“You say that about all of them,” I pointed out with a laugh.
“Well, for all of them it’s true,” she defended. “I got you a coffee from Ike’s,” she added, gesturing to the cup at my station.
“Thank you,” I replied gratefully, not ready to take my jacket off.
“You’ll get used to it.” She smiled. “The cold, I mean.”
“That’s what Ruston keeps telling me,” I muttered, pulling up my appointments for the day. I only had two clients scheduled, with the potential for a walk-in or two, but I knew I’d have to be patient. It was a small town, and though news traveled relatively fast, a good reputation would take time. Luckily, I had money saved; not that Ruston would let me pay for anything.
And because we hadn’t been able to make time for the trip, he’d paid for another month on my lease in Hawthorne without telling me, stubborn man.
Emmie called when I was in between clients. We tried to talk every day, but with both our work schedules it didn’t always work.
“Hey,” I greeted. “I was just gonna call you.”
“Just had a toddler throw up all over me,” she shared by way of greeting. As a nurse at the doctor’s office in Hawthorne, it had happened more than once.
“Your first this week, an improvement over last,” I replied as I held my phone to my ear, sweeping my station. Joanie had run out to pick up some lunch. I’d found her lunches were long and she didn’t always come back. Not that I blamed her. She had about ten steady clients, and they only needed haircuts so often. Frankly, I wasn’t sure how she’d kept the shop running as long as she had.
“True,” she agreed. “How’s the shit with Pike? All quiet still?”
“For now,” I replied. “But we both know how these things go.” We’d been through enough dramatics with club life to know it wasn’t over until it was over.
“Sounds like Ruston has you covered. Otherwise, you know our men would be down there in a heartbeat.”
“He definitely does,” I agreed, looking out the window just as Ruston pulled his bike alongside Ry’s SUV. “Speak of the devil.” I grinned, watching as the two of them had a word.
Good lord, he was handsome as he took his helmet off, his dark blond hair mussed from the ride, his eyes hidden behind Ray Ban sunglasses.
“Ruston’s here. I’ll call you later,” I shared as he looked up, spotting me through the window, his full lips tilting into a soft smile I’d noticed only seemed to be for me.
“Later,” she replied.
“Hi, honey,” I greeted when he walked through the door seconds later, tucking his sunglasses in his shirt. “I didn’t know you’d be stopping by, but perfect timing. I’m in between clients.”
“Just wrapped a call with your pop, thought I’d swing by and check on my girl,” he replied.
“My pop? As in Cole Jackson?” I demanded incredulously.
He shook his head at me, fighting a smile. “Familiar with who your father is, babe.”
“Since when do you two talk?”
“Since I called to brief him on the Pike situation,” he shared, leaning against my station, arms crossed at his chest. “It’s important to me that the Knights know I have you covered, your father included. I’ve been keeping him close to the details.”
I stepped into his space, placing my hands on his chest. “I’m sure that means a lot to him. And it means a lot to me.” At his nod, I murmured, “You know, you haven’t even kissed me yet.”
His nostrils flared as his legs opened so I could step in between them. “Well, let me take care of that right now.” He cupped the back of my neck and guided me toward his lips, where he took my mouth in a toe-curling kiss.
“Did you wrap things up with Hank’s?” I asked after I very reluctantly pulled away.
“Just signed the papers.” He nodded with a grin. “And have Porter locked in to run it,” he added, referring to his buddy, a former Marine he’d been trying to recruit up to Bishop to run the shop.
“Excited to meet him.” I smiled. “So, does this mean we’re celebrating tonight?”
His hand slid from my neck down the center of my chest, landing on my belt buckle. “It does,” he affirmed, tugging on the buckle to bring me closer. “I’m still waiting for my grand gesture.”
His hand moved to cup in between my legs. “I can do that.” I sucked in a breath, needing more pressure and knowing that would only leave me wanting more.
