CHAPTER 6

CREEPER

Brandon

My damn hands were starting to go numb.

I had been working on this same piece for the last four hours and the guy was a beast. He hadn’t so much as moved during the process, and he never asked for a break. Most people weren’t capable of it. Even the toughest looking men squirmed like crazy when they were lying under my needle.

I finally had to tell him when I needed to give my hands a break. Otherwise, I’m pretty positive he would have laid there perfectly still until I was completely done.

I walked outside and sat down on the bench that conveniently gave me a perfect view of Charlie’s bakery.

I didn’t want to admit that I was staring into the glass in an attempt to get a glimpse of her, but I was starting to get a crick in my neck from craning so hard.

I had moved too fast last night. Went too far.

I didn’t know what I was thinking, but I knew that I couldn’t control myself around her. There was something about her that made it impossible to leave her alone.

She was gorgeous sure, but that wasn’t it. She was far more innocent than any woman I had ever been with before. A sure sign that I needed to leave her alone.

But she was so fun to be around. She was so fun to mess with.

I wasn’t interested in dating the girl. Hell, I hadn’t actually dated someone in so long that I could barely remember what the term meant.

I just didn’t want David to date her either. If she dated someone I didn’t know that would be fine, it just couldn’t be David. I knew how much of an ass that made me. I had absolutely no right to tell her who she could and could date, but I was basically like a guardian angel or some shit like that. I was making it my job to make sure she at least knew who was completely wrong for her.

“You don’t look like a creeper at all.”

I looked up at Livy as she walked out of the door of the shop.

“I’m not being a creeper. I’m just giving my hands a rest.” I flexed and unflexed my fingers on both hands to prove my point.

“And all the sudden you started resting your hands outside where you had a perfect view of Charlie’s bakery?” She raised an eyebrow, and I hated how well she could call me on my shit.

“I haven’t even seen her since I’ve been out here,” I defended myself.

“But you have been looking.”

When I opened my mouth, but no response came out, she laughed.

“What’s your deal with her anyway?” She sat down next to me on the bench and her gaze followed where mine had been since I came out here.

“There is no deal.” I shrugged.

“There is most certainly a deal. You never act like this.”

“Act like what?” I finally took my gaze off of Charlie’s bakery long enough to look at her.

“All territorial. It’s cute.” She patted me on the top of my head as if I was a toddler.

“I am not acting territorial. I just think you all did a really shit job in setting her up that’s all.”

“You like David.” She said it so loud that I quickly looked back up to make sure Charlie wasn’t outside.

“Sure. I like the guy as an acquaintance, but I don’t think he’s dating material for one of my friends.”

“One of your friends?” She cocked her eyebrow again, but I ignored it and kept going.

“I would have never let you date him. He didn’t show enough effort. He didn’t even open the door for her.”

“First of all, you would have sabotaged any guy that wasn’t Parker, and second, I’ve never seen you open a door for a date.”

She was feeling smug, but she was wrong.

“When have you ever seen me go on a date?”

I could practically see the wheels turning in her head. “I’m sure there have been.” She looked down at the ground. “What about that girl? No. Definitely not.” She didn’t even need me as a part of this conversation. “Why the hell haven’t you been on a date?”

She finally looked up at me, and I instantly regretted sending her down this path.

“I just haven’t found a girl I’ve wanted to date.”

“Out of all the women I’ve seen hang all over you when we go out to a bar or leave with you after only a few smiles from you, you mean to tell me that you haven’t been interested in dating even one?”

“Nope.” I shook my head. It wasn’t a lie. Getting women had come easy for me. Too easy really. I didn’t sleep around like Livy’s idea of me would make you think, but I also wasn’t against an easy lay every now and again. But that’s all it ever was. Easy.

Livy turned away from me just as Charlie walked out the front door of her bakery. We both watched her as she went to her car, an old beat up Honda that had definitely seen better days, and we both waved as she drove past us with a giant smile on her face.

I watched her until her car disappeared around the building on the corner of the street before standing to go finish the tattoo that would take a few more hours.

“You like Charlie, huh?” Livy’s voice was soft and far less accusing than it had been earlier.

“Yea, Liv. I like Charlie.”

She smiled. That damn smile that I knew made Parker do anything she asked then she pumped her fist in the air like an idiot.