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Wow … Steph almost wanted to call Brandy back and tell her that Cal Conner did have a flaw. A major flaw. He was cold and heartless when he was mad. Of course, the reason why he was mad was because she’d been ignoring him. So it wasn’t like she could blame him, and it was a little flattering to think that he was upset over it. Because then it meant he liked her, right? That he cared? But she already knew he did, which wasn’t the issue anyway.
She decided not to answer. Instead, she focused on the haircut, even though her fingers felt like blocks of clay. Hopefully he didn’t notice her clumsiness. It was perhaps the longest fifteen minutes of her life. When she finished, Lydia was still nowhere in sight.
Steph removed the cape. “It’s on the house. You’ve done plenty of favors for me, so I thought—”
She stopped talking when Cal pulled out a couple of twenties from his wallet and deposited them on the shelf with the hair dryer.
Before she could protest, he stepped close. “When you’re ready to give me an explanation of whatever is going on, call me. You have my number.” There was no malice in his tone, no anger, just simple words. His dark eyes searched hers for a moment.
“Steph, sorry I’m late,” Lydia Kane said, joining the two of them. “Oh, hello.” She eyed Cal.
“I’m Cal Conner,” he said, sticking out his hand. At least he was being civil to Lydia.
Her eyes rounded. “Oh, so nice to meet you—officially. Thanks again for all your help on my, uh, situation.”
“Anytime, Mrs. Kane.”
Did he really mean that? Steph wondered.
Before Lydia could strike up more of a conversation, Cal strode out of the salon.
“I guess he was in a hurry?” Lydia said sweetly as she settled into the salon chair.
“Something like that.” Steph grabbed the small broom and swept up the bits of Cal’s hair. There wasn’t much to sweep since she hadn’t wanted to change his hairstyle too much.
When she finished and draped Lydia, she was watching Steph through the mirror.
“Rough day?”
Steph blinked and tried to smile, but it didn’t quite work. “I think I messed up.”
“Oh, honey, we all mess up,” Lydia crooned. “If we didn’t mess up, then life would be very boring. I can wait here if you need to go say something to that man.”
“No, it’s all right.” Steph was already having a hard time catching a full breath. She could only imagine what a spectacle it would be chasing down Cal. “He’s not in the best of moods.”
“I’m sure things will work out just fine—you’re both great people,” Lydia said. “He was very helpful about that … man I dated. Men like Cal are keepers, my dear. My husband was one of those.”
“Yes, he was,” Steph said, even though she hadn’t known Mr. Kane well—mostly she’d heard stories from Brandy. “Did he have personality traits that annoyed you?”
Lydia tilted her head. “Nothing that was a deal breaker, but he always drank out of the top of the milk jug, no matter how many times I told him to get a cup.”
“Even when he was sick with a cold or something?”
Lydia arched a brow. “Yes. I grew tired of nagging him, so I bought my own milk and put it on a lower shelf.”
“Huh. But that’s the only thing that bugged you?”
“That’s the only thing I remember.” Lydia sighed. “Maybe there were other things, but none of them really mattered. No man will be perfect—but he’ll be perfect for you.”
Now, Steph felt even more guilty. She was literally holding kindness and generosity against Cal. Because he was too good to be true, that’s why. But what if hewasa good guy through and through? Like Mr. Kane? She thought of Everly’s fiancé, Brandy’s boyfriend, Julie’s husband … Steph would never marry any of them, but she couldn’t define any major flaws. They were human, men, but perfect for their other halves.
She tried to refocus on her client at hand. “How much do you want cut?”
Lydia skimmed the ends of her hair. “I don’t want any of it cut. Only the color touched up at the roots.”
“Oh, of course,” Steph said. It hadn’t been long enough between appointments to do another haircut. She mixed up the color for Lydia, then asked nonchalantly, “How’s your dating life?”
“Oh, no you don’t,” she said, but her tone was teasing. “I know who you’re going to rat me out to.”
