“Do you have any tattoos?” Kelly said, pulling him back to the present.
“Ah, not at this point, no.”
Kelly reached out and squeezed his right bicep. “You should get one, or several. I love a guy with sleeves.”
Scott smiled and gently removed himself from her grasp. “That wouldn’t be very professional.”
“So? Heaps of suits have tattoos now. As long as you can hide them under your clothes, it’s fine. Sam does business guys all the time.”
Scott had a flash of Sam bent over a half-naked businessman and felt a hot wash of jealousy. “Is that right?”
“Totally.” Kelly, oblivious to the mental discomfort she’d provoked in him, smiled. “If you end up getting sleeves, go to Sam. Seriously, she doesn’t do filler, even with big pieces. She’s the best artist here by a mile.”
“I could see that.”
In truth, he had no idea—the other tattoo artists could have been virtuosos. He wasn’t looking at anyonebutSamantha.
“Would you like to see Sam’s work up close?”
“Uh, sure.”
Kelly lifted her skirt and, trying to look like he didn’t find this weird, Scott examined the fresh tattoo. Kelly’s skin was slightly raised and inflamed, but the tattoo itself was fascinatingly detailed. If painted, Scott could easily see the image hanging in a museum, but the fact that it was laid into living skin gave the figures of Adam and Eve additional vulnerability. It seemed to be making a comment on the fragility of human life itself. “It’s gorgeous.”
“Thanks! I wish there was a way to keep it this fresh forever but it’ll fade soon enough. Still, it’s gorgeous now. Doesn’t Eve look cool?”
She did. She was tall and fair, one long hand reaching for the apple, the other cupping a small breast. She had long dark hair and her pink mouth was tight with fear. Something about her was oddly familiar…
“It looks a bit like Sam, doesn’t it?” Kelly said, reading his mind. “She says it’s easier to use a familiar model when she’s under the pump. I don’t know who Adam is thou—” her gaze flew to his face. “Oh myGod, he looks like you!”
“I don’t see that. At all.”
Scott was lying. The narrow face, dirty blonde hair and dark eyes were all familiar. He was both flattered and deeply confused. Sam didn’t even know he was still here in Melbourne. Was it a coincidence? What else could it be?
“I can’t believe I’m going to have you on my leg forever!” Kelly laughed. “Do you think Sammy did it on purpose?”
Scott was spared the difficulty of answering as a nearby speaker crackled to life.
“Attention everyone, the winners of Ink the Night are about to be announced. Charge your glasses and head over to the main stage. Artists and models, please head to the VIP room. Thank you.”
Kelly clapped her hands. “Ooh that’s me! I’ll have to head off, wish me luck!”
“Good luck,” Scott muttered, his mind full of the tattooed Adam.
“Thanks. Also, you should know, I think you sound just like Prince William.” She smiled up at him, her tongue sliding across her lower lip. “I used to havesucha massive crush on him.”
“I…see.”
Kelly laughed. “You’re cute. Talk to you soon.”
She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and then dashed away, leaving him to wonder if he’d imagined ever having game. He could swear he’d had it once but Melbourne appeared to have sucked the sexual competence out of him.
“Hey, how’s it going, Prince William?” Tabby had reappeared, clutching two full bottles of cider.
Scott winced. “You heard that?”
“I sure did. Pretty cringe, ey?”
“I think she was just flirting.”