The Company Ink (Six Degrees of Separation) / Six Degrees of Separation (ePub)

River

I had a few gifts. I was an artist and my medium…was skin. This was the answer I gave for shock value, since my profession was tattoo artist. I was also good at reading people. Tell me your favorite flower, and I could share what it revealed about your personality. Lately, my gift that just kept giving was my ability to take a bad situation and make it so much worse.

How else could I explain hooking up with Jamie?

One minute, I was on top of the world, feeling mildly guilty that I was visiting my boss in the hospital right after a possible heart attack. I had a dream: to own the tattoo shop where I worked. I had a plan: make him an offer he couldn't refuse. Not really. That seemed like the Vegas thing to say. Actually, I had an offer he never heard.

Why? Someone else's plan was better than mine. Someone with deeper pockets.

When I learned the tattoo parlor had already been sold out from under me, I did the next logical thing. I made my way to my favorite hotel bar and settled in for a drink. That's how I met Jamie, the root of all evil.

I tricked him into buying me a drink. He tricked me into checking out his room. And then there was more drinking and less clothing. More sex and less talk. Had I stayed sober, in the bar, and talking, I might have learned that Jamie was the new owner of the shop and he planned to transform it into one of his cookie-cutter parlors: The Company Ink.

Truth be told, I needed to do some transforming too. I was ready to spread my wings, leave Vegas behind, and build a life someplace new. Little did I know, much like the tattoos I loved so much changed a person's skin, Jamie would make a lasting impression on my heart. That's what I get for dipping my pen in the company ink.

Jamie

The Company Ink had been my brainchild, my dream, my challenge.

I grew up privileged, and owning what was essentially a chain of tattoo parlors was about as edgy as my father would ever allow. He didn't think they could be profitable, but with a board in place, he let me have my way. I knew his eyes were on me. And I refused to let him down.

We'd been in talks with Pops for weeks when he called from the hospital, ready to make a deal. Peter, my right-hand man, wasted no time in swooping in to settle things. My job was simple: help with the transition. I thought the task would be quick and painless. Clearly, I'd underestimated River.

From the moment I saw her picture, one of many from the reconnaissance package created by Peter's PI, I wanted to talk to her. Of course, I never imagined we'd end up in the same place at the same time. That she would agree to spend a weekend with me, no names, no numbers, no information exchanged, was beyond my wildest imaginings.

Normally, I had a head for business, but I forgot everything else the minute River and I closed the door to the penthouse. I forgot about having an exit strategy. I forgot I was supposed to be helping to onboard her. I forgot I was her boss.

This was bad. I couldn't see how it could get much worse. River told me she had a thing or two to teach me. The first was how to do nothing. That was a great lesson. The second was how to lose. I thought she meant in the casino. I could handle that. Money was nothing for a guy who had everything. Then I realized the loss…was her.

And that was something for a guy who could weigh every risk in business, but never foresaw the risk to his heart.

If you love reading boss and employee, city, steamy romances, then you'll love River and Jamie's story.