Inked Fighter: Complete Collection (MMA MC New Adult Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page B

glasses and two expensive tank tops that were designed to look old. Layers of necklaces hung over her breasts. She was only a few years older than me, but she had finished school and had taken over the boutique with her partner a few months ago.
    Her eyes lit up when she saw me and she immediately went to Rose with her hands held out, goo-gooing in baby talk. Rose giggled, and I let Emily take Rose and bounce her on her hip.
    “I love this fabric, Claire,” she said, running her hand down the front of one of the dresses I’d uncovered. “Mel and I are going to buy your dresses outright. They fly off the rack as soon as they come in. Which reminds me. I’ve got your sales from last week." From the cash register she pulled bills folded up in a sticky note, and she shoved the bundle toward me. Emily looked back at Rose, who was sucking on one of her necklaces.
    “How many did you bring in today?”
    “Five,” I said, counting the cash she’d given me.
    “I’m going to pay you ten dollars extra per dress as an incentive to make more,” she said. Rose grabbed at her underarm, and Emily giggled. 
    I said, “You have no idea how helpful that is.” She counted money from the till and set it on the counter. She looked up at me with an expression that bordered on pity, and then broke back into her normal, lighthearted smile.
    “Don’t mention it, it’s purely selfish. Your dresses are some of the most popular items in our store.”
    I shoved the money in my purse and reached out for Rose. Emily handed her over with a pout. I gave her a big smile, the kind of smile that rarely showed up on my face lately.
    “As fast as you can sew, Claire. I’m not kidding. This time of year people are driving up the coast in droves. Cute unique dresses like yours are always in demand.”
    “Awesome. You can count on it,” I said, turning to leave. Emily gave Rose a baby-talk bye-bye as we walked out the door. All I could think about was groceries, diapers, fabric, work, and fucking chaos.
    I thought of going to Eureka or down to Ukiah to shop for fabric, but I didn’t have the energy for such a long drive. We had a Hobby Lobby in town, and I could get the supplies for another batch of dresses there.
    I needed high white cotton that I could hand dye in small batches. I used a technique I learned in my first months at fashion school. I made unique designs, with the dye, that turned out looking like abstract floral patterns. People said they looked chic.
    Inside Hobby Lobby, Ethel waved at me from the checkout line as I put Rose in a shopping cart. I’d known Ethel since I was a kid. Old ladies always loved it when girls did traditional woman hobbies. They didn’t love it so much when you got knocked up out of wedlock at eighteen.
    I wheeled my cart down the aisle to where I knew I could find my fabric. I glanced over the art supplies as I strolled by. Down one of the art supply aisles I saw him — the guy from the beach. Damien
    My heart skipped, and my face went hot just seeing him. I pushed my cart forward, feeling too embarrassed and too stupid to say anything. I knew I looked ridiculous. Had I even brushed my hair today? I was wearing the same crumby sweatshirt. It was clean, but still, I was wearing the same damn thing. God, I was a slob. When did that happen to me?
    “Hey. Claire, wait up.”
    I heard his footsteps jog up behind me. I turned, not wanting to look in his face. I brushed a lock of hair behind my ear.
    “What’s up?” he asked, smiling down at me. He was wearing a tight t-shirt that strained over his taut shoulders. His scorching blue eyes radiated heat. I could practically feel the energy coming off of him.
    “Hi,” I said meekly. I was thinking of a way to get away from his intense gaze. I didn’t want him to see me like this. If he could just see me looking hot and ten pounds — no, twenty pounds — lighter. If he could just see eighteen-year-old me. College girl me. Unbroken me. The girl without