After the Fall

birds really dive-bomb them?”
    “I’ve never seen it happen, but everyone on the island swore it was true.”
    I gave him another skeptical look. “Mm-hmm.”
    “Google it!”
    “I think I may have to, because that sounds about as believable as me breaking my leg in a bungee jumping mishap.”
    Ryan just laughed.
    At the top of the stairs, he let me go and handed back my crutch.
    I pulled my keys out of my pocket. “Thanks again.”
    “You’re welcome.” That shy smile materialized again. “And even without going to the barn, I still had a great time.”
    “Yeah, me too.” I couldn’t look away from him. God, he was gorgeous, and in spite of his shyness, he stared right back at me. The moment lingered, and I didn’t know what to make of this or of him, but finally, I broke eye contact. “So, um, when do you want to try for another lesson?”
    “Whenever you’re up to it. I’m free most evenings.”
    “I don’t want to waste your time, though. Commit to a lesson, and then have to bail.”
    “Well, we can plan for, say, tomorrow night,” he said. “And if you’re not up to it, we’ll find another restaurant to haunt until closing time.”
    I held his gaze for a moment, not sure what to say to that.
    He lowered his chin a little, eyebrows up as he waited for my answer.
    “Um . . .” I paused to collect my thoughts and clear my throat. “Come by the clinic at five?”
    The inquisitive expression shifted to a satisfied smile. “I’ll be there.”
    “Great. I’ll see you then.”
    “See you then. Good night, Nathan.”
    “Good night.”

On the way out of the clinic a few evenings later, Ryan glanced across the street at Ink Springs. “You said you know the guy who runs that place, right?”
    I nodded. “Yeah. He’s a friend of mine.”
    “He any good?” Ryan turned to me. “I mean, his work? Is it good?”
    “Oh, yeah. He’s one of the better ones in Tucker Springs.” I gestured toward the shop. “You want to check out his designs?”
    Ryan hesitated, but then nodded. “Why not? I’m sure Tsarina can handle being neglected for another ten minutes.”
    I laughed. “I’ll tell her you said that.”
    “Don’t you dare.” He threw me a playful glare, and then chuckled. We started across the street, but he stopped me with a hand on my arm. “What about your leg?”
    Rolling my eyes, I kept going and eased myself off the curb. “If I can get from your truck to the barn without crying ‘uncle,’ I can make it across the road.”
    “Fair enough.”
    My body was sore from moving around off and on at work all day, so getting from one side of the street to the other sucked ass. I refused to let it show, though. Ryan stayed beside me, glancing back and forth occasionally to make sure there weren’t any cars coming, and the arm closest to me seemed tense, as if he was poised to catch me if I stumbled. Like hell was I going to stumble. I had this, damn it.
    I made it to the other side, and Ryan opened the door for me.
    As I headed inside, Ryan glanced back the way we’d come. “You know, I’d really hate to see someone who’s afraid of needles wander down this street. Between the acupuncture and the tattoos, there’s—”
    “Pfft. Half of Mike’s patients and probably just as many of Seth’s clients say they’re afraid of needles.”
    “How the hell does that work?”
    “Different kind of needles,” Seth broke in, glancing up from working on a blonde girl’s back. “Hey, Nathan. I’m finishing up here. I’ll be with you guys in a second.”
    “Take your time.”
    While Seth continued tattooing his client, Ryan and I checked out the designs on the wall. They had the kind of shit every tattoo shop had, like banners and hearts, but they were known for their amazing custom designs. Seth could draw incredibly realistic portraits, and Lane had won some national awards for his work. I’d been hesitant to get a tattoo before, but the more time I spent drooling over their work, the more I was seriously considering one.
    “So what are you thinking of getting?” I asked.
    “Don’t know yet.” Ryan hooked his thumbs in the pockets of his jeans. “I figure as with everything”—he glanced at me, grinning a little—“I’ll know it when I see it.”
    I swallowed. “So no idea at all?”
    Ryan shrugged and shifted his attention back to the artwork. “I kind of know what I want it to mean, just not what it’ll be.”
    “So, what do you want it to