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“Can’t, doll. It’s almost the first of the month, and I have bills to pay.”
“I promise that you’ll have the same number of hours. Cut out and go home and enjoy your evening,” I say.
“Seriously?” he adds.
“Yep,” I reply, popping my lips and taking his place behind the reception desk. He lifts his black leather bag and heads for the door.
“You only have to tell me once especially if I’m getting paid. The bars are calling my name!” he shouts on his way out the door.
I chuckle and shake my head as I open the appointment book. There’s no one else on the schedule, so I will close the shop. We typically close at eight, and it’s a few minutes before seven.
“Jace!” I call out.
He pops his head around the doorway a minute later. “You call, Boss?”
“Yeah. I don’t see any more clients on the books for tonight for you or Zoey. Sean cut out earlier, and Lethal just left. You guys want to get out early too?”
“Sounds good to me. Maybe I can convince her to catch a movie before going home,” he says.
“You’re getting close,” I tease, winking my eye at him.
He’s had the biggest crush on Zoey since he came to work for me two years ago. The two of them have a beautiful friendship, but he wants more. I suspect she does too, but she’s always dating some random guys.
“We’re out of here,” Zoey says about five minutes later, with Jason hot on her tail. “We’re gonna catch a movie. Do you want to come?”
I see the look of disappointment on Jason’s face. “No thanks. I have a few things to finish here, and then I’m heading home for a hot bath and a glass of wine.”
“And that fine ass man of yours?” Zoey says with a glint in her eyes.
“No. He has some important meeting this evening, and I’m fed up with the politics. I’m going into hiding,” I say in a bored monotone.
She smiles. “Girl, appreciate the man. He wants to take care of you.”
I smile and don’t tell her the truth. If I let Kenneth take care of me the way he wants, all of them will be out of a job or under new management.
After they leave and I lock up, I head to my office to finish some paperwork. The sound of keys rapping against the glass door breaks my concentration. When I glance at the clock, I realize it’s well after nine, and I can’t imagine who would be at the shop.
I stretch and yawn as I wonder if Kenneth stopped by on his way home. It would be out of his way to do it, but I can’t think of anyone else who would be here at night.
I push back from my desk and head to the front. My heart pounds wildly in my chest as I look at the person peering back at me. He’s almost a shadow in the darkness except for the light coloring of his tanned face.
My feet feel like they have leaden weights holding them in place. When he knocks harder but slower, and in measured beats, I have no choice but to move forward.
I lick my lips and try to tamp down the nervous butterflies in my belly.
Unlocking the door, I peer into the dark night to ensure I see no one out there that shouldn’t be. I only see the usual crowd heading into the bars up and down the block.
“What are you doing here?” I ask after locking the door behind him.
“You know why I’m here, Piper.”
I shove my hands into the back pockets of my jeans and rock nervously back on my feet.
“I don’t know why.”
“It’s too fucking hard to stay away especially now that I’m here.”
“We can’t do this, Marco,” I whisper.
