Inked by an Angel by Shauna Allen

clever names other than ‘accounts.’ She was learning to work around him because if she didn’t know better, it seemed like he was intentionally sabotaging her work. But why? It was only costing him more money.
    Now, as she sat hunched over the latest batch of receipts and logs that she’d brought home with her, she was sure of his handiwork. It was all askew. Dates were wrong. Amounts recorded in the wrong place. Some were missing or duplicated. It was a complete and utter mess.
    “Michael!” she said out loud, even though he wasn’t there to hear her.
    She settled back with her tea, glad she was able to wear sweats today, and studied the muddle before her.
    These last couple weeks, he’d begun insisting that she do nearly all of her work at the studio, but today she’d put her foot down. She’d explained to him over and over that she was not his personal accountant. They had a business relationship and she could come and go as she chose because this is a free country and she had other clients (he didn’t have to know otherwise.) But, invariably, he’d come up with lame excuses about things he’d forgotten to give her and he’d give her his trademark puppy eyes. Then he’d buy her dinner. Then the mess before her would stretch the time into the late hours. Then, mysteriously, he’d always have somewhere to go, leaving her with Jed.
    She sighed. It was annoying, but it was fine since she’d made up her mind come Hell or high water she was going to make this business of hers stick. She had something to prove to the world, but most of all to herself. And, as for being stuck with Jed half the time, that didn’t matter because they pretty much ignored each other anyway. Well, he ignored her. She pretended to ignore him while studying every move of his muscles beneath his shirt while he tattooed his customers. Or the way his mouth moved when he concentrated, especially that black ball beneath his lip. Man, that black ball was becoming an aphrodisiac.
    Snapping back to the present and away from all forms of sexual hot buttons, Kyle focused once again on the mess of paperwork in front of her, a la Michael. She was really going to have to talk to him about this tomorrow because he needed to get better organized or give her a raise. Better yet, get another accountant. Or two. Or fourteen.
    She finally gave up and tucked all her papers back into their respective files and into her briefcase to await the next day and fresh eyes. She showered, trying to wipe all thoughts of Jed from her mind and replace them with the man she should be thinking about. The man she was going to marry and be sharing her body with for the rest of her life.
    She dried off, moisturized her face, and slid on her most comfortable nightgown. As she settled into bed for the night, she realized that Charles no longer held any sexual interest for her whatsoever. It was a dry well there. Instead, all she could think about, all her body wanted to know, was if kissing a tattooed man was any different, and would she ever get to find out?

Chapter 6
    Business had never been better at Jed’s. He should’ve been happy. Instead, he wanted to throw his hands up in disgust as the bell tinkled, letting them know another customer had walked in the door. He looked up from his work on his customer’s deltoid and ground his teeth. One glimpse of the pampered princess on the suit’s arm and he knew the words before they were out of her mouth.
    The bleach blonde glanced around nervously and they made their way up to Kierstan at the counter. “Um, hello. We were looking for The Angel?” She smiled up at her sugar daddy. “I want to get an angel tattoo.” She gave a small nervous giggle. “And he’s going to get my face tattooed on his chest.” She leaned in. “Not too big, you know. Classy.”
    Kierstan nodded her understanding. “Of course. Have a seat. The Angel is just finishing up with another customer. He’ll be right with you.”
    The couple sat