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“Let me know if you need me to hook you up with some lotion that helps set your spray tan,” Giorgio said.
“Or something sexy to wear for Marco your first night there,” Leo suggested.
I glared at them. “I hate you both.”
When I arrived at the salon, Marco was sitting in the waiting area.
“Hell no,” I said as I approached him.
His eyes widened as he feigned surprise. “What’s wrong?”
“If you’re here to watch while I get tortured, you can forget it. I’ve requested a private room for all this shit.”
“I’m here to get my hair cut. X thought I should look a little more polished. Aren’t you here for the same reason?”
“All you have to do is get your haircut?”
I pulled out my cell phone and called X.
“Were you fucking around with me?” I asked when he answered the call.
“I need some more specifics before I can answer that question.”
“All the bullshit about a spray tan and manicures and—”
“No. My assistant booked you appointments for all those treatments.”
“And for Marco?”
“Oh, now I understand.”
“Do you? Because I’m not sure you’ve thought—”
“He only needs to look put together. You’re the one who’s going to be on display.”
I fought the urge to scream.
“Those men aren’t going to buy you as Marco’s plaything If you don’t look the part. Quit whining and go get polished.”
“I—”
“Have a good day, Niall.” He hung up on me.
“Already trying to get me in trouble with the boss?” Marco asked.
Before I could answer, a dark-haired woman wearing a lab coat stepped into the waiting area. She had perfect skin, a swingy ponytail, and looked way too cheerful.
When she called my name, Marco waved me toward her. “Go on, baby. You’ll be fine.”
I was going to kill him before this was over.
“Oh, is this your boyfriend?” the woman asked.
I froze. I hadn’t been expecting to play a role today. It wasn’t like I would usually come in for these treatments.
“Yes,” Marco said. “He’s a little nervous. He wants to be sure everything turns out perfectly. We’re getting ready for a big vacation.”
“How exciting!” She turned to me. “I promise you’re going to look amazing.”
“Thank you.”
“Follow me, and we’ll get you started.”
Before I did, I glanced back at Marco. His grin had me seething.
It took hours to get through all the primping and pampering. When I exited the spray tan booth, there were clothes lying on the bench in the changing room, but they weren’t mine. I didn’t recognize the gray sweatpants or the black hoodie.
“Clarissa?” I called hoping the assistant was still in the other room and could hear me.
“Yes, sir?”
“These aren’t my clothes.”
“Oh. Right. You’re supposed to wear loose clothing to prevent the tan rubbing off on the fabric. While you were getting your hair cut, I asked your boyfriend if you’d brought something else to change into, and he went and got these for you.”
I tried to imagine Marco caring enough to go shopping for me as Clarissa stood there, looking expectant. “Um… yes. He’s very thoughtful.”
For once, he actually had been. I would have been horrified if this awful tan ruined one of my favorite suits.
When I stepped out dressed in the clothes Marco had chosen for me, Clarissa was waiting. “I have your clothes packed up in a gift bag. You can pick it up when you leave. If you’d like to follow me, I’ll take you to the café.
One of the perks of spending hours being tortured like this was a complimentary lunch. I’d intended to take care of some lingering paperwork from a previous mission while I ate, but when I reached the cafe, Marco was seated at a table, legs stretched out, ankles crossed. When he saw me, his lip quirked up in a half smile. Why had he waited all this time for me? Was he that eager to laugh at my fake tan?
I didn’t want to smile at him, but I couldn’t help myself. His haircut and the trim they’d done on his beard made him look less rough but no less appealing. He was hot as hell, dressed all in black with his dark hair styled instead of unruly like it usually was.
His eyes widened as he took me in, and I enjoyed knowing I affected him.
“X certainly got his money’s worth,” he said as he motioned for me to sit with him.
I sank into the chair, exhausted after services that should have been relaxing. “I can’t believe people do this routinely.”
“Some people actually enjoy it. Not the tanning, maybe, but the rest of it. I understand I get to take you shopping tomorrow.”
I groaned. “Don’t remind me.”
A server came by and took my order. I turned back to Marco when she left. “Speaking of clothes”—I tugged on the hoodie—“I can’t believe you went and got these.”
“I didn’t want to hear you bitch about your suit.” His tone was snarky, but his expression was unusually soft, and it made warmth fill my chest.
