Page 27 of Ever After Between the Lines (Montgomery Ink Legacy)

Chapter Two

SAWYER

“Hey, can you hand me that sketch pad?”

I looked up at Leif Montgomery and nodded. “No problem. Are you working on the piece for Warren?”

“Yes, but I’m having issues with the angle because elbows are always so tricky.”

“Tell me about it. Sometimes I wish I didn’t enjoy trying to piece puzzles together like that.”

“Figuring out how it can look good at multiple positions is always difficult. But I enjoy the process, even as I’m pulling out my hair.”

“And what luscious hair that is. It would truly be a loss.”

He flipped me off, and I went back to my sketches.

I had two appointments already and had another one in about an hour.

I was damn lucky to have even gotten the space at this shop.

The flagship shop in downtown Denver was now known worldwide thanks to a few news articles and shows.

Celebrities tried to come from all over to get their ink by a Montgomery.

While there were only four studios underneath the umbrella of the Montgomerys, people wanted more.

Except for the fact that the family wanted to keep everything in-house.

A Montgomery had to be working at the Montgomerys.

My place happened to be the next generation place.

Leif’s father was the original owner and still worked full-time downtown.

And when there had been a spot open at this location, I had been lucky enough to get hired.

People had clamored for it because you cannot only learn a lot, but people want your art because of the traffic alone.

I was just grateful that I’d had an in thanks to my brother who worked next door at the security company.

I knew that I wouldn’t have been able to get the job if I didn’t have the talents, but I also had to mesh with the family and everyone involved for me to be hired.

It was a working environment yes, but it was also a group that hung out together, worked together, and dealt with a lot of shit together.

So if you didn’t get along or mesh, it wouldn’t be the right fit.

So when the Montgomerys had been looking for another tattoo artist, and I had been coming up into my own, the timing just worked out.

Leaving my job at my old company had been difficult.

I loved working in science and trying to find ways to combat the energy crisis that we were in.

But I had been burned out. Between other companies trying to steal ideas and government contracts falling through because of politics, I was just done.

I felt like I couldn’t think my way through the fog of monotony.

I still worked on a contract basis with my old crew if needed.

Because sometimes they needed someone to look at proofs and get all of the maps out.

And it was nice for me to make sure that my mind was still working a way I needed it to.

But I enjoyed being a tattoo artist more than anything, which had surprised the hell out of my parents.

Not so much Gus. I didn’t know why, but he seemed to understand that this was exactly what I needed to be before too long.

I was just lucky that Gus happened to know a family of tattoo artists. I knew I would find a job somewhere, but this place was perfect.

“Hey, are you coming out tonight?” my boss asked, and I shrugged.

We had been back from the wedding for a week now, and something had shifted.

I wasn’t sure if it was on me or Kate. Going to the wedding together like we had had probably been stupid.

Kate and I both enjoyed sneaking around and living in the moment just with each other, not with everybody looking in.

Now that we were back, it was hard for me not to look at Kate. Not to go next door and brush my lips against hers and just see how she’s doing.

We had lasted months with a polite distance even while together, but one weekend had shattered that, and I didn’t know what to think.

“Earth to Sawyer. You okay?”

I flinched, pulling myself out of my thoughts.

I needed to keep Kate out of my mind for the moment—and what she meant.

A safe place, but nothing too serious. Because if I made it any more than it was, no good could come from it for either one of us.

I’d break her just like I always did. Because there was nothing left.

“Yes, I’m fine. Just thinking. And yes, I’ll be there tonight. Who else is going?” I asked.

“Mostly our family, but not everyone,” he added at the raising of my brows. The Montgomerys had more than a few family members, and I wasn’t sure we would all be able to sit in the bar we were heading to.

“Mostly the people that work in the building, and their spouses. Everybody got babysitters, and we are going to have fun. It’s about time. Brooke and I really need a night off.”

“Why are you using your night off to hang out with us?” I asked, honestly curious. The two of them had a full family, with kids ranging in ages from infancy to elementary school age. I didn’t know how the two of them kept up with everything. I could barely keep up with myself.

And the moment I still awake with Kate.

“We haven’t had a night out with the group in far too long. We have a dinner date with just the two of us planned for next week.”

“Two nights away in one month? Look at you being gluttonous.”

He rolled his eyes at me, and we went back to work. My appointment came in, and I did my best to focus on what I was doing and not on the fact that Kate would be there tonight.

The two of us had been in the position to hide who we were to each other in public often. Yes, we worked next door to each other, but our evenings out were usually just for us, or with separate groups.

This would be one of the few times we would be in a situation like this. And since coming back from the mountains, I wasn’t sure how long it could last.

I ran my hand over my chest, ignoring the ache there.

There was a reason Kate and I worked well like this.

I couldn’t offer her forever, and she wanted something just for herself.

Only I wasn’t sure that was the case for her any longer.

I had seen the longing look on her face, the way she had lit up when she could kiss me in public.

I was doing her a disservice by staying on this track. I knew it. I didn’t have anything to offer beyond this. But she deserved so much more. Only I didn’t want to let her go. So tonight I wasn’t sure how long I would be able to keep my hands to myself, no matter how selfish that was.

I finished up the bumblebee tattoo for the grandmother of four, and headed to the bakery next door to get a hit of caffeine. I had stayed up far too late the night before tossing and turning, thinking of Kate. So any caffeine would be good.

I liked the fact that the café was right next door, and I could have just asked for them to bring something over through the connecting door.

However, I liked the feel of the place. The large coffee mugs, the scent of baked goods and fresh ground coffee filling the air.

Before I had even worked in the building, I used to come here to sit at one of the small tables and work on a few math problems with copious amounts of coffee.

It was truly fate’s good graces that brought me here for good.

As I walked inside, I bumped into someone, not paying enough attention.

I reached out and gripped her elbows, only to realize it was Kate.

She held a bakery bag in her hands that was currently pressed to my chest. She looked up at me with those wide green eyes that always took me in when I couldn’t think.

I swallowed hard. “Hey.”

“Hi, Sawyer.” She licked her lips, and it was all I could do not to bend down and capture them with mine.

She always tasted so sweet. I loved the taste of her lip gloss, the way that she would nibble at my lips and moaned when I did the same to her.

I loved the way she made little mewing sounds as she was close to orgasm.

When I would know exactly how to slide my fingers over her clit to send her over the edge.

Honestly, the feel of her pussy clamping down around my cock as she came was one of the true wonders of the world.

And with how close we were just then, I had a feeling she could feel exactly how happy I was to see her.

Her cheeks blushed to an adorable pink as she looked down between us. “Somebody’s happy to see me,” she whispered, and I winked before letting go.

“He’s always happy to see you.”

“Are you going tonight?” she asked.

I was aware that we were standing in the middle the doorway, though nobody else seemed to notice. I cleared my throat and moved slightly forward so that way she had to walk backward.

“I am. Are you?”

“Yes. Is that okay?” She paused. “I don’t know if I’m going to continue to be good at this.”

I was aware that a few of our friends were now staring at us from behind the counter. And yet, I couldn’t quite let her go.

I was such a damn bastard. “So what if I did this?” I asked. Her eyes widened in answer as I lowered my head to brush my lips against hers.

She smiled against me, and I wanted to take the action back. Because part of me craved more. I wanted to show her off to the world, and make sure she had everything she ever needed for the rest of her life. But I wasn’t that guy. And yet here I was, kissing her.

She pulled away first, and I took a step back, wondering if I had messed up.

“I guess that answers that question,” she said softly, confusion in her gaze.

Shit.

“It’s about time,” Raven said from behind us.

We both turned to her as she grinned.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied.

“I thought there was something between the two of you, but I was never sure, and Sebastian said I was wrong. However, this is great.”

“It’s just…” Kate began but couldn’t finish her sentence.

“We are just hanging out,” I blurted.