My Tattooed Heart

By Sheri L. Williams

My Tattooed Heart is the story of Sean, a Hollywood heart throb who gives it all up to help his childhood best friend, Parker, who has no one else. In the process of helping Parker, Sean moves back to Brooklyn, their hometown, where he meets Rhiannon, a tattoo artist who immediately captures his heart. Like Sean's best friend, Rhiannon is a vet, but she is disillusioned with her service and her family, now more interested in body art and her found family. Together, Sean and Rhiannon find they are strong enough to not only heal each other, but their loved ones as well.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bryant Street Shorts
• Release date: Aug 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781094421322

Sheri L. Williams

N/A

Book preview

Chapter One

Sean walked through the streets of Brooklyn, trying his best what had changed this time. Granted, his latest leave from his beloved hometown had only been two years rather than nearly fifteen. He smiled at the flower seller that was on the same corner she’d been at before a blast from his past came back. Literally blasting.

Parker hadn’t been herself, and the guilt of what she’d allowed to happen, well, it had played a huge part in the blow out with Drew. And that, well, that just caused more guilt. It was better now; at least, that’s what they’d agreed to say. Sean was back. The Troupe, as Drew liked to call them, was whole again. Again, at least, that’s what they were saying to the public. But tensions in the office and the apartment building Drew had put him up in were high, and Sean was considering getting his own place. Home and office.

Drew and Nina were both totally against it. He understood, of course. Parker had gotten to him at his last place, when she still wasn’t herself. Parker had stood in his kitchen and not known him.

Sean shook his head. There was no need to look back. Parker was herself again. The doctors at the VA had worked miracles. He had his best friend back. A slightly more paranoid and deadly best friend, but hey, he didn’t care. Beggars can’t be choosers, after all, and having even a tiny bit of his childhood back was amazing. That was something Drew didn’t or possibly simply refused to understand. Which was why Sean was determined to get his own place. He’d let Drew and Nina make sure it was secure; he’d bet they would do a hell of a lot to make sure he was safe from the paparazzi and the overly invested fans. And then he’d have a place Parker could find safe and far enough away from Drew and her memories of how she reacted to him the first time they met, back when she was still dealing with being freed from captivity.

It was a delicate balancing act right now. It didn’t matter how many times Sean and Parker apologized, Drew was still angry and still nursing the healing collarbone. Sean knew Drew had every right to be angry. He understood, really. Drew wanted his team back, he wanted his star back. But Sean wanted — no, needed — to be there for Parker. Hence the tension. It was his fault, all of it. So making it right was up to him.

That was why he was walking around Brooklyn, alone, his baseball cap pulled low. He’d questioned Nina about the validity of the disguise, but then he’d had to apologize for doubting. People really did not recognize him unless he was dressed to the nines in a suit on the red carpet. Brooklyn had always been his home, and since Parker didn’t care, not really… well, he thought Brooklyn could be her home again, too.

He’d found a few places he thought might work. Two of them were actually for sale. Sean didn’t think the other two not actually being for sale would stop Drew, but Sean tried his best to not use his name to get things. He didn’t feel right doing that. With the two brownstones on his mind, he wasn’t looking where he was going, and he bumped into a solid, curvy woman.

Shit. Fuck. Sorry. Wasn’t looking, Sean apologized, and stepped back from where he’d grabbed the woman’s arm to steady them both.

Is fine. Wasn’t looking either. Am late to open my shop. The woman’s voice was deeper than he’d expected, and her accent was so familiar, Sean had to shake himself before he just latched onto the poor woman ‘cause she sounded like home. Although he considered latching on for a different reason when he finally looked up. The woman was gorgeous. Literally the most attractive woman Sean had seen, and that was saying a lot, considering some of the actresses he’d worked with in the past.

Wow. He felt the blush. I mean. Um. Sorry, again.

No problem, soldier. Sean bristled, immediately pasting his media smile on. She must have noticed right away and shook her head before grinning sweetly. Sorry. Can I call you that? I mean, I get the cap and sunglasses are you supposed to be going incognito, but I mean, the shoulders… The woman waved at Sean, who couldn’t hold back his own grin as she kept rambling. Plus, ya know, I’m not exactly petite, and you caught me with those action star muscles, and….

You could call me Sean. That’s what my friends call me. He had to cut her off, otherwise she might have kept rambling. But Sean, well, the grin that lit up her face, it was worth all of this.

Sean, then. The woman held out a hand to shake. I’m Rhiannon, but my friends call me…shit. Late!

Sean laughed, and Rhiannon quirked an eyebrow. C’mon, then. She grabbed his hand, and Sean let himself be pulled. They walked three streets over and stopped in front of a brick and glass storefront. Sean kept smiling as Rhiannon dug through her messenger bag, mumbling about her damn keys. Once the door was open and the lights were on, Sean sucked in a breath.

Tattoos? he got out, past the weird lump in his throat. Sean watched as Rhiannon yanked off her hoodie, and then Sean stared as acres of inked skin was unwrapped. Under the hoodie was a green tank top adorned only with a four leaf clover. Sean felt like he was dying. He briefly wondered if he died and went to Irish heaven, populated by Sean’s dream woman, but he ignored that once music started pouring through invisible speakers. Country. Blergh. So Rhiannon wasn’t perfect. Sean still liked what he saw.

Sean pulled his cell out of his pocket to send a quick text. Checking the time, he saw Parks was probably fresh out of therapy. That means she’d have ensconced herself in all the blankets on her bed with the record player on, listening to Tom Waits. It’s her go-to after a hard day with the doc. She never lets him get close on these days, so he knew it was okay to linger, but he still wanted to let her know where he was.

To: Parker

Found a girl o.0

Be back later

He didn’t expect a response. He was looking at the art on the wall, desperately wishing a tattoo wouldn’t mess with his image, when his phone buzzed.

From: Parker

I expect a debrief upon return

That is not a request boy-o

Someone missing you? Sean nearly bobbled his phone while Rhiannon laughed. She had two cups of coffee, and Sean accepted the offered one.

I uh, my friend. It’s important to stay in contact.

A friend? Rhiannon looked intrigued. One of your Hollywood buddies?

Uh, No. My best friend from childhood. She’s, um, why I’m back. Rhiannon nodded, so he took a deep breath and continued on. She, uh, got captured and was a POW for a while. She’s just now starting to get better. I’m helping her.

I can’t even imagine. I was only in for four years, and it wasn’t a cake walk, but nothing like that. So what she went through? Well, I’m guessing Parker Grayson? I saw her on the news, getting a medal. I’m glad you’re helping her get the help she deserves.

That was a lot of words, a lot for Sean to unpack. He, of course, knew that her medal ceremony had been public. It had been a spectacle, and Parker had vibrated with fear the whole way through. Sean still didn’t like to talk about that day, so he stuck to the other important bit of information.

You served? He knew, of course, that Parker wasn’t the only woman in the army. Far from. But from what he could see — tattoos and piercings — Rhiannon screamed Brooklyn hipster. Not exactly army ready.

Yeah, pretty much my whole family has. She shrugged. They already weren’t happy about me being a quote-unquote ‘stupid liberal,’ so I did the family duty, and once I was done, I told my dad that since even the army couldn’t drag the empathy out of me, I’d just stay in Brooklyn while they went back to Indiana.

That’s awful small-minded of them. Sorry you had to deal with that, Sean offered, unsure of what else he could say.

Could be worse, ya know? Rhiannon knocked a shoulder into Sean. And hey, Rhi is what my friends call me. We could be friends. You could come to the shop when you need to get away from everything.

Really? You don’t know much about me. Or, well, the real me. I’m more than what the media says, or I hope I am. He really hoped he was more than what the media said he was. Some days, he wasn’t so sure anymore.

I might not know too much about Sean, the non-media version, that’s true. But you seem like a pretty cool guy. And hey, I think I read somewhere you were an artist before you went off to fight in the Wasted Wars, and don’t look now, but tattoo shops are a good place for an artist to hang. Rhi smiled, and Sean could tell she was being honest, could tell there was no artifice beyond her words.

I haven’t drawn a single line since before I shot my first film. He shrugged a shoulder. It wasn’t like Rhi didn’t know.

Well… Rhi grinned and went back behind the counter that separated the front area from the rooms where Sean assumed the actual tattooing happened. Luckily for you, I always keep a drawing pad here. Sean took the pad and pencil, meekly following Rhi over to the couch under the big windows.

Sean stared at the empty sheet of paper, then the pencil, and then up to Rhi, who had the fondest look on her face. Ducking down, he let the tip of the pencil slide across the paper. He was rusty, he knew, but like Rhi’s accent and the streets he’d been walking that morning, this felt like home.

Chapter Two

He was on his second fresh sheet of paper, drawing a quick sketch of Parker polishing one of her many knives, when the door slammed open. The pad went flying, and Sean stood at the ready for whoever was there for him — in this case, a short, curvy brunette who was probably not there for him at all.

Shh, Sean. You’re fine. It’s fine. Just Aimee. She works here. Sean’s adrenaline slowly leveled out from the soft voice and Rhi’s hand rubbing up and down his bicep. Aimee’s gonna remember one of these days to not do everything so loud.

Sorry, boss lady and seriously sexy blond guy. Sean huffed out a laugh and sat down hard on the couch.

M’sorry. He ran his hand over the back of his neck.

Nope. That was my bad. I know Riri’s right in this; we often have local celebrities here, and a calm environment is often needed. I’m sorry I scared you. She sat next to him and patted his shoulder.

I’ve been home a while, I shouldn’t still be expecting paps around every corner. Rhiannon didn’t say anything, but she did hand over the pad Sean had thrown. Sean looked down at the drawing he’d been doing, Parker’s face not fully shaded in yet. He could feel Aimee’s eyes on him and hear the intake of breath. She looked away quickly, her gaze landing on the half-done sketch.

Beautiful, she breathed out. Well, you might be home, but that don’t mean shit when you’ve been in the public eye so long. She pressed a quick kiss to his cheek before doing the same to Rhiannon’s. I’ll just be back in my room sanitizing. I have an appointment soon.

Sean watched her go, the sway in her generous hips making him remember Rhi’s gorgeous curves. Aimee wore a retro style like it was her own, putting most pin-ups to shame. He still preferred Rhiannon.

Aimee is our piercer. Rhiannon tells him. She was at college studying poli sci until she got fed up with the boys’ club. She is a joy, really, and she won’t tell anyone you’re here. She may be brash, but she is loyal. Sean looked up at Rhi where she was sitting on the arm of the couch like she had no cares in the world.

I’m not really worried about her or you telling. Not for my sake. But as much as I hate it, word gets around I’ve been here, you’ll get the dregs of society stalking you to find out why. ‘Why is Sean D’Arcy at a tattoo shop?’ ‘Why is Sean D’Arcy hanging out with a tattooed ex-soldier?’ I hate it, but it’ll happen. You don’t deserve that. Sean closed the pad of paper and went to hand it over. It was stupid of him to think he could have this, that he could have a place for himself.

Now listen here, ya big mook. Ya listening? Rhiannon grabbed his chin and turned him so he could see Rhi’s face. I can see you pulling away, turning inside yourself, and let me tell you, that’s bullshit. I couldn’t care less what some paps say to me. And hey, any business is good business, so if they start showing up, I’ll tell them to spend some cash or get lost. I got lotsa stories, and none of ‘em about you that I can tell. So in conclusion, if you want to stay here and be my friend, well, then yes, please.

Also, you’re stupid hot, so if you want to hang out as eye candy, that’s cool! Aimee shouted from back in her room, and Sean couldn’t do anything but laugh.

"Lord. Brash, I