There had been a couple of women who entered the shop today, wanting to hang out.Actually, they hadn’t wanted to hang out at all.They only wanted to fuck, and he told them to get lost.
He saw the lights go out, and seconds later, Mae appeared and let out a little gasp when she saw him.
“You scared me,” she said, putting a hand to her chest.
“Sorry.I figured you’d turn this place into a twenty-four-seven if you knew I was waiting to talk to you.”
Mae smiled.“You want to talk?”
“I know your place is above the shop, but how about we go have some dinner?I’ll take you to the diner, my treat, or the Italian place.”
He saw she was attempting to come up with some reason to decline.
“You know we’re already the subject of town gossip.”
“I don’t care about that,” Mae said.
“You don’t read it?”
“Not since the rumor of Pete and Emily getting a divorce, because he was seen leaving his home early, but he was actually taking lessons to do something for your place, right?”
Caleb laughed.He remembered that.Pete had been so pissed that they would talk shit about him and his wife.They had a client who wanted some extensive ink done, and they had a reputation for being the best.It took practice to be the best.Pete spent a lot of time practicing so he would be amazing at it.The rumors were worth it.They had one happy client who had been back multiple times for new ink or touch-ups.It was some of their best work.
This was why they went into business together.Halloween Point had needed a tattoo parlor.Although Caleb had wanted to leave town, he saw the value in staying, and they made it work.Since then, they had customers from around the world.That was how good a reputation they had built.
“That was a crazy time,” Caleb said.
“Emily was so pissed.She wanted to start setting traps because she was convinced someone was sneaking around, watching them.”She shrugged.“You know what, yeah, let’s go to the diner.”
He held out his arm for her to take, and Mae looked at it, then hesitated just a second before sliding her arm through his.He wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, but instead they made their way over to the diner, which was already busy.They were able to find a small table near the back.It was a booth, which offered some privacy.The moment they were seated, Suzie was there with her order pad.
“What can I get you two lovebirds?”Suzie asked.
Mae looked at him and Caleb laughed.
“I’ll take a chocolate milkshake with extra fudge sauce, do not skimp on it.Along with two cheeseburgers, and fries with all the trimmings.”
“That sounds good,” Mae said.“I’ll have that, but with one cheeseburger, thank you.”
Suzie wrote it down.“I’ll be along shortly.You know, we’re a prime destination for proposals.”
Mae’s eyes went wide and Caleb just laughed.He was not about to admit to these ladies that the sound of proposing to Mae was a pretty good idea.He’d never felt possessive of a woman, and he was done with any woman who showed signs of attempting to claim ownership of him.
He didn’t want to share Mae.She was a catch, and he was aware of a couple of men who wanted to date her.Her thick, auburn hair cascaded around her shoulders in waves, and it always looked thick and glossy, with a natural curl.She had the prettiest green eyes he’d ever seen.And then, her full figure.
He couldn’t recall ever seeing her in jeans.She was always wearing dresses or skirts.In the winter, it was always with tights and boots.He couldn’t believe how much attention he paid to the little details of this woman.
“How was your day?”Mae asked.
“It was good.It’s better now.I don’t have to put up with Pete’s ugly face.”
Mae laughed.“Does this have anything to do with you wanting to know what me and Emily were talking about?”she asked.
“Ah, so Emily doesn’t keep secrets from you either?”
“No, she doesn’t.Why did you want to know what we were talking about?”
“You haven’t dated a lot of men, have you?”
