Inked in the Steel City Series by Ranae Rose Page B

trying to set me up with Eric?”
     
    The blush that flared in Karen’s fair cheeks gave her away.
     
    Mina sighed. “Please, please stop trying.”
     
    “No, no Mina. I won’t stop.”
     
    Mina tightened her grip on Karen’s arm, lest she sprint out of the restroom like a red-headed gazelle hell-bent on matchmaking. “Why not?”
     
    “Just hear me out,” Karen said. “After you guys kissed in the studio, I thought that maybe, well… Mina, how long has it been since you’ve had a boyfriend?”
     
    Mina clenched her teeth, biting down on nothing. “That’s irrelevant.”
     
    “No it’s not. You’re only twenty-four and you’ve already given up on trying to find someone. Eric seems like a really nice guy, and he’s sort of just fallen into your lap. If I need to facilitate things to fan the spark that’s already there, then so be it.”
     
    “I haven’t given up on finding someone. I’m just not interested in a relationship right now.” Her cheeks warmed as she lied smoothly.
     
    “That’s ridiculous. Nobody deserves to be alone, least of all you.”
     
    “I don’t have time for a boyfriend.”
     
    “Yes you do. You’re here now, aren’t you? There’s no reason why you and Eric couldn’t be here together alone next Sunday.” She donned a mischievous grin. “I’d be glad to hang out with Jess if you feel guilty about leaving her behind to go on a date.”
     
    Mina shook her head. “It’s not just that.”
     
    Karen donned an incredulous look, her red brows climbing her forehead. “Then what is it?”
     
    Mina leaned back against the side of an empty stall with a sigh, her resolve not to talk about the issue wavering. “Karen, I’m boring .” The rest of her confession tumbled out in a rush. “You’re right – Eric does seem like a really nice guy, plus he’s super-hot. Women probably come on to him all the time. Someone like me wouldn’t be capable of holding his interest for long.”
     
    Karen looked at Mina like she’d sprouted a set of antlers. “Boring? Seriously? Mina, you’re one of the most beautiful and interesting people I know.”
     
    Mina rolled her eyes. “You have to say that. You’re my best friend.”
     
    But it was too late. Her green eyes glinting dangerously, Karen had already settled a hand on either of Mina’s arms. “This is for your own good.”
     
    A spike of alarm pierced Mina’s annoyance. “What?”
     
    Karen began steering her toward the door. Mina tried to resist, but the soles of her shoes slid effortlessly over the smooth floor tiles, unable to gain traction. The door was perilously close. “Karen! Listen, you don’t understand. Eric already asked me on a date and I—”
     
    Karen pushed the door wide open, ending their private conversation.
     
    “…blew it,” Mina finished under her breath. She leaned in close to whisper in Karen’s ear as they made their way toward the table. “I am never going to pose for you again.”
     
    Karen ignored her, settling down in front of her salad with a cheery grin. “Did we miss anything exciting?”
     
    Jess piped up with a smile. “Eric thinks I could be a professional tattoo designer if I wanted to.”
     
    Karen shot Mina a questioning look and she shrugged, smiling as she settled into her chair, greeted by the tempting aroma of her still-warm entrée. “I bet you could, Jess.”
     
    “I hope you don’t mind me telling her that,” Eric said.
     
    “Not at all,” Mina replied, taking a sip of her iced tea. “She definitely has a talent for it.”
     
    Eric smiled ruefully. “Yeah, well, it’s not exactly the career most people would choose for their kids. I’m sure your parents would rather she went to college.”
     
    That was hardly the case, but Mina let his assumption pass without comment. She wasn’t about to crash the light-hearted dinner with a sudden revelation of her and Jess’s depressing childhoods. She would have liked to let him know that she was