“Are you here for a piercing?” He gestured to another wall filled with pictures. His biceps flexed.

Lauren wanted to touch them, feel their strength and heat.

“You can see what we offer in those photos. We also have binders of what we’ve done for past clients to give you an idea of what you might like.”

For someone who prided herself on her no-nonsense professionalism, she was having a hard time not drooling over his freaking arms. What was wrong with her? She knew better than to lust after a guy like him. That path only led to her nursing a humiliating rejection at best and a broken heart at worst. She tore her gaze from his biceps and looked at the photos he was showing her. “Do people really get their tongues tattooed?”

He grinned, showing perfect teeth. “You bet.”

“Why?”

He shrugged good-naturedly. “Why not?”

He wasn’t the least bit uptight. How Lauren envied that. “Have you?”

“Have I what?”

“Had your tongue tattooed? Or are the ones on your arms the only ones you have?”

His smile broadened. He spoke conspiratorially. “I have another, though not on my tongue.”

She hoped he hadn’t inked the prize behind his fly. His equipment had to be as awesome as the rest of him. No way could anyone improve on nature’s perfection.

He regarded her thoughtfully, his gaze warming her in places she hadn’t thought about in far too long. Easily, he took in her short blond hair, her clothes, and her features, including the small mole near her mouth. There, he lingered. A faint smile touched his lips.

Lauren’s throat and cheeks grew hot. With his approving gaze, too much desire rushed through her, making it difficult to breathe.

He flushed, too. “Let me get those binders so you can look through them.”

“No, don’t. Please. That’s not why I’m here.”

His dark eyebrows lifted. “You’re selling something?” He glanced at her purse and looked around her, possibly for an organization caddy stuffed with her product line.

“Uh no. I’m here to take over.”

“Take over?”

“Uh-huh.”

He looked lost. “As in what?”

“This place.” She gestured to the parlor. “I own this business and everything in it, including you.”