Passionate Ink Read Online Free PDF Page B

I’m sure of it,” she lied as she tried to ease the anxiety flaring in Misty’s eyes.
    “Do you really think so?”
    No. But Catalina forced herself to smile, reached out and grabbed one of Misty’s hands.
    “I really think so,” she lied again. “Calder didn’t seem the least bit suspicious anything had happened. He said I had done a wonderful job. So obviously whatever happened I was able to keep working through it, so it must have been an artistic high.” The weirdest and coolest one she’d ever had.
    Relief splashed through Misty’s face. She had taken the bait. “Now let’s figure out exactly how we can get this incredible guy into your bed.”
    Catalina rolled her eyes. Leave it to Misty to try her matchmaking. “He’s not available.”
    Misty frowned and pounded the sand with her fist. “Shit. The wife. Of course, I should have known some lucky chick would get the well-hung man who is into the same fetish as you.”
    “Actually—” Cat stopped as Misty’s eyes widened with expectation. She should have kept her mouth shut.
    “Yeah…go on.” Misty squealed, giving her head a curious tilt that made Cat almost laugh out loud at how cute and excited her friend looked.
    “Never mind.”
    “He’s unhappily married?” she prodded, her mouth dropping open with anticipation.
    “Let’s just get off the topic. I want to have some fun. Let’s go swimming.” Suddenly Cat had this really intense need to take a dip in the ocean.
    She turned over and rolled off her mattress onto the sandy beach. Standing, she frowned when Misty didn’t follow. Her friend remained on her tummy, arms tucked beneath her chin. But from this angle, Cat could tell Misty was smiling quite happily. Matchmaking thoughts again. That was okay, though. The urge to head into the ocean was growing stronger and she just wanted to be alone with it.
    “Okay, so he’s not married,” Cat confessed. “But he’s got a girlfriend with a tentacle fetish and that’s why he’s giving her a tattoo. It’s a present to her.”
    Misty gazed up at her. “And you’ve got the same fetish. The man is available, girlfriend. A-v-a-i-l-a-b-l-e. No wedding ring means he is still available.”
    Disappointment rocked Cat. She’d never go after a man who was so obviously in love with another woman. So in love he was getting her something as permanent as a tattoo.
    “I don’t steal boyfriends, Misty. You know me better than that.”
    Misty grimaced and closed her eyes and settled her head back onto her arms, as if she was about to take a nap, which she usually did when she came over to visit and they lay on the beach.
    “Yeah, I know,” Misty said sadly. “And with that kind of attitude you’re never going to catch a man, Cat.”
    Well, then if that’s the way it had to be, then so be it. Cat grabbed her mattress, shoving it under her right arm before padding barefoot toward the gently lapping ocean.
    The sun was just setting and it sat like a giant ball right on top of the ocean, casting orange sparkles across the small waves. As her toes dipped into the cool water, all the tension from today’s happenings suddenly seemed to melt out of her body and slip into the water.
    Despite the conversation she’d just had with Misty about not going after another woman’s man, she couldn’t stop thinking about Calder. Couldn’t wait to see him again. She’d set up their next appointment for the day after tomorrow because she had already been booked solid for the following day. She’d blocked out the entire afternoon for him.
    He would have a day of healing and, when he came back, she’d be able to go on to tattoo the octopus across his belly and abdomen. If she didn’t zone out like she’d done today, and didn’t slip into another odd, artistic high, she could do the outline of the octopus in that time frame. Then start on coloring and some shadowing, leaving the other tentacles he wanted for other days. She’d leave the rose-enshrouding