Read Abiding Ink (Inked in the Steel City #4) for Free Online Page B

look like the type to humor handsy old ladies.
    They made a little more small talk, and although it was nothing out of the ordinary, she enjoyed it more than she’d expected to. The fact that she got to stare at him the whole time may have had something to do with it.
    “Listen,” he said when she dabbed her mouth with her napkin, then dropped it onto her empty plate, “part of the reason why I asked you to have lunch with me was that I wanted to ask you something else.”
    Her heart skipped a beat as his words lit a spark of curiosity inside her. “What?”
    “My work has a Christmas party too. My boss throws one every year.” He reached into his pocket, pulling something out with obvious care. “The invitation is for me plus one. Would you like to be my date?”
    He laid the invitation down on the table, unfolding it and smoothing it against the surface.
    A bubble of laughter rose up inside her, and she settled for grinning at the paper gingerbread man, which was complete with glue-dot eyes and glittery trim. “Does your boss have kids?”
    “No, actually… I think one of my other co-worker’s nieces made this.” He flipped the invitation over, revealing a backside that was devoid of glitter and printed with a time, date and address. “The party is on Saturday – the day after yours. If you’re free—”
    “I’ll go,” she said. He’d agreed to attend her work party – she could go to his, too. There were certainly worse fates than being escorted to parties two nights in a row by the likes of Tyler DeHaven. And besides, she was a little dazzled by the be-glittered gingerbread man. What kind of place was the Hot Ink Tattoo Studio, exactly?
    Thinking back to her web search, a bolt of nervous anticipation sailed through her. Soon, she’d find out for herself.
     
* * * * *
 
    Seeing Mallory for the first time had taken Tyler’s breath away, and she’d been wearing scrubs then. Seeing her in the dress she’d chosen for her boss’s party nearly killed him. Drawing a deep, quiet breath and refusing to let it rush out, he took her hand as she descended the last of her apartment building’s stairs.
    “You look amazing.” The midnight blue dress glittered in the lighting that illuminated the complex’s lot. The fabric was dark, but not at all subdued. The skirt hugged her every curve, and she wore a black jacket with a cropped body and long sleeves.
    “Thanks,” she said, smiling and raising a hand to touch her hair, which had been swept up into some sort of knot that let a few curls hang free. “I hope you don’t mind that I came down when I saw your car pull up.  I’d invite you inside, but I’m afraid it’d be awkward – kind of like leaving for a high school prom dance, if my mom has her way.”
    “Really?” A ripple of amusement swept through him. She didn’t look like a teenaged girl in a gaudy gown – she was the epitome of womanliness in her dress and simple black heels, her tasteful make-up.
    “Yeah.” She winced as he opened the passenger side door of his car for her. “My mom actually took a picture of me when I came out of my room dressed for the party. I guess that’s a sign that I need to get out more.”
    “Don’t get out much, huh?” It was kind of hard to believe that someone who looked like Mallory didn’t have social invitations flying at her left and right. Why would she turn them down?
    Not that he didn’t believe her. She’d asked him to be her date after Dr. Creepster had all but said that he’d be happy to fill that role, after all.
    “Not as much as some other women my age, I guess. I’ve got work, my mom, and I’ve always been kind of a homebody. I’m not much of a party girl.”
    “Your mom – does she have health problems or something?” He hadn’t thought anything of Mallory living with her mother, but when she put it that way, she made it sound like there was something more to their living arrangement than simple preference.
    “She’s