Ace never imagined leaving his thriving tattoo shop in New York City and moving to Dairy Creek, Pennsylvania. But a little girl with pigtails came into his life and he was damned if she’d grow up without knowing he was her dad.
Betrayed and broken, Rachel traded her career of planning the events of Hollywood’s A-list for tearing down old barns and selling off the pieces. The desire to commemorate her new life leads her to a local tattoo shop, but she didn’t bargain on meeting Mr. Tatted, Dark, and Sexy. Her heart was set on avoiding all men and the sexy tattooed variety like Ace were at the top of her “Do Not Touch” list.
What Rachel didn’t expect was the soft gravel of Ace’s voice and his surprisingly soft caress to crumble the walls around her heart, forcing her to face the pain of her past while questioning her future.
Inking the Barnstormer is a stand-alone, contemporary, feel-good small town romance filled with sexy tattooing, hot lovemaking, a marathon tattoopalooza event with a hilarious cast of characters, and a dog named Minnie (or Cujo, it depends who you ask).
He tipped her chin up with his thumb and captured her gaze. “Why now, Rach?”
“You’re all set at the shop. You have plenty of help with Dixie. You don’t need me anymore.”
He shook his head and tucked a loose lock of hair around her ear. “That’s not why you’re leaving.”
She turned around and pulled the plastic wrap from a cabinet drawer. “We’re in too deep, Ace. This can’t go anywhere. You know it. I know it.” She ripped off a piece of plastic film and wrapped the plate. “It’s time for me to go.”
Ace closed the space between them. “Stay.”
“I can’t.”
“Just until the festival is over. Please.” He trailed his fingertips up her arm.
“I-I shouldn’t.”
“Why?” He hooked his finger around her hair tie and rolled it down the length of her ponytail. Her chestnut tresses spread over her shoulders.
Rachel leaned back so her head rested on his chest. “Because of this.”
“This is such a bad thing?” He slowly dragged his fingers to her shoulders and the back of her neck, rubbing small circles under her hairline.
“Yes.” She rolled her head to the side and moaned softly.
His gaze moved to the pulse point of her neck and the heat of her body coursed through him. He leaned over and whispered into her ear. “Because I see this as a very good thing.” He brushed his lips down her neck.
“Ace,” she whispered.
He inhaled. The scent of soap and the lingering aroma of pancakes filled his senses. His parted mouth trailed up to her ear. “A very good thing,” he said before his lips crashed against hers. She turned and wrapped her arms around him as he lifted her body to the counter, stepping closer so her legs were on either side of his waist. She met every stroke from his lips as her fingers raked through his hair. He pulled her tucked shirt from her pants. Her heated skin blazed against his palms. She tugged his t-shirt up his back and broke their kiss long enough to pull the garment over his head and drop it to the ground. She ran her fingers over his shoulders and biceps, eliciting a shiver from him.
“Wrap your legs around me,” he said, lifting her easily into his arms. The heat of her skin surrounded him as he carried her into his bedroom. He laid her on his bed and flattened his palms on the mattress on either side of her face, supporting his weight.
“I shouldn’t. We shouldn’t,” she whispered but her hooded eyes and parted lips spoke the opposite.
He surveyed her face. “Tell me what you want, Rachel. I need to hear it from you.”
“I—” Her fingers trailed up his arms and curled around his shoulders as she tried to pull his body closer.
He resisted and locked his arms. “Tell me.” He wanted to hear the words from her lips.
Her chest rose and fell as her hands moved from his shoulders to cup his face. When he met her stare, her eyes burned into his. “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything.”
It was all he needed to hear.
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