Deborah Cooke - 05 Whisper Kiss by Deborah Cooke

Author:Deborah Cooke
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-08-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

“Laurie looks taller,” Niall said as Rox cleaned up her work area. “Happier.”

He leaned in the doorway, his eyes bright as he watched her. Rox had the definite sense that he was barricading her into the room, that he wanted to say something and was going to be sure she listened.

She was tired, as she always was after doing a memorial tattoo, and was pretty sure Niall had noticed. She turned her back on him, trying to compose herself before he saw too much.

She dropped the used needles into a hygienic trash container, fighting her awareness of Niall. “It’s a kind of therapy,” she said lightly. “Chynna always says the physical pain helps heal the emotional pain.”

“You don’t sound as if you believe that.”

Rox frowned but still didn’t glance up. “There’s an exchange, but I don’t think that’s quite it.”

“The transaction is the passing of grief,” Niall said, no equivocation in his tone. “In talking about her pain, she left its energy here. The tattoo is a souvenir of that surrender, but not the exchange itself.”

Rox glanced up at him in surprise. She’d suspected as much for a long time but would never have expected anyone to come up with the same conclusion.

Much less someone practical like Niall.

“I’ll bet you feel tired after you do a memorial tattoo,” Niall said with conviction. “I’ll bet it wears you out.”

Rox nodded, then sat down heavily. “I told Chynna and Neo years ago that one a shift is my max.”

“Because you took on the burden of her grief. She passed that negative energy to you.”

Niall shrugged. “It’s not that different from bartenders listening, or priests hearing confessions.

Putting the pain into words cuts it loose.”

“Hairdressers,” Rox said with a nod. “They listen, too.”

“But a tattoo takes longer than any of those things. Maybe that’s why it works so well.”

Niall smiled, the connection between them as hot and strong as ever. Rox felt dizzy just looking into his eyes, and he was on the other side of the room.

The firestorm tingled and teased, reminding her just how fabulous Niall’s kisses were.

She found herself watching his lips as he spoke.

Wanting.

“Just because you can’t see the transaction doesn’t mean it isn’t happening,” Niall insisted.

“We pass energy to one another all the time, good and bad, and how we feel is shaped by that.

Talk to a friend who’s sad, and you’ll feel blue. Talk to a friend who’s busy and happy, and you’ll feel energized.”

He was right.

His ability to see so clearly behind her barricades was a bit spooky.

“Hey, Rox,” Neo said, leaning around the door. A familiar figure lurked behind him, looking much cleaner than before. “I’m taking Barry to Mickey D’s. Kid’s going to faint wiping the floor if he doesn’t get something to eat.”

“Okay, great.”

“It’s dead quiet today,” Neo continued, casting a mischievous smile at Niall. “Why don’t you lock up when you’re done and go play with your friends for a while?”

Rox threw a towel at him. Neo laughed and ran, Barry fast behind him.

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