Quinn, Jax and Jase’s little sister. It’s Giselle’s birthday, so they’re looking to get tattoos.”
“How about you?” a deep male voice rumbles. I turn in place to see a gentleman leaning against the doorframe with his muscular tattooed arms crossed over his chest. He’s wearing a fitted plain black T-shirt and ripped jeans, and he’s staring at Celeste, who looks completely out of place in her expensive designer dress and high heels.
“Excuse me?” she asks, her nose scrunching up in clear disgust. The guy lifts off the wall and steps toward her until he’s directly in front of her.
“The other two women are here to get a tattoo. How about you? Are you going to finally let me mark this flawless skin of yours?” His finger runs up her arm, and she visibly shivers. Finally? Who is this guy?
“Don’t touch me,” she hisses, moving out of his reach.
“Is there a problem?” I ask, not completely comfortable with this guy touching Celeste. Unlinking my arm out of Olivia’s, I step between the two of them, and the guy grins mischievously, not taking his eyes off Celeste.
“Umm…maybe we should go somewhere else?” Olivia suggests.
“I agree. Let’s go,” I say.
“Wait,” Nick says, pulling Olivia in the front of him and wrapping his arms around her waist. “Jase, I would like for you to finally meet my baby mama and fiancée, Olivia.” He gives her a small kiss on her cheek.
“Nice to meet you,” Jase says. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
When Olivia looks back at him confused, Nick says, “Jase and I played ball together in high school and college. He was two years ahead of Kill and me.”
“We had some great times.” Jase and Nick bump fists.
“Did you go to school with them?” I ask Celeste. It would explain why this guy Jase was acting the way he was toward her. Although, I’m pretty sure she’s a few years younger than Nick.
“No.” She shakes her head. “I went to public school,” she adds softly.
“You met him at the party I took you to, right?” Nick asks. “I forgot about that. Do you two…know each other?” His eyes volley between Celeste and Jase.
“Yes, you did,” Celeste says dryly, “but I don’t know him.”
Quinn sneers. “Oh, that’s rich! What’s wrong? Is my brother not worthy of your memories? Did you block out everything that happened before you ran your stuck-up ass to New York? What are you even doing slumming it in East Village? It’s a far ride from the Upper East Side.”
“You know what”—Celeste steps directly in Quinn’s face—“I don’t need to take this shit from you. I didn’t know you guys worked here, and if I had, trust me, I never would’ve come.”
“Well, now you know. And FYI, my brothers don’t just work here…they own the place. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” Quinn says before turning her back on Celeste.
“All right, everyone just calm down.” A guy who looks similar to Jase steps into view. “Everybody is welcome here. Which one of you is Olivia?”
“Me,” Olivia says, raising her hand.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Jaxson Crawford, but everyone calls me Jax. I spoke to you on the phone. I’m this asshole’s older brother.” He smacks his palm against Jase’s chest. “And this spitfire is our little sister.” He pulls Quinn into a playful headlock.
“Celeste, it’s good to see you again,” he says giving Celeste a sincere smile. “Although, with those billboards of you all over New York, I feel like I see you every day.” He winks playfully, and Celeste’s scowl breaks into a small grin.