About an hour later, I switched off the tattoo machine, satisfied with the tiny pieces of touch-up I’d done all around Nicky’s vivid sleeves. He straightened his arms, admiring the new additions, and I pulled my gloves off and rose to my feet.
“C’mon,” I said, gesturing him toward the makeshift photography studio across the hall. “Time for your pics.”
“Are these the ones you’re sending to Tattooist?” he asked as I set up a few lights and moved him into position.
“Yup.” I took my place behind the camera and focused it carefully as Kresley came up behind me. “Next month’s issue. Could be huge for me.” I motioned to the left. “Turn, please.”
Nick rotated obligingly. “Huge how?”
I snapped off a few photos and then straightened to adjust the lights again. “Lots of industry exposure, maybe some endorsement deals. I’m already getting some calls.” I grabbed Nicky’s wrist and gently repositioned him. “A place in New York is interested in bringing me in to their studio.”
Nicky arched a brow. “New York, huh? You ready for that?”
“Of course he’s ready,” Kresley cut in before I could answer—not that I had much of anything to say about it. Not yet, anyway. She patted me on the back. “Ian, go for it if this is what you want.”
“Kresley’s exploring her new calling as a cheerleader for others,” Nicky said with a chuckle. “She went out and pursued her dreams, and she thinks you should too.” His words were teasing, but tempered with a playful wink—a wink she answered with a tender smile.
It didn’t take long to finish the photos, and I pretended to be too busy looking at the viewer as Nicky drew Kresley into his arms for a long kiss, like he’d been starving for her during our entire session. Knowing Nicky and how he felt about her, he was, but for once, seeing them together didn’t make me feel hollow or lonely. Didn’t make me feel like something was missing in my own life.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and sent off a quick text.
Dinner tonight?
And even though I was pretty sure she was in class right then—crochet, if I wasn’t mistaken, she answered just a heartbeat later.
YES.
Kresley was right, I thought as I pocketed the phone again. Not just about the business, either—about going for what I wanted.
I wanted Sam Stanfield. And I was going to pursue her as hard as I could, with everything I had.