Page 11 of Second Time Around

“No. I’d like to try it.”

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“Please,” he added.

Just like he’d been taught, it seemed to be the magic word. She opened a drawer and pulled out a sleek gray bottle. She flipped open the top, squirted some goop into her palm, and then vigorously rubbed her hands together.

As she applied the product, he accidentally sighed again, but this time, she didn’t stop. He wished she would keep touching him but, instead of being on display in the middle of a salon, they were somewhere more private. When he’d first walked in, he’d been overwhelmed by the smell of ammonia, but now all he noticed was her intoxicating scent as she leaned over him and worked her magic.

Too soon, she removed her hands from his hair. “You’re all set.”

He didn’t consider himself vain, but looking at his reflection, he liked what he saw. “You did a great job,” he said, overcome with a sense of pride in her.

She shrugged. “You have good hair.”

At least that hadn’t changed—she’d always complimented his hair.

The bell over the front door rang, and a woman entered and waved to Jenna.

“Your next client?”

She nodded. Then she untied his cape and flicked it off him, sending his hair trimmings to the floor around her chair. “I’ll walk you out.”

He stood up and said, “Wait. I want to repay you for this.”

She furrowed her brows. “You will pay, at the front desk.”

“That’s not what I meant. I walked in and caught you off guard, and instead of stabbing me with the scissors, you gave me a great haircut.”

“That’s my job, Beck.”

“Come into the sandwich shop this week and have lunch, on the house.”

“What? No. I can’t do that.”

“Why not? You like the food, right?”

“Yes, but…”

“We have a special that I think you’ll really like, and it comes with dessert.”

She visibly perked up. “What kind of dessert?”

He remembered how much she’d loved chocolate, and he assumed she still did. “A homemade brownie with chocolate chips, warmed in the oven and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.”

She swallowed hard, and he could tell she was considering it. “Sounds like you’re trying to bribe me with chocolate.”

“Is it working?”

“Seems like it.”

He chuckled.

“My coworkers will be jealous.”

“It just so happens I brought some coupons with me.” He patted his jeans pocket. “Twenty percent off their next order. I was going to leave them at the front desk.”

“They’ll love that.”