Marked Heart (Marked Heart #3) (3 page)

Braden watched her victory walk until she disappeared down the hallway that led to her bedroom.

M
2
H

Sitting quietly on the ottoman, Liv hesitated. Braden was asleep on the couch in front of her. She knew she needed to wake him but he seemed so at peace with himself, she waited. Watching his chest rise and fall as he slept, she caught herself keeping rhythm with his breath. As each inhale and exhale passed perfectly in sync with his, Liv closed her eyes.

Their friendship, while unusual to most everyone around them, gave her purpose. She had been in love twice in her life and both times she had been hurt. Her relationship with Braden wasn't love. It was hard to explain. On the outside everyone saw only what they wanted them to see. Braden and Liv knew each other on the inside. She had watched him break just like he had seen her unravel and somehow for a few hours each Thursday night between the board games and beer, they were whole again.

As Liv slowly opened her eyes, she felt herself smile.

Hopping up from the ottoman, she clapped her hands just inches from Braden's face while alerting, "Wake Up!"

Groaning, he rolled over, putting his back to her.

"Come on, punk, get up. You're going to be late for work."

"I got laid-off yesterday," he replied, his voice muffled by the couch cushions.

"That sucks. You hungry?"

Rolling onto his back, Braden looked up at her.

"Bacon and eggs?"

Turning to walk out of the living room, Liv asked, "Are you going to start looking for another job?"

Braden let out a loud yawn as he stood, following her to the kitchen.

"Nah, I think I'll be alright. I have some money saved and I'm going to file for unemployment."

Pulling a package of bacon and a carton of eggs out of the refrigerator and setting them on the counter by the stove, she offered, "If you run short, I've got some work around here."

"Whatcha need?"

Liv unwrapped the bacon and dropped it in the skillet as Braden leaned against the counter next to her.

"I'm turning Kieran's marking room into a library."

"You are?"

Nodding, she started to explain, "This book I read a few months ago, said..."

Braden cut her off, laughing, "You and your self-help books."

"It was an erotic thriller that centered around..."

"Hold on," he interrupted her again, "Erotic like porn?"

Shrugging her shoulder as she poked at the bacon with a fork, Liv clarified, "More like mystery with lots of hot sex."

"You dirty girl," he teased with a wide smile before questioning, "So this 'library' you're wantin', is really a room to stash your porn collection?"

"No, I keep all the porn on my kindle in the drawer next to my bed." Liv replied with a smirk.

Braden started to smile then narrowed his eyes at her. Instinctively, she narrowed her eyes back at him, without realizing they were having a stand off until he broke into a full sprint towards the back of the house. Quickly removing the skillet from the burner before turning it off, Liv rushed to the back, after him.

By the time she made it into the room, Braden had her kindle in one hand, swiping pages with the other.

"Here we go," he announced as something apparently caught his eye. "Roughly rubbing circles around her..."

"Put it down," she snapped, marching towards him.

Backing into the corner, he skipped to, "Threading his fingers into the back of her hair, he pulled her down to his aching..."

Reaching to snatch her kindle from him, she blurted, "Damn it!" As he held it high above his head, exclaiming, "Wait! This part's highlighted!"

"Give it here, punk!" Liv practically growled, pulling at his sleeve until they both heard the material start to tear.

Finally giving in, Braden said, "Alright. Geez." Lowering his arm and handing it back to her.

Grabbing it out of his hand, she set her kindle back in her open drawer and slammed it shut.

Slightly out of breath, she glared at him.

"Guess that answers the question of, 'Are you seeing anyone?'" he teased with a laugh.

"Or maybe I like to try new things."

All humor left his expression as he stood there staring at her.

"Nuh-uh..."

Liv smiled, arching an eyebrow at him as she replied, "Thursday's only one night. You really think I sit here alone every other night reading?"

Braden looked at the floor, mumbling, "I don't know."

Without waiting for him to look back up at her, Liv turned and walked out of the room.

~

Driving to work, Liv wasn't embarrassed by what Braden read on her kindle, she was more offended than anything. Even if it was true, he had no right to assume she was spending every night alone. Besides, if anyone deserved a wild adventurous sex life, it was her. That type of life had been non-existent long before her husband died. Not to mention, the only two men she had slept with, one in high school and the other she married, both lost interest in her.

Her first time was a one night stand with her high school crush. It was almost understandable that by the very next day he had forgotten all about her. Seeing as she had never even spoken to him before handing her virginity over to him one night.

Kieran though, she never quite understood. He was her husband. A man she committed her life to. The one that when they were dating, swore she was the sexiest woman he'd seen in his entire life. Slowly, within the bonds of marriage, their sex life suffered. Until one day, it stopped all together.

With that in mind, Liv felt she needed to prove something to herself. She wasn't looking to just have sex, otherwise she'd already be doing it. Love wasn't a part of the equation either. What she wanted was passion, all-consuming hunger for another person, and a moment where she could see nothing but desire for her in a man's eyes. That's what she wanted.

Strolling into Legacy Ink, Liv gave Jimmy a short wave on her way to the back. Jimmy was an old high school buddy of Kieran's who for years just hung around the shop talking mess and hitting on every girl that walked into the shop. Once Liv took over the tattoo shop and made Penny a partner, she decided if Jimmy was there all day anyway they might as well get some use out of him. He wasn't the brightest but he could schedule appointments. Not only did hiring him take some of the burden off Penny and Liv with the shops growing popularity, he was their security too. Everyone in town knew him and were not likely to start anything that he would need to finish. Those who came from out of town would see a six foot four mass of muscles and tattoos as soon as they walked into the shop. It was a smart decision to hire him.

After tossing her purse on a chair in the small make shift office in the back, Liv walked back to the front.

"What's the day look like?" she asked, making her way up to the counter.

Jimmy glanced over the calendar and replied, "One this afternoon. I thought Penny needed a break. She's booked solid everyday next week."

Rubbing her hands together, Liv nodded, saying, "We really need to get someone else in here. She's gonna end up with arthritis or some kinda hand disfigurement if this keeps up."

"Want me to put an ad online?"

"Not yet, but maybe soon." Liv answered, turning when the bell above the shop door rang.

A twinge of excitement nudged a smile that she promptly held back, as the door closed behind a man with dirty blonde slicked back hair and a brown leather jacket.

Jimmy mumbled something under his breath as Liv stepped away from the counter.

"What's up, Pat?" she greeted.

"Everything, lookin' at you, Liv."

Liv stared at him in response, giving the impression she was unimpressed.

Keeping his focus on Liv, Pat asked, "How goes it, Jimmy?"

"Pat." Jimmy replied in a flat tone.

With a sarcastic smile, Liv stated, "Since its obvious we all know each other's names, you can step to the back with me."

Pat happily obliged, following behind her as she headed back to the office.

Feeling his eyes on her as she walked, Liv took her time making it the short distance to the back room.

"Invoice?" She questioned, holding her hand out to him.

Patting his hands down his chest and torso, he replied, "Guess I forgot it."

"You must not want to get paid then," she assured, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"Tell you what, spend the night with me and we'll call it even."

"Know what that's called?"

"It's called a trade, baby, and I'm all about the barter system."

"My ass isn't up for negotiation." Liv spouted, brushing past him as she headed out of the room.

Pat circled his arms around her waist, pulling her back into the room to face him.

"You know I enjoy this little back and forth thing we do, but sooner or later you're gonna give in."

Liv allowed him to keep his arms around her as she questioned, "Pretty cocky there?"

Reaching around to swing the door closed, he offered, "Wanna see for yourself?"

"You wish," she laughed, pressing against him.

"I do." Pat replied before leaning in saying, "You're hard on the outside with your tattoos and bad attitude but I bet you're soft and warm on the inside."

Tilting her chin up, Liv invited his kiss.

Liv had known Pat for years. She even went out with him a few times before she met Kieran at one of his parties. He wasn't exactly trustworthy though, and she knew most of his business practices were shady. However, there was an undeniable attraction when it came to Pat, one that was never going to move past making out in the back of the shop every so often. But still, it was something tangible that made her feel like a woman and that in itself was reason enough to keep it going.

While his hands roamed the front of her clingy t-shirt, his lips glided softly against hers.

With a deep breath, Pat pulled away, swearing, "You know, it's gonna take me a good hour to come down from this."

"Best get on with the recovery process then."

Pat gave a slight laugh and kissed her again before saying, "You say the sweetest things to me."

Liv winked at him with a smirk on her face as she motioned towards the door.

"Admit it. I'm wearing you down."

Snapping her fingers, she pointed at him, declaring, "Keep hope alive."

Shaking his head with a smile, Pat walked out of the room.

Focusing on her lips in the small rectangular mirror on the wall as she reapplied her lipstick, Liv waited to hear the bell above the door ring before stepping out of the back.

"You can do better." Jimmy griped as she walked past him.

"I'm not doing him."

"I figured, since he keeps comin' back."

Turning back to him, she shot him a questioning glare.

"And word has it he's quick on the draw, without packin' a whole lot."

"That's the word, huh?"

Jimmy's expression was dead serious as he nodded, causing Liv to laugh at his way of being a friend to her.

M
3
H

Braden was expecting a much larger crowd when he walked into The Dog House late Saturday night. It was usually packed. He preferred it that way. When the bar was full it was easy to ignore the music inside. Tonight, with little chatter from the handful of customers he could hear 'The Man Who Broke His Own Heart' by Everclear playing throughout the bar.

A pint of Guinness and an empty stool were waiting on him when he reached the bar.

"You scare off all the customers?"

Auggie gave a hard scowl before running his hand down the front of his red beard.

"They all heard you were comin' and left."

Braden lifted his beer, taking a long sip before smiling, "How's it goin', brother?"

"Can't complain. You?"

"All good here." Braden answered, taking another sip of beer before Penny, slid onto the barstool next to him.

"Where's Mina?"

Glancing behind his sister to give her husband Seth a nod, Braden replied, "A friend of hers needed the night off so she picked up her shift."

Penny smiled wide as she cheered, "She's so sweet. Are y'all getting serious? Y'all have been dating for almost a year now."

Wondering why everyone was suddenly bringing up their dating time span, he shrugged and shook his head before returning his focus to the beer in front of him.

The fact that the song playing overhead switched to 'Believe' by Mumford & Sons, mixed with the inquisitive stares of all three of them, gave Braden and uneasy feeling. So much so, that when Charlotte, Auggie's wife, made her way behind the bar with her blonde hair pulled into a loose ponytail, he grabbed his half full pint of Guinness and downed it in one gulp. Turning away from the bar, he was prepared to walk out and let them judge him behind his back, when a familiar face caught his eye.

It took a minute of staring before Braden could admit to himself that what he was seeing was real.

"Looks like Pat's still trying to 'collect' on that invoice." Charlotte remarked as Penny giggled at what must have been and inside joke between the two of them. Braden didn't find it funny.

Without taking his eyes off Liv, he questioned, "From the chairs at the shop? That was three months ago. Why hasn't she paid it?"

"I don't think he wants her to." Charlotte replied before Penny shared, "He comes into the shop every once and a while. They always go to the back so she can write him a check, then...um... he says he forgot to bring the invoice."

In Braden's mind, the rational explanation was that of course he was hitting on her. Surely, she would give him hell for it before letting him go.

That was until Penny continued, "I don't know what they do back there, but she's always in a real good mood for the rest of the day after he leaves."

Uneasy was now an understatement as Braden watched Liv allow Pat to run the palm of his hand slowly up and down the tattoos on her arm.

"I think it's good, she needs..." Charlotte started to say before he cut her off, snapping, "He's not good for her. He's... Not good for her."

Unable to take any more of the situation in, Braden pushed away from the bar and walked out.

He only made it a few steps out of the doors before Seth stopped him.

"Hey, wait up."

Shaking his head Braden turned to Seth, venting, "Out of everybody in this damn town, that's who she picks to hook up with?"

"Instead of you?" Seth asked in a cautious yet serious tone.

"You know I'm not into her like that."

Seth's expression bordered on disbelief as he suggested, "I think you might like her more than you're willing to admit."

"Nah, man. I mean if one night she wanted to play naked twister I'd be all in, but I don't think about her like that."

"Never?"

Braden paused for a moment to think before answering, "I'm a guy. I know what she looks like but I don't dwell on it because...there's more to her than that."

"And you don't think that's reason enough?"

Disliking being put on the spot, Braden replied, "I think I have a girlfriend."

"Mina? The girl, who after almost a year, everyone loves but you?"

Surprised at how outspoken Seth was being, he questioned, "Why are you so interested in what I've got going on?"

With a loud exhale, he confessed, "Penny's making me crazy."

Wanting to laugh, the look on Seth's face was so sincere Braden held back.

Seth paced back and forth for a moment before settling in one spot.

"I look at her and she just seems like she would be fertile."

"What now?" Braden questioned, thinking he must have misunderstood.

Shaking his head at himself, Seth continued, "I was excited. I've been thinking about her having my babies since before the first time we slept together."

Braden started to glare at his brother in law, but allowed him to continue.

"At first it was great. I could barely keep her off of me to go to work, but now she's got these designated sex days that coincide with her ovulation..."

Holding his hand up, Braden had to stop him, "You know that's my sister, right?"

Appearing genuinely regretful, Seth replied, "I'm sorry. I know, but she's crazy."

Braden patted him on the back, reminding, "She's a Caffrey. You were warned."

Taking a deep breath, Seth nodded.

"Come on, let's go back in and get you a beer."

Jumping back a little, Seth exclaimed, "That's another thing! I'm only allowed one beer a week!"

"That's insane!"

Seth appeared serious as a heart attack as he declared, "The struggle is real."

Laughing out loud, Braden followed Seth back into The Dog House.

It wasn't long after they were back inside that Liv joined them at the bar.

Braden tried to block out what he had seen earlier but couldn't as he blurted, "I thought you were on a date," earning a disapproving expression from everyone, including Liv.

She narrowed her eyes at him for a minute longer than everyone else before announcing, "Did y'all hear? This one's gonna be my man servant," pointing her thumb at Braden.

"Your what?" Braden choked, almost spitting his sip of beer everywhere.

Ignoring his question, she continued, "Now I don't have to worry about hiring a stranger that'll go through my stuff."

"I would've come out there if you needed something fixed." Auggie informed.

With a light smile, she nodded, "I know but he doesn't have anything better to do."

"You know I'm sitting right here." Braden griped as they continued to talk as if he wasn't there.

"You should make him wear an outfit." Charlotte advised.

Auggie scowled at his wife as Penny wrinkled up her nose and shook her head.

"Come on, if the situation was reversed you know Braden would try to get her to wear one of those frilly maid dresses."

"True." Liv agreed before questioning, "What's the guy version of that?"

Penny's eyes suddenly went wide as Seth replied, "Penny likes naked."

Scowling at Seth, Auggie stepped away to fill a drink order, while Liv gave a loud, "Ha!" and Charlotte said, "Well, oh-kay..."

"I like my man Seth's idea." Braden replied, flashing a smile at Liv.

"No." Liv stated, pointing a finger directly at him.

Charlotte smiled, suggesting, "Suits are sexy. I love when Auggie wears one. He's all scruffy and polished at the same time." Then looking Braden over she added, "But you're kinda pretty so, that might not work."

"Ya know, he is kinda pretty." Auggie shared, back in the conversation.

"Maybe I should get you a frilly maid outfit then." Liv smirked at him.

Penny pursed her lips into a smile as she swept her long auburn hair over her shoulder, teasing, "I've always been jealous."

Seth remarked, "He really is."

"Thanks, man." Braden replied, thinking at least Seth would have had his back.

"Hey, I said Penny and naked in the same sentence. I'm lucky to still be alive at this point."

At that moment, even Auggie couldn't help but laugh.