Abiding Ink (Inked in the Steel City #4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

better, but she had no idea what that something could be. She knew very well that the pain of her father’s betrayal hadn’t faded from her mother’s heart, and the void he’d left wasn’t one a daughter could fill. And she hated that – hated that she couldn’t help.
    “What’ve you got in the shopping bag?” her mother asked, mercifully changing the subject. “Christmas presents?”
    “Actually, no.” Mallory had to fight a smile. “I went on a little shopping trip with a few of the nurses from my shift today.” Wanda had organized the excursion, and it had been fun – more fun than Mallory had anticipated. “I bought an outfit for Dr. Anthony’s holiday party.”
    “Ooh, you’ve got to let me see. Go put it on.”
    Mallory retreated to her room, lifted her purchase from its bag and admired it for a few seconds before stripping out of her jeans and sweater. Then, carefully, she slid into the dress.
    It wasn’t what she’d set out to buy, that was for sure. But as soon as she’d laid eyes on the glittering midnight-blue sheath, she’d stopped in her tracks. Fact was, the color would go perfectly with Tyler’s eyes. That thought was what had sealed the deal – that and Wanda, who’d talked Mallory into trying it on and had then insisted that it was perfect.
    Opening her closet door, Mallory stared into the mirror inside. It showed her exactly what the department store’s fitting room mirror had – a beautiful dress. A sexy dress. It fell to just below her knees, but it was figure-hugging, and a narrow but plunging keyhole cutout in front kept the mandarin collar from being too demure. Raising a hand, she traced the gap with a fingertip, feeling her skin pebble underneath.
    So much for her plans to wear something nun-worthy to the party. For something so dark and simple, the dress managed to be pretty flashy. But it wasn’t Dr. Anthony’s reaction she thought of as she traced the keyhole – it was Tyler’s.
    He’d agreed to be her date when she’d asked him, dressed in baggy scrubs. What would he think when he saw her in the dress?
    The thought was exciting – maybe a little too exciting. She wanted to impress him more than she’d anticipated. Maybe the desire had something to do with the fact that she’d stopped by Hot Ink’s website again. And again. Each time, she hadn’t been able to resist clicking on his page, where a portrait showcased him in his element – tattooing.
    Watching him clumsily push around a meal cart at the hospital had been cute, but looking through his portfolio had assured her that he was, in fact, very good with his hands, at least when it came to wielding a needle. His art was so impressive that she’d be willing to bet a paycheck that he was exceptionally good at anything that required a delicate touch. Hell, maybe the meal cart had a bad wheel. He was no klutz, that was for sure.
    “Mallory?” her mother called from the kitchen. “Do you need help zipping up or something?”
    “No, mom,” she answered, striding to the door and stepping out into the hall. “I’m coming.”
    Her mother’s eyes went wide as soon as she stepped into the kitchen. “So, who’s the lucky man?”
    Mallory gave a little twirl, as much to avoid meeting her mother’s gaze as to show off the back of the dress. “What?”
    “That’s the kind of dress you choose with someone in mind. Who is it?”
    “Actually,” Mallory conceded, spinning to a slow halt, “I do have a date for the party. He’s a volunteer I met at the hospital.”
    Her mother nodded slowly. “The dress is gorgeous. It really flatters you…”
    “But?” Mallory said softly, sensing the word hanging in the air.
    “I just hope he’s worthy of you. That’s all.”
    “Mom.” Mallory gave one of the little waves her mother was famous for. “I just met him a couple days ago, and it’s only a work party. I thought it would be nice to have a date instead of going alone. It’s not like we’re going to