Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
“Ready to start the cover-up, Andy?”
“This can’t happen fast enough.”
Over the course of the next hour, Tatiana found out that Andy was divorced and had just started dating. He had found someone special and definitely didn’t want to drop his drawers during a passionate moment and have her fall out of bed laughing. Tatiana’s giggles at that mental image brought Maniac’s head up from the project he was working on. Waving her hand to let him know she was okay, Tatiana focused on the image in front of her. A roaring dragon would be much more macho.
She couldn’t ignore the warm feeling that kindled in her tummy. It felt incredible to have someone checking on her. Maniac had done that before, but now it meant something more.
As she waved goodbye to Andy, Tatiana glanced at the displayed licenses on the wall. Everyone was required to be trained in health-safe practices by the state. Suddenly, Tatiana wanted to make sure she was as healthy as possible. Stepping into the back, she called her doctor and requested a set of tests. They couldn’t get her in for a couple of weeks but suggested a clinic just down the road from Maniac Tats. She could just walk in, but time was always an issue.
“Hi, can I make an appointment?”
“Of course. What type of screening do you wish to have?” the pleasant woman asked.
“I’m starting a new relationship and I’d like to make sure…”
“Got it. Any exposures that you know of?”
“I’m not aware of anything. I am a tattoo artist.”
“So you’re exposed to blood. Thanks for letting me know. I’m going to make a note that they will probably want to do a full screening for you. I have a spot in an hour. Would that work?”
“That would be perfect,” Tatiana said with a smile.
“Make two appointments,” Maniac requested behind her.
Startled, she looked at him, feeling embarrassed. Maniac wrapped an arm around her waist and took her phone to request a second appointment. Within seconds, he had it all settled.
“You’ll hold my hand, right, Baby girl?” he asked. “I don’t like needles.”
She looked at him in shock and then burst out in giggles. “You’re a tattoo artist. And covered in ink! You can’t be afraid of needles!”
“Hold my hand anyway, Baby girl. That makes everything better.”
She didn’t know how he did it, but Maniac made everything better. Working with him had always been easy. Tatiana knew she should have anticipated that even the tricky conversations would be easier with him.
“I don’t think I have anything,” she began.
“Neither do I, Tatiana. I appreciate you caring about me, and I wish I’d thought of it first,” he said, pulling her close. “Give me a kiss and strut those feathers back out there. Somebody needs some ink therapy.”
“Yes, Sir,” she answered, wrapping her arms around his neck and planting a warm kiss on his lips. She stepped away before he could deepen the exchange.
As Tatiana pranced by him with a flirty wave, Maniac delivered a firm swat to her right buttock that rang out through the storage area. “Be good, Little girl. I’m taking notes.”
“Eep!” Tatiana scurried away as quickly as her high heels would take her.
Chapter Four
Maniac glanced at the clock for the millionth time, finding that it had slowly crept toward the end of the day. They closed at eight. It was finally time to turn off the sign and lock the door.
He’d never been as anxious as he was tonight. Last night he’d forced himself to follow Tatiana home and walk away. After all, he’d sprung this change in their relationship status on her only minutes before. She’d needed time to think about everything he’d said.
He hadn’t mentioned their new arrangement a single time today, but he also hadn’t ignored it. He’d taken the liberty to kiss her several times. He’d snagged her hand and tugged her against him every time she came near. Needing her close, he’d hugged her tight on a few occasions too.
It felt good to finally be able to touch her. He’d been itching to do so for months. Maybe even years. Until recently, he never would have considered suggesting they change their relationship from professional coworkers to intimate lovers, but something had finally snapped inside him.
There were risks. He’d considered those many times. If things went south between them, it would affect their business and their livelihoods. Maniac had thought about all of that.
In the end, he’d decided every risk would be worth it. He’d begun to think of himself as her Daddy. If he didn’t act soon, she might find another Daddy, and that would not be acceptable.
Although he didn’t know the details of her breakup with her previous Daddy, he did know it had been a long time ago. She’d been burned—burned so badly that she’d covered the Daddy in the heart tattoo on her wrist. Burned so badly that she hadn’t had a Daddy since then as far as he knew. In fact, he was confident she hadn’t dated at all in the time he’d known her.