Fierce Salon: Episode 2: A New Adult Smexy Serial (Volume 2) Read Free Page A

didn’t notice he was back at his station but I scoff at the absurdity of her gesture. “No way.”
    “Way.” She lowers her voice and leans toward me. “He watches you all the time.”
    I can’t stop my eyes from finding his in the mirror. He looks away quickly as if trying to disprove her claim. I follow his gaze and see he’s watching Carly and Mason. He probably has a thing for her after their lunch date today.
    Paige has an ‘I told ya so’ look on her face when I finally pull my eyes away from Nate. “See.”
    I just shrug and shake my head a little. To drown out my own thoughts, I turn on the hair dryer and get her finished up.
    Mason is only there for about fifteen minutes before Carly gives him a hug and walks back to her station. She looks a little confused for a second before a horrified look crosses her face. “Oh my god!”
    Carly turns toward the shampoo room and shrieks. Her two minute toner hasn’t been washed out yet. I step away from Paige and go to see if I can help. Carly is frantically spraying down the bright purple hair on her snooty client. The woman is in tears as she gets glimpses of the disaster in her peripheral vision.
    “Don’t worry, Shel. We’ll fix this.”
    “Fix this? You’ve destroyed my hair! How can you fix this?”
    Nate is at the client’s side within seconds. “Shelly, right?” When she nods, he grabs her hand and rubs the inside of her forearm with his fingertips. “We can do a bleach bath and go light or color it darker. What were you looking for when you came in?”
    “Platinum.” Her tears slow down as she lets Nate’s calm voice and touch soothe her. I’m as mesmerized as she is.
    “We can do that. It might take a little bit longer. Do you have to be anywhere tonight?”
    She shakes her head and sniffs. “I was just going to pick up dinner after this.”
    “I’d be happy to have dinner brought in while you’re here or I can get something delivered for you to take when you leave. Anything you want.”
    “Oh, well, I guess that would be fine.”
    “Carly, you need anything else or can you handle things?”
    “I’ve got it from here.” Carly wipes her own teary eyes and takes a deep breath. “Thanks, Nate.”
    “Of course.” He looks back to Shelley. “You’re in good hands with Carly.”
    Shelly just nods and stares into those crystal clear eyes that I’ve found myself staring into more often than not. Damn, he’s good. That could have been a catastrophe that he completely managed and didn’t even get mad at Carly. She probably feels stupid for making such a rookie mistake but life goes on.
    “You have dinner plans?” Olivia is cleaning up and getting ready to leave.
    “No.” I look at Paige and she’s already finished styling her own hair. “I’m sorry, Paige. I shouldn’t have left you here.”
    “No worries.” She sets it with spray and walks toward me. “It’s perfect. I love it.”
    “Oh, good.” I smile and lift the top layer to make sure it’s even. “I’m glad you’re happy.”
    “Yup. See ya tomorrow.” She bolts out of there with her phone in her hand. She must have some where to be. Which reminds me that I don’t have any place to be.
    “So, dinner?” Olivia is waiting with her purse in one hand and an unlit cigarette in the other. “I’m starving.”
    “Yeah, let’s go.”
    Nate is at the reception desk, doing something on the computer. “Night, Nate,” I say as we pass by.
    “Nice work, Amy.” He gives me a half smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
    I nod vigorously. “Nine thirty sharp!”

 
     
     
    Chapter Four
    Nate
     
    By the time I lock up for the night, I feel restless and annoyed. I’m not sure what’s wrong but I’m out of sorts and not happy about it.
    My first instinct is to drive to Skip’s, a little restaurant at the end of the road that leads to my house. But I’m not in the mood to deal with locals so I take a left at the top of the hill and drive along the coast for about