Indelibly Intimate Read Online Free

stranger should.
    Despite the way her body reacted, or maybe because of it, she leaned forward, crowding him a bit. He didn’t take the bait.
    “I’m Quinn. Quinn LaBrea.” She stuck her hand out, nearly hitting his chest. He’d have to move back now.
    “Hamilton Dean. You can call me Hammer.” Smooth as a milkshake, he shook her hand without budging his torso a bit. The awkward angle didn’t prohibit his touch from causing a flutter in her chest.
    “What kind of a name is Hammer?” She didn’t pull away and he didn’t let her go.
    “The kind of name people respect in this business. Try telling some of these customers that their tattoo artist is named Hamilton.”
    Quinn laughed and pulled from his warm grip. “I guess you’re right.”
    He smiled in the silence. She’d have to be an idiot not to notice the way his gaze lingered on her mouth. Despite her conscious brain saying no , her tongue darted out to dampen her lips.
    “So,” he said, moving away abruptly. Quinn had to fight to keep from clutching her temples. He’d spun so quickly it made her dizzy. “What did you want to cover that bad boy with?”
    Decision time. Why hadn’t she thought about this before? She blurted the first thing she could think of. “A dragon.”
    She couldn’t blame him for the dubious expression he quickly hid. “A dragon.”
    “No,” she sighed. “A rose?”
    He didn’t say a word, only stared at her with raised brows.
    “All right, fine.” She smacked the leather arms of her seat. “I have no freaking clue. I don’t want to see his damn initials every day.”
    Hammer nodded sagely. “I thought it was something like that. What kind of crap artist did you get who would put a boyfriend’s initials on you?” He grabbed his sketchbook and a pencil from the cupboard.
    Quinn was glad he looked away. The annoyance and frustration boiled away at her insides and she needed a second to control the venom. After all, she needed this shit covered tonight . Even if she had to survive on Ramen noodles for the next three months, she wasn’t going another night with the reminder of her loneliness emblazoned like a neon sign reading “pathetic loser” on her thigh.
    “The so-called ‘artist’ was my boyfriend at the time. I’m not an idiot and I won’t be doing anything like that again. So if you could save the lecture, Mom , I’d appreciate it.”
     
    Hammer was not a stupid man. He kept his gaze glued to his sketchbook. He hadn’t meant to pluck a nerve with Quinn but that was obviously what had happened. He’d have to choose his words more carefully if he wanted to get to know her. And if the slow, deep throb in his groin was any indication, he really, really wanted to get to know her.
    “I’d love to help you figure out what would be best to cover that spot with. Do you mind if I ask you some questions?” He glanced up in time to see her nod. “Great. Just relax and we’ll come up with something special. So your name is Quinn. And you’re a waitress.”
    Her knuckles went white and Hammer began to be nervous for the leather chair arms. Surely she wasn’t digging her fingernails into them.
    “So help me god, if you suggest a waitress-themed tattoo, I will kick your ass so hard…”
    His laugh interrupted her. “No worries, Sparky, I wouldn’t do you like that.”
    Her glare was murderous and it made him laugh harder. She was definitely a firecracker. The nickname was perfect.
    “So nothing waitress-like.” He nodded down at the sketchpad’s blank page. An idea gripped him, something that would be the perfect combination of Quinn’s fire and his ability. He began sketching as he talked. “So what do you like? What’s your favorite hobby, color, animal? Talk to me, let me get to know you. I’m thinking we can get some good ideas for your cover-up that way.”
    “I like to read, I guess. Um, I write poetry now and then. Red and orange are my favorite colors. Like a fiery sunset.” Her voice was a