They didn’t return to Thorn Tattoo after ice cream—nor did they return to its sister location. Antonio drove around with her for the rest of the day, and they talked, and laughed, and opened up to one another.

It was the nicest date Evie had ever had, even if it was unofficial. Things between her and Antonio were nebulous at best, and she wasn’t sure whether she should bring up the possibility of a relationship, or let it fall by the wayside.

When it came down to it, he was still her boss. He paid her salary. By all means, they shouldn’t have been involved, but Evie’s heart was already caught up in him, and her gut told her to pursue him. The other artists at the shop already assumed they were sleeping together and they were the ones to decide that she should be head artist. So, maybe she needed to stop dwelling on improprieties and just go with it.

That evening, he dropped her off at her apartment and they parted ways.

When she woke up that morning, she wasn’t quite sure how she was expected to behave at work. Obviously, Antonio wasn’t the type to be comfortable with her fawning all over him, not that she would. She might be seriously into him and feeling things she knew she shouldn’t, but she was no groupie. Even if he was a DeRose.

Deciding to go as professional as she could possibly be, she found herself taking extra time getting dressed. Laughing at herself, Evie realized that she was over-thinking things and she needed to lighten up. Throwing on a pale blue kurta and her favorite jean shorts, she dressed quickly and headed in to work stopping along the way to buy coffee.

Walking into Bloom, she wasn’t surprised to see Antonio already there counting out the drawer and prepping the front. Kimi was out front complaining about a problem client from yesterday and Evie thought she detected a look of amusement on Antonio’s otherwise poker face. Seeing that they were due to open soon, Evie slid one of the coffee cups across the counter toward him and he gave her a grateful smile before he popped the lid off and took a long drink.

Kimi stopped speaking mid-sentence and stepped back to look at the both of them, her head swiveling back and forth as though she were watching a tennis match. Shaking her head, she held up her hand, seeming to stave off any questions and turned to walk back toward her tattoo bay, calling out as she walked, “She bought him coffee!” Her comment produced a series of catcalls and other comments from the guys including ‘she never buys me coffee’ from what sounded like Red.

Flinching, Evie looked up to see Antonio’s response, sure he’d be furious but he only laughed. Biting her lip to keep from laughing, Evie gave up and chuckled as she gave him a final wave and headed back to her own tattoo bay, enjoying the teasing.

Okay, so maybe a workplace romance really wouldn’t be the end of the world.

The rest of the day was busy with a steady stream of clients giving Evie no chance to speak with Antonio privately. A couple times, he popped his head in only to give her an apologetic look before he was quickly drawn back to the front. She’d hoped to speak with him at the end of the day after everyone left but both Red and Kimi still had clients. After cleaning up her bay and prepping for tomorrow, she found herself practically twiddling her thumbs as she waited for them to finish. She jumped when Antonio popped his head in.

Before he could say anything, she reached out, grabbed his hand and tugged him inside. Stepping into the circle of his arms, she went up on tiptoe and kissed him. He seemed surprised at her boldness and before Evie could question whether she did the right thing, he’d wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight against him and kissed her back.

Now was definitely not the time to think.

Jumping up, she wrapped her legs around his hips and Antonio turned, setting her down on her desk without breaking the kiss. It was as forceful and rough as the first time only made better by his five o’clock shadow, which brushed against her suddenly sensitized skin. Evie had no idea how much time had passed but they were suddenly interrupted by voices.

“Hang on, lemme get the owner to check you out. Hey, Antonio, I….” They stopped kissing when Kimi barged into Evie’s tattoo bay, but Antonio didn’t let her go. “Shit, why do I always have to be the one to find them together? Red! Mommy and daddy are kissing again, make them stop,” Kimi whined, as Red’s bark of laughter was heard over the top of the walls.

“Take pics next time. They’ll make for great Christmas cards,” Red called out.

Antonio pressed his forehead against Evie’s, kissing the tip of her nose.

“Go,” he said quietly. “It’s been a long day.”

Embarrassed at being caught again, Evie agreed. She watched Antonio leave and could hear his voice as he helped close out Kimi’s client. Grabbing her wallet and phone, Evie scurried down the hall to the lockers to grab her purse thankful she didn’t run into Kimi again.

* * *

Sunday morning, when her doorbell rang, she was expecting Antonio and surprised to discover an express package waiting outside her door. Evie looked it over, curious, then brought it inside. She knew right away that Antonio was behind it, and she was excited to know what it was. Antonio was full of surprises, and she found herself unable to predict what he’d do next.

Evie opened the box to find folded black fabric inside. It was sewn through with iridescent threads that made it shift from black to striking electric blue when hit with the right light. She gasped as she looked down at it, then lifted the garment from the box to inspect it in full. It was a dress. As it unfolded, a note tumbled from inside and settled on the table. Evie left it momentarily unread.

Instead, she looked over the dress from top to bottom.

The skirt was cut short, and she could tell by the material and the size that it would be form fitting. The chest was cut low, but was stitched up almost in a corset-like pattern that would expose her tattoos in the most tantalizing ways. Most times, Evie had a hard time finding clothes that would fit her slender figure and her large chest, but it looked like the dress had been custom made. There was no doubt in her mind just by looking at it that it would fit.

Once she’d looked it over, she set it down gingerly and picked up the note. It was handwritten.

Evie,

I thought this would suit you. I’d like you to wear it tonight. Be ready by eight sharp. I’ll be there to pick you up.

Antonio

Evie read the letter several times until she had it committed to memory. It was like something out of a movie, and she felt like a princess. No man had ever courted her like this before. No man had ever pursued her and made her feel like she was worth something.

Antonio treated her like she was worth more than what she gave herself credit for, and while Evie wasn’t sure it was a sound decision on his part, after last night, it made her swoon.

Handsome, secretive Antonio was so much more than he let on. Even though he frustrated her to no end, he thrilled her as well.

There was never a dull moment when he was around.

Eight was too far away.

She spent the rest of the day obsessing over what to match the dress with. Evie didn’t often wear heels, but a dress like that warranted them. She found a simple pair of black heels—not too high—that wouldn’t overshadow the splendor of the dress while managing to complement its tone perfectly. It was a little flirty and a little edgy, and she chose a shoe so classic that it might as well have been nude.

When she went out that night, she wanted all the attention to be on her body. She was going to make Antonio proud he’d chosen her.

As Evie leaned in front of her mirror, testing out another kind of smoky eye, she contemplated why she was so involved at all. Antonio shouldn’t have been anything special. Both of his brothers were renowned artists with rippling muscles, and Antonio was demure and slender and reserved with his talents. If Evie had a type, he wasn’t it.

Yet she couldn’t get him off her mind.

There was something about him that was worth more than she could rationalize—a kind of connection that transcended logic and implanted itself directly in her brain.

Evie wiped her face clean and started another look, dissatisfied with her progress.

She’d never wanted to be so flawless before.

Tonight was going to be a good night—she could feel it in her bones.

* * *

At eight o’clock, a town car pulled up beside the curb. Evie wore the dress Antonio had sent, pairing it with her simple heels, and done her face with just the right shades of eyeshadow. She’d gone with a lighter lip, and in her opinion, she thought she looked incredible.

She couldn’t wait to see Antonio.

The street side back door opened, and Antonio stepped out. He was dressed in a tuxedo, looking every bit the sophisticated gentleman Evie knew he was.

“You look amazing,” he said as he stepped onto the curb. Before anything else, he took her hand and kissed it. Evie’s cheeks heated. “Do you like it?”

“I love it,” she said. “I’m a little… surprised you got my size so well, but I’m not complaining. The dress is lovely.”

“Giovanni and Luciano helped me out,” Antonio said. “You’re almost the same size as Luciano’s girlfriend, Melanie, so we pieced together what would be a good fit.”

“Resourceful,” she said with a nod of her head. “Where are we going?”

“Not to a workshop, and not to an ice cream parlor,” Antonio promised. “Other than that, it’s a surprise.”

It was always one surprise or another. Evie wondered if Antonio would ever give her a straight answer about anything.

He opened the door for her and helped her into the car, then closed the door behind her and stepped back onto the street to enter from the other side. Evie smoothed her dress down her thighs, appreciating how the fabric glistened in the light of the car. If they were going somewhere upscale with dim, warm lights, she knew the dress would be absolutely stunning.

She couldn’t wait to find out what kind of adventure was coming her way.

“I’m not going to need to be a proper lady, am I?” Evie asked once Antonio was settled. “I can hold my tongue, but I don’t really do the highbrow stuff. I don’t know advanced etiquette, like what fork to use when, or how to put your fork and knife on your plate, or any of that really fancy stuff.”

Antonio chuckled. “No. All you need to do is be you. I know you’re going to charm everyone you meet.”

If he stayed so warm and open, Evie knew that Antonio would do his fair share of charming, too. Every time she saw him so happy, it warmed her soul. Cautiously, she reached out and placed her hand low on his thigh. His hand slid over hers. Even after last night’s kiss, they were still testing the waters, but it felt good. Evie squeezed just slightly.

The drive was spent in silence. Evie lost herself in his touch and the way it raised the hairs on her arm and sent tiny jolts down her spine. The air between them thickened with chemistry. It felt like an eternity had passed since they’d last kissed, and she longed for his touch again.

Tonight, if the dress was any indication, she knew she’d have him. A man didn’t buy a woman a dress like that only to leave her hanging.

Antonio meant business, and so did Evie.

She was looking forward to falling into bed with someone she was so fundamentally attracted to.

The car rolled to a stop, and Antonio glanced out the window. “We’re here.”

Evie leaned toward him so she could look. They’d arrived at one of the newer casinos on Fremont Street. Downtown was where the tourists and locals mixed it up.

“Here?” Evie asked. “What are we going to do here?”

“There’s a Texas Hold ‘Em event going on with a big portion of the proceeds going to charity,” Antonio said. They exited the car together, and Evie adjusted her dress. “I know it doesn’t sound very glamorous, but the event isn’t for just anyone. The people on the guest list are an exclusive bunch. We’re looking at big money, big risks, and people who love opportunity as much as they love gambling.”

“You said charity. Which one is it?” Evie asked him unsure if she should be excited about the event. Anxiety coiled in her stomach out of instinct. She didn’t know what to expect from the rest of the night, and it made her nervous. She figured they’d be attending an event based on how they were dressed, but gambling? Even if it is for charity, if Antonio was trying to impress her, he was a little off the mark.

“Scars for Art. They help to fund tattoos for people with extensive scarring from accidents, surgeries, and even self-harm. Thorn has been one of the participating shops since I took it over from my father.” He gestured at the casino. “Inside are contacts heavily connected with the tattoo world. Networking with them can help both the shop and those in need.”

All the joy and excitement Evie harbored for the night vanished. She held back a frown as her stomach lurched. For once, she thought that Antonio was moving beyond work in order to cherish her, like he had after their ice cream date and their kiss last night.

She was wrong, and it stung.

While she was all for volunteering her services to help others, she would have liked a heads up about it.

“So I’m on the job for Bloom Tattoo right now?” she asked.

“Well, the work part is mostly on me, but you can benefit from the connections, too,” Antonio said. “And there’s nothing wrong with having a little fun if you’re game for it. The tables are likely going to be filled with skilled players, but there are sure to be some other games set up inside that you can play.”

“I think I’m good.” Evie tried to keep her tone upbeat, but she couldn’t help the crushing sorrow that had begun to weigh upon her. She’d spent the bulk of her day planning for a date with Antonio that wasn’t going to happen. Instead, she was supposed to network with others in the industry.

It was a hollow feeling, and she hated it.

“Well, let’s go.” Antonio gave some directions to the driver, and Evie walked around the car to stand at his side. They entered the casino together.

It wasn’t the night she had hoped for, but she still intended to make the best of it.