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I can’t help but wonder what it’s like to be so pretty. To always draw attention for the right reason and not because you look like a freak. I bet it must feel great not having to worry about people looking at you with horror or pity.

The truth is, I got into the makeup industry in an attempt to fix my flaws.

I’ve had the dark crescent moon birthmark on the left side of my face since birth, but I’ve never gotten used to people staring.

Maybe I could look past it if that was the only flaw on my face.

But my mismatched eyes, one a deep blue and the other a warm brown, also always seem to unnerve people.

Freak.

I’ve been called all sorts of names over the years, and I would be lying if I said it doesn’t get to me. The stares, the disgusted looks…

So I tried to fix them—my flaws. I caked my face with powder, but couldn’t hide the birthmark on my face. It was like a beacon, calling for everyone to see despite my best efforts. I stuck with the art to make others feel great about themselves in a way I couldn’t do for myself.

“Hey, what going on here?” the woman exclaims, her voice cutting through the air like a knife.

The giant pauses, his brows furrowing slightly as he turns to her, and I would have missed the slight impatience that crosses his eyes if mine weren’t on him.

She strides forward, hands on her hips, and looks between me and the man.

“You don’t need to check her bag. Come on guys, this is crazy.

You can’t shake down everyone who comes to see me. Not everyone is Natalie!”

Jade Purdy.

I realize she is the client I was coming to see.

I begin connecting the dots. The services I’m offering today are for her engagement shoot.

She and I have been chatting the past few days about the kind of look she wants.

I’m surprised that I didn’t immediately recognize her from the pictures she sent me.

And this man who is so protective over her that he wants to make sure I’m not carrying any weapons must be…my client’s fiancé!

“It’s my job to know who and what comes and goes from here.” the giant says, narrowing his eyes at Jade. “No stranger gets access to the club without getting checked out first.”

Jade rolls her eyes dramatically. “Come on, Blaze, look at her. Does she look like a threat to you?”

I flush when her words shift all the attention to me, and I quickly look down, moving my hair a bit to hide my birthmark.

My nerves flare with the urge to run and hide.

I could always send someone back to grab my kit for me later.

I’ve never once been attracted to a man, and the first time I allow myself to look—allow my gaze to linger—it’s for someone forbidden.

“Fine,” the giant concedes, stepping aside. “But I’m keeping an eye on both of you.”

Jade grins triumphantly before moving forward and hooking an arm around mine, pulling me off the bar stool.

“I’m so sorry you had to go through that.

These guys can be intense sometimes,” she says dragging me away and leading me past a pool table.

As all the men in the bar watch us, she leads me into a dimly lit hall.

“I’m so freaking happy you are here, Ingrid.

We’ve been talking for days, and I’ve been eager to meet you.

It’s been ages since I’ve had girl company,” she says excitedly, leading me down the hall.

The walls here are adorned with more photos of rugged bikers, and I question if this is a biker-themed bar or something.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the beauty salon in person.

My fiancé has been a little protective lately. ”

“It’s okay, we provide mobile services,” I assure her as we approach a heavy wooden door marked by years of wear and tear.

“The engagement photoshoot will be happening here at the club, so I thought why not do the makeup here as well? My fiancé graciously offered his office for this. He rarely even uses it.” She pushes open the door, and I step inside.

The room is surprisingly cozy with warm lighting casting a gentle glow over the space.

It’s filled with a mix of leather furniture and rustic decor, a stark contrast to the rough exterior.

I spot the large desk in the corner, cluttered with papers and a few personal items.

I try to picture the giant man from the bar—Blaze—in this room, seated behind the leather chair and mussing up that dark hair as he looks through the papers, but for some reason, I can’t picture it.

I shake off the thought and turn around to see the man himself standing quietly by the door holding my barely closed case.

“You can, uh, place that on the table,” I tell him, avoiding his eyes. He does as requested but doesn’t leave the room. Instead, he pushes the door shut and leans against it to watch us.

“He’s hot, isn’t he?” Jade asks, and my panicked gaze shoots to hers, but instead of rage or jealousy, I spot a knowing smile.

I flush, “I…uh…”

“Don’t worry, all the guys in this place are gorgeous, in a rough kind of way,” she says with a wink, chuckling when she notices the flush on my cheeks. “You know what I mean, right?”

“Uh, yeah,” I say turning to my kit to prepare my tools, conscious of Blaze in the same room with us. His presence makes it hard for me to focus, and I nearly drop my hairbrush in an attempt to get it out, fingers trembling like they never have before.

Focus! I have to. On anything but the giant standing by the door!

“If you need anything, Blaze can get it for you,” Jade says, turning to the man with a wicked grin on her face. “Won’t you, Blaze?”

The man grunts, which makes Jade laugh for some reason.

I quietly force in deep breaths, tuning out the man’s distracting presence to focus on my work, but when I turn around, my eyes find his.

He’s looking at me too, watching me with such heated intensity, it’s a wonder I haven’t already gone up in a ball of flames.

Don’t look. This man is forbidden, Ingrid. He’s Jade’s. Don’t look.

I break the eye contact, set on ignoring him for the rest of the appointment. It’s only one afternoon anyway. I can definitely last that long without constantly looking at the man.