Her mood is more playful than it was when I arrived, but not enough for me to feel comfortable with her having a blade near my throat. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m good.”
I shadow her to the counter located at the front of the salon. She rings up a sale on the cash register before locking her eyes with mine. “That’ll be eighty dollars.”
I choke on my spit. “What?”
My wide eyes dart to the prices displayed next to the cash register. It states a men’s trim is only eighteen dollars.
My eyes stray back to Jenni when she explains, “Those are regular prices; you got special treatment today.”
She holds out her hand, wordlessly requesting I pay up. Smirking at her cheek, I hand her my credit card. The lady who was serving at the counter when I entered watches our exchange with a hint of amusement on her face. She's enjoying her daily dose of daytime soap opera drama so much, I’m surprised she hasn’t gotten herself some popcorn.
Jenni hands me my credit card and receipt. “Thank you so much; be sure to book another appointment in six to eight weeks—or never, whatever suits you better.”
I slide my card back in my wallet. “What time is your break today?”
“I don’t have a break.” I don’t need to see her eyes to know they’re narrowed. I heard their squint in her snappy tone.
Never one to back away when challenged, I swing my gaze to the lady lurking behind us, spying on our exchange without apology. “Can you see them?” Shock crosses the lady’s face; I’d guess her to be in her mid-fifties. “The sparks, can you see the sparks firing between us?”
The hairdresser tries to hide her smile, but the corners of her lips turn upwards, exposing her deceit. With a broad grin, she briskly nods.
My eyes drift back to Jenni. “See, even she can see it.”
“Aunt Dee, you’re supposed to be on my side.” Jenni slaps the smiling lady’s arm.
Her aunt’s smile enlarges. “I’m sorry, honey, but there are so many sparks flying between you two, I’m getting worried I’m about to combust.”
Chapter Eleven
Jenni
What a traitor!
I can’t believe my Aunt Dee is on Nick’s side. We share the same blood—where are her family values?
Incapable of ignoring Nick’s cocky expression for a second longer, I huff before storming back to the pile of hair I was clearing away before he arrived. He and Aunt Dee can continue their conversation without me!
After the hair is taken care of, I enter the storeroom to remove the towels from the dryer. With my Aunt’s salon being the most popular in our town, I have enough laundry to keep my thoughts occupied for the next several hours—way longer than it will take to gethimout of my mind.
By the time I’ve finished folding and restacking the entire linen cabinet, I'm overdue for my break. My heart rate has returned to a normal level, but my mind is still hazy. I’m not sure what Nick’s plan was today, but I’m reasonably sure he won’t do it again. He was scared out of his mind when I pushed my scissors to his scalp. Rightfully so, it was a close call.
I pop my head into the main section of the salon. “I’m going on my break, Aunt Dee.”
After collecting my satchel, I pace toward the back door. I’ve been working at my aunt’s salon the past year as an apprentice. Hairdressing isn’t really my thing, but it’s the only place my dad would agree to let me work. He didn’t want me working at all, believing my time was best used on my studies, but my mom thought it would be a good life lesson. To my surprise, I agree with my mom. I’ve learned a lot about business from Aunt Dee, and her clients are great sounding boards when annoying men won’t get the hint that you’re not interested in them.
I throw my satchel strap over my shoulder as I exit the back door of the salon. When I lift my gaze, my heart jumps. Nick is leaning against the wall in the alleyway. He has his knee cocked and a cunning grin stretched across his face.
Cursing, I spin around with the hope of stopping the salon door from closing, because once it's shut, it’s shut. You can’t open it. A string of obscenities runs through my head when a click breaks through my pulse shrilling in my ears. I was too slow. The door is locked firmly in place.
“Damn it!”
Snubbing my sweaty palms, I make a beeline for the sidewalk. My head is hanging low, my heart rate high. Just before I step onto the cracked concrete path, a pair of polished black shoes interrupts my vision. I swallow the lump in my throat before raising my eyes. Stupid move. Now my skin is even clammier. Nick is smiling. Not a half-assed,I’m cockysmirk. A full-on, genuine smile.
“Your Aunt told me to wait here for you.”
I snap my eyes to the glass window of the salon. My Aunt Dee and salon regular, Shirley, are standing near the window, eyeballing my exchange. When I snarl at them, they flurry away, pretending they weren’t spying on me.
My eyes return to Nick when he pleads, “Give me an hour; if you don’t want to see me again after that, I’ll leave you alone.”
