“Because I saw her following you and ripping those damn costumes off the hooks when I came in the front door. When I reached the aisle, I saw you holding her, offering to make one fantastic costume with everything she wanted. You’re a kick-ass mom, Lee. Don’t you doubt that for a second. And don’t doubt my feelings for you and those meltdown munchkins, either. Got it?”
She gazed up at him with a full heart. “Yeah, I’ve got it.”
“And how about that weird feeling you had? What’re you thinking about that?”
She shrugged. “I’m hoping it was just because Rosie’s having an off day.”
“Good. Now let’s hope she doesn’t prove too strong-willed for Preacher’s tricks.”
Junie was so excited to see Tank’s tattoo shop, she was bouncing up and down as she and Leah waited outside the dressing room for Tank and Rosie. Leah heard the low rumble of Tank’s voice. She couldn’t make out what he was saying, but over the next ten minutes, one by one the plastic packages were pushed out from beneath the curtain, and Leah quickly put them away. When they finally emerged, Rosie was clutching a single costume against her chest, and Tank wore a crooked smile like he was stuck between being victorious and uncomfortable.
“Do we have a winner?” Leah asked.
Rosie grinned, holding up her choice. “Tinky Bell!”
“That’s wonderful!” Leah hugged her. “You’ll be the cutest Tinky Bell ever.”
“Tank Petey Pan!” Rosie exclaimed.
Leah laughed, imagining him dressed up as Peter Pan. “You’ll look great in green tights.”
“Whoa.” He eyed Rosie. “You never said anything about green tights.”
Rosie grinned. “Petey gween.”
Tank’s eyes narrowed. “Let’s see what they’ve got.”
They went to the adult section, and Tank found a Peter Pan costume that came with a green shirt, hat, a brown belt, green wrist cuffs, and green tights.
“It has bwacelets,” Junie said cheerily, touching one of the thick leather bands around Tank’s wrist. “You like bwacelets.”
“Yeah, I do.” He looked down at Rosie. “We need to renegotiate our deal. I’ll wear the shirt and everything else, but I can’t wear green tights.”
Rosie’s pouty lip came out, and she whined, “We dealed. You fib!”
Tank uttered something under his breath. “Fine. I’ll wear the friggin’ tights.”
Leah tried to stifle her laughter as they headed to the register, falling even harder for the burly softy.
THEY DROPPED TANK’S motorcycle at Leah’s house and took her car to Wicked Ink. Before heading inside, Tank picked up the girls and sat them on the hood, which they thought was the coolest thing ever and made them giggle their little heads off. He was surprised at how excited he was about introducing Leah and the girls to more of his world.
“A’right, munchkins, listen up. This is where I work, which means it’s not a playground. Got it?”
They nodded, Rosie beaming, Junie’s face serious.
“Real tattoos are made using sharp instruments. It’s important that Gia, Cait, and Aria are not distracted while they’re working.”
Junie and Rosie gasped excitedly. Rosie said, “Giacaitawia!” and clapped.
Tank chuckled. “Let’s not skip the no distractions part. That means no yelling and no running.”
“We won’t,” Junie said. “We pwomise.”
Rosie nodded, clapping again. “Pwomise!”
He lifted the girls off the hood and set their feet on the ground. Leah gave him a hopeful smile, holding up crossed fingers on both hands. He hooked his arm around her neck, pulling her in for a quick kiss, and whispered, “I give Rosie ten seconds before she breaks the rules or bursts from trying not to.”
Rock music blared from the speakers as they headed inside, and the girls’ faces lit up. Tank saw Cait with a customer in her piercing station and Aria setting up for her next appointment. Gia came out of the back room, and Rosie jumped up and down, yelling, “Giagiagia!”
“Rosie.” Leah shushed her.
Rosie slapped her hand over her mouth and stared up at Tank, wide-eyed. He did his best to school his expression and patted her head while shaking his, wondering how the hell parents kept straight faces when kids were so fucking cute.
“Baby girls are in the house!” Gia announced as she strutted toward them in a tight white shirt tied above her belly button, leopard-print bell-bottoms, and sky-high heels. There was a graphic on her shirt of a giant leopard-print mouth with teeth biting the lower lip.
Aria looked over with a silent greeting in her eyes. At twenty-four, she was petite and shy with long dirty-blond hair, several tattoos, and a nostril piercing. She had issues with social anxiety, but her confidence came out in her art, which was stellar.
Cait glanced over her shoulder, nodded a greeting, and turned back to her customer.
“How’re my favorite little ladies? Are you here for tattoos?” Gia bent at the waist and tickled their bellies, earning giggles.
Junie petted Gia’s leg. “I like your pwetty pants.”
“Why, thank you.” Gia went to Leah. “And how’s Mama holding up?”
“I’m doing pretty well, thanks,” Leah said as Gia hugged her. “How are you?”
“Fanfriggingtastic, thanks to you.” Gia eyed Tank. “The boss hasn’t been so tightly wound since you and the girls came into his life.”
“Gia,” Tank warned.
Gia planted her hand on her hip. “What? I can’t compliment your woman? Get over yourself.” She glanced at the girls. “He’s quite bossy, isn’t he?”
Leah laughed softly, and the girls giggled.
Gia took Leah’s hand and ran her fingers down her arm. “You have the prettiest skin. Are you here to get inked? I would love to put some art on your gorgeous body.”
Tank glowered. “She’s perfect without ink, and if anyone’s going to give her a tattoo, it’s me.”
“I see boss man is possessive of his lady,” Gia teased. “That’s a new look on you. It’s kind of hot. If you’re not here to ink your girl, what’re you doing here on your day off?”
“Junie wants to be a tattoo artist,” Tank explained. “I thought I’d show her what it’s like.”
“Junie, you want to be like Auntie Gia!” Gia clapped her hands together.
Junie nodded. “I wanna dwaw stowies.”
“Stories? That is the perfect way to describe them.” Gia reached for her hand as Aria came out of her workstation and headed up the aisle. “Come on, sugar. I’ll show you around. We’ll be back, boss.”
As she and Junie walked away, Rosie shouted, “Awia!” and ran to her.
“Inside voice, Rosie,” Tank reminded her.
Rosie whispered, “Awia!”
Aria picked her up and carried her around the lobby, talking quietly as she showed her the pictures on the walls.
“Gia is hilarious,” Leah said.
“She used to be major trouble. She’s Justice’s younger sister, and she drove him batshit crazy with her wild ways,” Tank explained. “Justice needed someone to help him get her under control, and that’s when she started working here.”