Rigid (Whiskey Run Savage Ink 3) - Page 1

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Emily

“So how’s it going at Savage Ink? Are you liking it?” Violet asks.

I spear my fork into the salad in front of me with more force than I need to. I’m having lunch with Violet at her diner, Red’s. I shift in my seat and wonder how I even answer that without being ungracious. But there’s no hiding anything from Violet. Before I can get my “uh” out, she’s already asking another question. “Okay, spill it. What’s wrong?”

I stare back at the woman that pretty much saved me from being homeless. When I was driving on the highway from Jasper to Whiskey Run a month ago and my car broke down, Violet and her husband, Josh, were the only ones that stopped to help me. I was down to my last four hundred dollars, no job, and a crappy car that could barely get me from point A to point B. I had no luck finding a job in Jasper unless I was wanting to work at the strip club, which I wasn’t. And Violet and Josh really came through for me. They got my car to Jenning’s Automotive and put in a good word for me at Savage Ink. I remember thinking at the time that Violet and Josh had to be some sort of crazy people to help me the way they did, but later I discovered they’re just nice people. “I don’t want to sound ungrateful. But I don’t want to lie to you either.”

Violet shifts in her seat. “Well, don’t lie to me. What’s going on? I thought working at Savage Ink would be right up your alley.”

I look at the tattoos on my arms. I guess I can see why she thought that. And well, it’s actually a great job. I’m getting a lot of hours in for my piercing apprenticeship. It won’t be long until I can apply for my license. But there’s definitely some parts of the job I can do without. Okay, really only one part—one person, in fact.

I start with the positives. “Well, Aiden and Treyton are amazing. And Gracie and Katie have been super welcoming. The job is easy, and the pay is great.”

She lays down her fork. “But?”

I do the same, letting the silverware in my hand fall onto the napkin. “Dawson is an asshole. And I don’t just mean asshole.” I lean across the table and whisper loudly to her. “I mean capital ASS-hole.”

She shrugs. “Well, I know he’s not overly friendly or anything, but I wouldn’t say he’s an asshole. He’s been in Whiskey Run his whole life, and honestly, I’ve never heard anyone say he’s just an asshole. What did he do?”

I lean back in my seat. “Now I’ve offended you. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Violet laughs. “You didn’t offend me.”

Disbelief is on my face. I know I offended her, and of everyone I’ve met, Violet is the last one that I want to upset. “I did. And I’m sorry.”

She shrugs her shoulders and picks her fork back up. “I’m not offended. I just... I don’t know. I know the hell he’s gone through, and I guess I just sort of excuse any bad behavior for that. And I know that’s not right. What did he do to you?”

I sit up in my seat. I haven’t heard anything about Dawson’s past, which now that I think about it, is surprising. In a small town like Whiskey Run, it seems there’s always someone willing to gossip. But I haven’t heard a thing about Dawson. “What do you mean he’s been through hell? What happened to him?”

She’s shaking her head before I even get the first question out. “Oh no. It’s not my place to say. You want to know, ask him.”

I smirk. “Right. He doesn’t tell me anything. He barely talks to me unless he’s telling me something I’m doing wrong.”

Violet is watching me closely, and I try to hide all the feelings, hoping she can’t see them. To be honest, I was sort of into Dawson in the beginning. Yeah, he had an attitude, but there’s something about him that I’m drawn to. There’s been times I thought he felt it too. But if so, he’s definitely not letting on. As a matter of fact, it feels like he can barely even stand to be around me most of the time.

“What?” I ask her when she keeps watching me.

“So you don’t like him?”

“Like him? Are you listening to what I’m saying to you?” I bring the glass of water up to my mouth, needing something to hide behind.

Her forehead creases. “Yeah, I’m listening. But there’s something you’re not telling me.”

I gulp hard, and the liquid I have in my mouth goes down the wrong pipe, and I start to choke. As soon as I’m able to catch my breath, Violet smiles at me like she knows something. I shake my head, deciding it might be best to change the subject.

Tags: Hope Ford Whiskey Run Savage Ink Romance
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