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Chapter Five
Kimberley
“So,are you ready for Bridezilla today?” Shelly asks as she takes a sip of water. The smirk on her face is one of delight. If I didn’t love her so much, I’d smack it right off her.
I stick my tongue out at her, trying to hide my grin. If anyone knows how much I’m dreading this afternoon, it’s Shelly. She’s dealt with her fair share of picky clients and knows that doing the hair of wedding parties is either outrageously fun or the absolute worst. And shocker: I was in for a horrific afternoon.
The bride and her four bridesmaids had changed their hairstyles three times now. Updo then full beach waves, then back to updo. My arms ached at the thought of doing back-to-back updos in a short amount of time. Today would be their fourth trial run. I feared that by the time the “big day” came in a couple months, the bride would still be undecided.
“Bet you a hundred dollars she’ll have changed her mind again.”
Slapping her with the towel I’m holding, I curse. She laugh-screams when the towel hits skin. “Don’t you dare say that. I will lose my ever-loving mind.”
My so-called friend snorts, knowing that she’s just won easy money. I rub a hand down my face, not wanting to think about that just yet. I had a couple morning clients coming in and I wanted to enjoy at least a part of today. Plus, I needed to stay busy or I would think about last night. About Charlie.
A shiver dances down my spine. I swear I can still feel the gentle caress of his fingers as they glide across my body. The memory of our night together will haunt me for months to come. Maybe even years. After a night of dreaming about him, I’ve realized that I don’t regret a moment of our time together. It will be a wonderful memory for me to look back on but I know nothing will come from it.
I deceived him. Told him at least a dozen white lies as I tried to cover for my sister. I don’t regret helping my sister either, but I can’t help thinking of the what-ifs. The connection I felt with Charlie was…I don’t even have the words. I’d never had such an instant reaction to a man. I zoomed past crush and went right into intense emotions. If only I could get in touch with Gill and explain what happened. She wasn’t picking up her phone though or returning any of my messages.
Fluffing my bangs with one hand, I shake myself, needing to stop thinking of Charlie. It doesn’t matter. I have to move on. I’m sure he has.
Following Shelly to the back room to grab a clean dye bowl, I hear the faint jingle of the front door. My head is down as I walk back to my station with the intention of cleaning up a bit before my next appointment. A flash of light catches my attention and I casually look over.
My world minimizes, focusing in on the one person I didn’t think I’d ever see again. He’s just walked through the door and is talking to one of the other stylists. Quick as lightning, I crouch down behind a workstation cart, peeking through the bottles of hairspray, watching as Charlie’s gaze roams the salon.
He looks good. Really good. Is it possible he got even hotter over the last day?
No, I can’t think about that. I need to get out of here. Hide. I didn’t want a confrontation in my place of work. In my squatting position, I grab the ends of the cart and slowly roll it with me as I waddle backward. My thighs burn at the awkward movement, but I can’t focus on that. I dare only to turn my head to look where I’m going once, and still, it’s enough to cause me to lose my footing and trip. The cart rattles as I try to stay upright.
“Sunshine.”
The voice stops me in my tracks. My hands fumble with a dye bowl, losing their grip on the object. The loud clatter on the tile floor seems to have everyone in the salon freezing. The room goes quiet.
I’m so stunned, I don’t move a muscle. My hands are still clenched, like they’re holding the bowl still even though I’m looking at the stupid thing on the floor. In slow motion, I see an arm reach down and grab the offending object. Muscles flex and strain against blue fabric. Oh my.
My gaze wanders up the appendage. Up and up, until I meet the hypnotizing dark chocolate eyes of the man I can’t stop thinking about. Words escape me as I continue to gape at him.
“Did I catch you at a bad time?” Charlie asks, a small grin on his face at my reaction to him. Those words jolt me out of my haze and I straighten, grabbing the bowl from his hands.
“No. No. Of course not.” I turn away from him, needing space. I start randomly rearranging my whole workstation. My area is going to be out of sorts with my next client, but it will be worth it. I can’t look directly at Charlie right now. He’s like an eclipse. I can only face him when I have some protection—and right now I had no defenses when it came to him.
“Kim. Look at me.” Hearing him say my name for the first time rocks me to my core. My eyes fall closed, trying to commit this moment to memory. Letting out a deep breath, I square my shoulders. It was time to face the music.
I almost lose my nerve again when I look back at him. Hewasmore gorgeous then yesterday. Air escapes through my teeth making a hissing sound as I try to get myself together.
“Hey, Charlie,” I’m finally able to force out, my voice surprisingly normal sounding. “What brings you around these parts?” Okay, never mind. I just channeled a cowboy, Western accent and all.
One side of his lush lips tilt up. Not quite hitting grin status but almost. So he wasn’t completely angry with me.
“I think you know why I’m here.”
Yeah, I did. Which sparked me to ask another question. “Wait. How did you find me?”
“I have my ways.”
“Well, that sounds a bit disturbing.”
“Forgive me for going to extreme measures to find the woman who ran away from me without a word.”
