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“Alright. What’s the catch?” she demanded. Why do people think there has to be a catch?
“No catch. I am simply here and willing to help. I know how it is to own a business and the stress that comes with it.”
“You own your own business?”
“Yes ma’am. I own a construction company in New Orleans,” I say. “So I know what I’m doing when it comes to repairs. I can get you a contractor's discount on the supplies that I’ll let you cover.” I know better than to mess with the pride of a woman. “But I won't accept payment for labor.”
Sarah looks at me with unsure eyes. “Fine. But you’re getting a lifetime of free haircuts,” she orders.
“That works for me.”
We shake hands on the deal and I feel a pair of eyes burning a hole in my back. Turning around, I find the icy blues I’ve come to be obsessed with. My god, even when she’s clearly exhausted, Libby still my breath away. And with the way she’s looking at me, I wonder if I do the same to her?
40
We all pitched in to get done what we could, and now we’re just sitting around taking a breather. We’ve busted our asses for a few hours doing what we could with what we had. The rest of the supplies Colt ordered will be in next week, which isn’t supposed to be in for another week, but it’s still quicker than waiting for an insurance claim to go through.
Colt showing up when he didn’t need to is consistent with his character. Unfortunately, I’ve had too many run-ins with people who show themselves to be one way, until you let your guard go all the way down. I’ve been beating myself up for being so stupid and naive once again. I can’t believe I not only let him lay claim to me as his wife, but I slept with him as well.
It doesn’t matter if every time I’m around him, all of my anxiety fades away. It doesn’t matter that his mere presence makes me ache for his touch. It doesn’t matter that I’ve never felt more seen or more beautiful than I have with him. None of it matters. If there’s one thing I’m sure of, is that once a man gets what he wants, his true colors start to shine. And Colt can say he was laughing about himself all he wants. But I refuse to believe that it wasn’t a sign that I needed to distance myself from him.
If it was only that easy.
“Well kiddos, I think it’s time for this old woman to rest her body.” Sarah says as she stands up. Colt stands too, and she reaches out to give him a hug. “Thank you again for everything. One of these girls can get your first haircut going. I can’t have you walking around looking like a sloppy dog.”
Colt’s smile isn’t intended for me, but it still covers me in warmth.
“Who's giving me a free haircut?” Ty asks.
“Nobody promised you a free haircut, jackass.” Blake rolls her eyes.
“Well, what the hell? I helped too.”
“Come on, Ty. I’ll cut your hair.” I stand up and grab a cape. He helped today, the least we can do is give him a haircut.
“Hell yeah Little Bird,” Ty exclaims.
“Stop,” Blake demands. “She’s not touching you. Get your ass over in my chair.” She turns her attention to me. “You take care of Colt.” She is the worst. She knows I told him to leave, though I didn’t tell her why.
Looking back at Colt, his gaze is set on me. Buzzing starts in my toes and travels throughout my body. “Are you ready?” I ask.
His throat bobs. “Yes,” he replies. Straight and to the point, as always.
I wrap the cape around his neck and am immediately thrown into his orbit. Colt’s scent, the small movement of his muscles as he shifts in the chair. The rest of the world has long faded and I am completely alone with him.
Running my fingers through his hair brings me back to the night we spent hours worshiping each other. This may as well be the only head of hair I’ve ever touched. My fingertips trail down to his neck, feeling the sensitive skin. Goosebumps raise under my touch, and I find his eyes on me in the mirror. They’re nearly black.
I can’t resist the urge as I let my gaze wander down. I’ve missed him. I can’t think of a time I’ve ever missed anyone. But if I’m honest with myself, I regretted kicking Colt out the second the door shut. I could have asked him to come back. He would have. But I need to learn to be okay on my own. Relying on others only hurts me in the end.
Right now, though? I don’t care about any of that. I just want to be here. Taking him in. Touching him. Soaking up as much of him as I can.
I’m brought out of my thoughts when a rough hand touches mine. “As much as I love you touching me, I think we should probably hurry up so we don’t make them wait.”
Shit. Blake and Tyson are no longer at her station. They aren’t even in the salon anymore. “Where’d they go?”
A low chuckle escapes Colt. “After arguing about his hair cut they went outside to get away from the paint fumes.”
“Right. Sorry,” I say, pulling my hand back, but Colt grabs hold of it.
