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She did, because Chase had taught her how to dance in bed. She bet they could do something similar and a lot less carnal on the dance floor.
“We’ve spent every night together for weeks, yet I’m nervous about going out on a date with him.” She pressed her hand to her quivering stomach. “I don’t know why.”
“Out at your place, it’s just the two of you. Tonight, it’s out in public, where everyone will see you two together.” Cyn let loose a section of hair and combed it out. “I heard he claimed you right there in the diner and nearly set the place on fire with the kiss he laid on you. I’m sorry I missed it.” The grin came with a twinkle in Cyn’s eyes.
“I couldn’t believe he did that.”
“Why not? He loves you. He wants everyone to know it. You’re a great person, Shelby. That’s why I picked you to be my friend.”
Shelby met Cyn’s gaze in the mirror. “I’m lucky to have a friend like you, too. We should get together for lunch once a week. We both work in town. I’m not too far from here. We could pick a place and meet up.”
Cyn smiled. “I’d like that. And a girl’s night once in a while. I could use a wing-woman to help me weed out the bad apples, so I can find me a man like yours.”
“Chase has two brothers,” she reminded Cyn.
She rolled her eyes. “One is too young and wilder than me. The other is... a stubborn ass.”
“Hunt does come off that way sometimes, but I think under all that law and order, he’s got a good heart.”
Cyn’s eyes went wide with surprise. “What made you change your tune about him?”
“Well, I get that legally his hands are tied when it comes to Kyle Hodges. And the DNA thing—”
“What DNA thing?”
“He asked me for a DNA test. He and his family wanted proof Chase was the father so he could get legal visitation rights, even though Chase never wanted any of that because he knew I had no intention of keeping him from his daughter. But that wasn’t the only reason Hunt wanted the test. He found out there was another suspect in my mother’s case. He hoped that her boyfriend at the time was really my father.”
“Wow. I had no idea.”
“Me either.”
Cyn stopped cutting and caught her eye in the mirror again. “So was he able to find out who the daddy really is?”
“Unfortunately, Kyle is my father. Hunt didn’t tell me the real reason he wanted the test because he didn’t want to get my hopes up and make me wait weeks for the results. He came clean for a few reasons, but mainly so I’d know that my mom had someone in her life who really cared about her before Kyle ruined everything.”
“Did it help to know that?”
“Actually, yes. My grandparents never talked about her. All I really know is the tragic parts of her life. It makes me feel closer to her knowing she was a normal teenager before that, going to school and out with her boyfriend.” Shelby imagined a whole world where her mother was happy and living her life thanks to Hunt giving her that little bit of information.
Cyn set her scissors on the counter, stood in front of her, raked her fingers through Shelby’s hair and shook it, then scrunched it in her hands. She stepped back andout of the way of the mirror and asked, “What do you think?”
Shelby had been so distracted talking to Cyn, she hadn’t realized she’d finished cutting all the length off. She stared at herself in the mirror with her hair cascading to her shoulders in soft waves. It made her whole face, and especially her green eyes, stand out. “Oh my God, Cyn.”
“I’m not done. I’ll add some product to hold the waves and blow it out, but yeah. You look beautiful.”
She turned to Cyn. “Thank you for seeing what I couldn’t.”
“It’s all you, Shelby. You always had that pretty face and those gorgeous eyes. You were just hiding it under all that hair.”
“Thank you.” Shelby’s eyes watered. “I love it.” She really did. It made her feel different. She hadn’t known a simple haircut could do that, but it made her feel more like herself.
“I suggest you use some bronze eyeliner to highlight those green eyes, a little neutral shadow, black mascara to bring out those long lashes you were blessed with, and a soft pink lip. Let all that natural beauty shine through.”
“I kind of like your electric-blue eyeliner. It pops just like your purple hair.”
“I’m bold. You’re more—”
“Boring,” Shelby interjected.
