Chapter 9

~Little Wolf~

I'm sanitizing my station, now that my last client is gone. I find cleaning and setting up for the next day therapeutic. In a few hours, I'm meeting Jimmy and Bella for drinks. I'm both looking forward to it and dreading it in equal measure. I'm still embarrassed I thought Jimmy found Bella for me and that I found the idea so palatable.

"Edward?" Seth is hovering in my doorway awkwardly.

"What's up, kiddo?"

"Do you remember my big sister, Leah?"

"Sure."

"Well, she's back home. She's a kick-ass artist and is hoping to snag an internship here."

"Oh! How old is she now?" It's been a few years, but I have a vague memory of a quiet, coltish teenager.

"Twenty three."

"Any experience inking tatts?"

"Some." Seth seems uncertain.

I sock him on the shoulder. "Sure, man. Give her my number or tell her to come see me, and I'll give her a shot."

Seth's face lights up. "Yeah?"

"Of course! She's your sister! Sounds like talent runs in the family."

Seth high-fives me and takes off. I can use another tattoo artist, but it would be even better to get an apprentice I don't have to pay top dollar right away.

The murmur of voices draws me toward the back of the shop. Emmett is hanging out in Rose's station, chatting her up. He's leaning on the counter while Rose is cleaning and prepping.

I poke my head in. "Hey! I'm out of here. Going to catch a shower before meeting Jimmy at Denali's. You guys coming?"

Rose glances at me over her shoulder and winks. "We'll be there."

Emmett grins, looking like the cat that swallowed the canary. "See ya there, E."

~*oOo*~

I park across from Denali's. My hair is still damp from the shower, so I forego my usual beanie. There's a chill in the still night air, and as the bar door opens, the sounds of laughter and conversation spill out. A few couples exit, and I saunter in, searching for my friends.

It doesn't take me long to spy Jimmy holding court at a table in the back corner. He sits with his back to the wall, arm around Bella. He says something, and everyone around him erupts into laughter. Holding up a glass of amber liquid—knowing him, Maker's Mark—to them, he tosses back the rest of the liquor in his tumbler.

Tanya Denali waves to me from behind the bar as I'm passing, so I stop to say hello.

"Edward, good to see you! It's been a while. Can I get you a beer? It's on the house."

"Sure, thanks."

"Bottle or draft?"

"Bottle."

Tanya grabs a beer and snaps the top off using the bottle opener under the bar, handing me the frosty bottle. She wipes her palms on the ass of her shorts and looks up at me from beneath long lashes. Resting her elbow on the bar, she leans forward to give me an eyeful of cleavage.

A while back, I was considering a romp with Tanya, but for some reason, her fake lashes, perfectly coiffed hair, and fake nails are a turn-off now. I'm starting to realize my type is a natural beauty. Like Jimmy's girl?

"It's good to see you, Tanya. I'm meeting friends." She looks disappointed, so I add, "Maybe we can chat later."

"You know where to find me!"

I weave around tables and people, heading for my friends. To Jimmy's left is Emmett and next to him Rose, who seems very cozy with my best friend. Jasper is to Bella's right, sitting casually in his chair, arms crossed, watching everyone stoically. When he sees me coming, Jasper gives me a nod but doesn't smile. Both couples are laughing and joking. As usual, Jimmy is at the center of everything.

Jimmy notices me, and his eyes light up. "My man! It's about time. Grab a seat."

Bella glances up at me with an easy smile. "Hey, Edward!" Jimmy has his arm slung casually around her shoulders, and she leans into him, her fingers fiddling with a stray beer cap on the table.

I pull out a chair and sit across from Jimmy. "Boy, am I glad to be here with you guys. The past few weeks have been crazy. I need the break."

"What's going on?" Jimmy asks with concern.

"Someone made an unauthorized Insta account in my name, and flyers are being passed around at clubs and shit. I contacted Instagram customer service, but they still haven't gotten back to me."

"Is someone trying to sabotage you?" Bella asks.

"That's the thing—it seems to be the opposite. The account and the flyers are drumming up business, maybe a little too much."

Jimmy tilts his head. "Maybe your competition is trying to flood you out, make you fail."

"It has to be Volturi," Rose says flatly. "One of the reasons I wanted out was his complete lack of a moral compass."

I wave a hand. "Right now, my only desire is to relax and enjoy myself. Volturi can go fuck himself. I'll succeed in spite of him."

Emmett lifts his drink. "That's the spirit, E!"

Jimmy smiles. "That's what I like to hear! I only back winners."

Jasper finally speaks. "Volturi is a tool. You have something special. Believe it will win out." He takes a long sip of his beer.

"Where's Ali?"

"Extra shift." He shakes his head, looking perturbed. "She's a workhorse, and they keep taking advantage of her."

I narrow my eyes. "Is that what's bothering you?" Because something is definitely up with Jasper.

"Partly." Jasper gives me a look. "Hitting the head. Be back." His chair scrapes against the floor, and he walks off.

If I were a chick, I'd follow him. Girls going to the restroom in a gaggle is acceptable, but guys going together is just fucking weird. So I watch him go and wonder what that look meant. Jasper is one of the most chill people I know, so his whole demeanor tonight is disturbing. I wonder if something more than working too hard is going on with my sister.

I shoot off a text to her. We're missing you at Denali's! Everything good? ~E

Emmett is asking Jimmy about investments. I missed part of the conversation, but it's not something that really interests me. I'm thrilled Jimmy invested in Inkspiration, but I don't care about the financial sector otherwise. Rose is leaning in as if rapt, but I have the feeling it's more to get closer to Emmett. He is totally getting lucky tonight.

Bella smiles and nods, but she looks bored as fuck.

"Hey," a feminine voice comes from my left.

I glance over, expecting a waitress, and instead find a curvy, russet-skinned beauty with kohl lined, almond-shaped eyes and angled, razor cut hair the color of a raven's wing that brushes her shoulders. No way.

"You're Edward, right? I'm Leah—"

"Seth's older sister. Wow."

Leah smiles, not bashful whatsoever. "That's me." Her eyes travel over me, and I can tell she likes what she sees. "It's been . . . a while."

"Sure has. Hey, grab a seat!"

"Thanks." She sits next to me.

Jasper returns to the table, so I take the opportunity to introduce her to everyone.

"Guys—sorry to interrupt your scintillating discussion about finance, but I want to introduce you to Leah, Seth's sister."

Everyone says hello. Rose looks her up and down, obviously sensing competition on the horizon.

"Can I get you a drink, Leah?"

"That would be nice. Hard cider, please."

I start to get up, but Jasper stops me. "You guys chat. I'll go. I need another anyway. Anyone else?"

Everyone declines, and Jasper heads off toward the bar. I gaze after him. We definitely need to have a conversation later; I can't shake the feeling that something is off.

I return my attention to Leah. "So, Seth tells me you're looking for an internship?"

Now she seems a bit shy, looking down at her lap. "I was hoping you'd give me a chance to show you what I can do."

"You have a portfolio?"

"Yeah. I also have an Instagram account with some of my work."

"Great! What is it?" I pull out my phone and bring up Instagram.

"LittleWolfDesigns."

The art that comes up is extraordinary. Some of it is dark and stormy, other pieces light and happy, but every single one evokes intense feelings in me. My heart beats faster, and I'm rocked to the core.

"These are just—I mean . . . yes. Come work for me."

Leah smiles, holding a hand against her chest. "Really?"

Rose raises her eyebrows but doesn't say a word.

Jimmy takes a hard look at me, then nods. "Edward has an eye for art. If he's that blown away, Inkspiration has to have you, Leah."

Leah glances over at Jimmy, then back to me.

"Jimmy is my business partner," I explain. "What do you say?"

"Yes!"

Jasper is just returning with the drinks. He glances at the mostly excited faces around the table, and his mouth lifts into a half-smile. "What did I miss in the five minutes I was up at the bar?"

Jimmy rises from his chair. "A toast! To Leah, the newest talent to join the Inkspiration family!"

We raise our drinks, leaning in toward the center of the table to clink glasses and bottles. I can't remember being this excited about someone's art in a long time, maybe ever. My mind is going a hundred miles an hour, imagining all the exquisite ink that will be going out into the world, so I'm caught off guard when I glance over at Bella.

She's watching me with an unreadable emotion in her eyes. I'm not sure what it is, but I have the feeling if Jimmy saw, he wouldn't approve.

~oOo~

The signposts are already there, an awareness, but . . . slow buuurn. Edward is a red-blooded male-perhaps a bit more sensitive than most, but still a man. Would love to hear your thoughts. See you next week!

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