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I can’t resist dropping my lips to her neck and kissing her there, unable to explain what this pull is between us. All I know is that if I don’t get more, I will die a starved man. “There’s something about you, Charli,” I say, my lips moving across her skin.
Charli groans as her fingers tighten in my hair, pulling me back to meet my eyes, and I find her bottom lip pulled between her teeth, desire pulsing in her stare. She wants to invite me upstairs, but I know she isn’t ready, and I’ll be damned if I push her too quickly and mess this up.
“If you don’t go . . .” she mutters, her chest heaving with heavy breaths.
“I know,” I whisper, my feet rooted to the spot, desperately needing to stay right here with her while knowing I should leave. I reluctantly take a step back, putting just enough space between us, her hands falling away as I try to find just a fraction of control. “You’re gonna destroy me.”
Her eyes blaze and she shakes her head. “Not if you destroy me first.”
Fucking hell. This woman. It’s almost as though she’s daring me to try.
I take another step away before I end up throwing myself at her and bending her over the bar. “You and me, Charli. Don’t fight it.”
A grin pulls at her lips, her eyes sparkling with silent laughter. “Get your ass out of my bar before I drag you out.”
Stepping back toward the door, I can’t help but grin back at her. “Why don’t you come over here and say that?”
Charli laughs and shakes her head, knowing damn well just how that would end. “Goodnight, Xander,” she purrs.
Not wanting to push my luck any further, I send her a wink and watch how her eyes darken with hunger once again. Leaving her high and dry, I say goodnight and slip out the door before this goes somewhere she’s not ready for.
Chapter 9
CHARLI
I’ve been working at the hair salon for a few weeks now, and I’m loving it. The girls are amazing, and Gina is incredible. From the moment I walked in on my first day, Gina took me under her wing and has been teaching me everything I need to know. She’s starting off slowly, so I have a chance to really master each thing without getting overwhelmed. It’s been amazing. So far, I’ve been working on basic cuts, and though I’m dying to move on to the advanced stuff like coloring, I’ll have to be patient. Despite how badly I want it, both Gina and I know I need to take my time.
The very first time she handed over the scissors and let me take the reins, I almost shit myself. I was a nervous wreck. My hands were shaking, and I did what I could to plaster a confident smile across my face and not freak out my client, but I can’t lie. I’ve never been so nervous in my life. Thankfully I aced it, even though I took my time, and the poor lady had to sit there for much longer than necessary. I’ve managed to speed that shit right up, though.
The only downfall is that with the title of being the newbie, I also get stuck with the shit jobs like mopping and sweeping the floor after each client to keep the place presentable. But I get it, it’s how the food chain works. You have to start at the bottom and work your way up. Not to mention, these are the kind of jobs that kind of come with the territory of owning my own salon.
After my first paycheck, I was able to go and buy my first brush kit. By no means was it an amazing one, but it’s more than enough to get me started. Next up, I’ll be going for the scissors, but I don’t want to be stingy with them and end up with a poor quality set, so I’ll have to save for a few more weeks. You know, in between slowly building up a new closet and paying rent.
I’m finishing up the trim on my five o’clock client, and I am more than impressed with my work, when I glance up at the clock. Holy crap, it’s nearly closing time already. Every single day I’ve been here has flown by. It’s awesome, but it also has me wishing for a few more hours in the day. Though, working for a few extra hours would probably kill me.
With my weekday shift working for Gina, my night shifts at Micky’s, and my constant daydreaming about Xander and that kiss on the bar, I’m utterly exhausted. A good exhausted, though. For once in my life, the feeling of spending a day working has me feeling on top of the world, and it has everything to do with the fact my work is contributing directly to my future rather than someone else’s substance addiction.
