Page 1 of Driven to Love

Chapter 1

The paper box slipped through her fingers and crashed to the ground, breaking one of her “Sizzling Summer” red fingernail tips. “Great. Just fucking great.”

Addison sighed. The day had started out so well. Her hair turned out fantastic today. She ran a hand through the locks. A gratified smile tipped her lips. “Not bad for eighty-percent humidity.”

Then, she had arrived at work on time thanks to the light traffic for the holiday weekend. Her shift was breezing by… until her boss, Mark Louis, said, “Miss Benedict, would you come into my office.” The formal address was the first clue her good-luck streak was over. Then Hal, the security guard, walked in. That clinched it.

Kneeling down on the blacktop, Addison scooped up the belongings of her desk of nine years and threw them into the box. Under the edge of the tire sat her Employee of the Year award. A chill ran through her as she picked it up.

She ran a finger over the etched letters of her name. Addison Benedict. Closing her eyes, she felt the weight of the award. Now, it was just another bobble. A paperweight. She dropped it into the container with the rest of her work memories.

Picking up the box, she chucked it into her trunk with all the disgust she felt for the situation.

She dusted off her gray linen slacks and climbed into her car. “Who did he think he was? Just because he owned the place… Like he could run that office without me. Well, go ahead and try.”

The engine purred to life, and she cranked up the air conditioning. She took one last look at the building, flipped it the bird, and peeled out of the parking lot.

With the tunes blaring, she slipped on her oversized sunglasses.

“Mark Louis.” She grit her teeth. Dating her boss was the worst mistake of her life.

How could she have thought he’d be the perfect guy? She shook her head. Her hair flew in the current of the vents.

With each mile closer to home, the gravity of the situation set in. She was out of a job. Sure, she had some savings, but she had a house payment and Lu to feed. His royal highness was used to only the best cat cuisine.

It was time for a margarita night with the gals. Addison reached for the call button on her steering wheel and paused. Laney was getting ready for their Fourth of July party this weekend, and all week Marti had been talking about her date tonight. No way Addison could call and dump her bad news on them.

Without thinking, she tapped the call button. “Call Mom.”

“Julie’s Jewel. How can we make you beautiful today?”

“Hey, Vivian. What’s my mom’s schedule this afternoon?” Being the owner and stylist, Addison’s mom was eternally busy.

“Hey, sweetie. She’s finishing up a perm, but then she’s off the books for the weekend.”

“Great. Please let her know I’m coming in.”

“Will do.” The receptionist hung up.

Addison exhaled and checked the time. It was a thirty-minute drive back to Gray Duck Grove. Plenty of time to dwell on the fact she’d somehow flushed the last nine years down the drain by working at a plumbing wholesaler.

She snorted at the pun. Life hadn’t taken the path she’d expected. Not even close.

Addison merged onto the highway and cranked up the tunes. Time to push all thoughts of her termination and Mark Louis from her mind.

Tomorrow was Independence Day. The perfect time for a new start.

She parked in front of the century-old building on Main Street a little after noon. Addison smiled at the large window with her mother’s name in a scrolling, painted font. Her mom had painted it herself when she bought the salon from the previous owner.

Addison opened the door. The sound of chatter and blow-dryers calmed her anxiety instantly. Chickens cackling. She grinned. That’s what walking into the salon always reminded her of.

As the door closed behind her, the smells of permanent wave solution and hairspray permeated the air like smoke from a campfire. Addison inhaled, taking it all in—the sights and sounds of her childhood.

This was as much a home to her as any house or apartment she and her mom had lived in. It was the staple in their lives, never changing. Sure, the paint and wallpaper changed every few years, but not much else. It was a six-chair shop with sinks in the back.

Addison grew up doing her homework at the front desk between booking appointments. She could do a roller set and comb out by the time she was eight. By high school, she was cutting her friends’ hair for extra cash. Addison once thought about following in her mother’s footsteps, but her mom always encouraged her to go to college and follow her own dreams.

Addison’s dreams may not have been crystal clear early on, besides entering every pageant around. One thing she quickly realized, her goal wasn’t to stand behind a chair for ten hours a day, six days a week.