Page 33 of Second Time Around

Ten

Beck strolled into the salon just before noon on Monday, and he was greeted by the cheerful receptionist.

“Hello, Mr. Montgomery. Are you here for an appointment?”

“No. I just stopped by to see Jenna. Is she here?”

“She must be in the back. Let me page her for you.” Lexie picked up the microphone and said, “Jenna, you have a visitor. Jenna.”

He watched Jenna cross the salon floor in the loose, flowy clothes she wore to work. She probably wore them because they were easy to move in, but if she thought they detracted from her beauty, she was wrong. Her silky blonde hair was artfully styled—a nod to her profession—and her skin was smooth and flawless. Her big blue eyes, though currently unsmiling, drew him in just like always.

“Hello, Beck,” she said briskly. “I didn’t see you on my appointment schedule.”

“I’m not here for a haircut. I just stopped by to ask you something.”

Lexie was shuffling some papers around, but he could tell she was hanging on every word. Jenna must have sensed it too, because she said, “Let’s step outside for a minute. Be right back, Lexie.”

“Take your time,” Lexie replied, beaming at Beck. At least someone was happy to see him.

Jenna pushed open the door before he had a chance to open it for her. He followed her outside and down the sidewalk, pausing a few feet away from the salon entrance.

“You have to stop doing this,” she huffed.

“Doing what?” he asked, though he knew the answer. She’d made it clear she hadn’t wanted to be interrupted at work, but he’d been too impatient to see her.

“Showing up at the salon. I don’t want my coworkers to think—”

“That we’re dating?”

“Or anything else.”

“What else would be doing?”

“You know,” she said, flapping her hand around.

He almost laughed; she looked so darn adorable. “Having sex?”

“SHH!” She glanced around in a panic, but nobody was within hearing distance.

“Would it be so horrible if they thought that?”

“Yes!”

“Why?”

She sighed. “You didn’t come here to talk about sex, so what is it you want?”

He raised his brows at her because of course he wanted to have sex with her. Why wouldn’t he? He’d wanted to have sex with her when they were teenagers, and he still did, maybe even more so now. That wasn’t all he wanted from her, though, and he’d set out to prove it.

“I stopped by to see if you’re available for lunch on Sunday.” When she didn’t immediately respond, he added, “With my family.”

“This Sunday?”

“Um-hmm.”

“It’s Labor Day weekend.”

“Do you have to work?”