“SO WHAT IF it’s different? It looks great!”
I stared back at myself in the mirror of the salon, my dull, chestnut hair now amped up with golden highlights. It wasn’t that I didn’t like the much-needed but subtle makeover, I just wasn’t a huge fan of change. I mean, who really was? When you were accustomed to something for so long, deviating from that norm felt almost . . . wrong. Like an abrupt end, a death of whatever it was you swapped or replaced. But I was getting melodramatic. This was only my hair, and even though I was set in my beliefs, when something stopped working for you, change could be a good thing.
Time to embrace change and make it your bitch.
Tousling my freshly cut waves, I smiled at my reflection and then looked past myself to where one of my bosses, Sophie, stood behind me. “Thank you. It really does look great. I love it.”
I stood from the chair, removed the cape, and returned it to its rightful hook. Grabbing the broom from the corner I left it in, I swept up the few inches I shed in the hopes of freshening my look.
Sophie dismissed me by waving her hand and then tidied up her work station. “All work and no play—”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know I can’t sit still,” I interrupted with a laugh. “And I have to repay you somehow. The complimentary cut and color were totally unnecessary.”
“Would you stop? It’s the least I can do. You’ve been working more hours than any stylist in the salon. I had to show my appreciation somehow.”
“Well, thank you.” I curtsied, letting my hair bounce freely. I felt good because I looked good. And my boss’s appreciation only added to those good vibes.
“You know what I tell all my clients after I give them a killer blow-out, right?” Sophie eyed me with a mischievous grin. A grin all of my friends had become very fond of recently. A grin meant to entice me toward calling Bryce.
“I know, I know. One of these days. But not tonight. Tonight, I have a date with laundry.”
“Boring,” she sang before heading to the front of the salon to welcome a walk-in.
Yup. She hit it on the head. My life was boring as hell right now. Time lapsed at a torturously slow pace, lonely days bleeding into even lonelier nights. And yet, a week after I last saw him, I still hadn’t worked up the nerve to get in touch with Bryce.
It wasn’t for lack of wanting him, but my list of excuses went on and on. I was out of practice. Still broken-hearted. Too apprehensive. I was a walking wreck! Who on Earth wanted to get involved with me? Certainly not a respectable doctor like Bryce Owen. No, Doctor Bryce Owen deserved much more. A woman intact, for one. A woman who wasn’t thinking of her ex-husband every time she stared into his coffee-colored eyes or kissed his plump, heart-shaped lips. Bryce wouldn’t be interested in me if he knew what was good for him.
But apparently, Bryce didn’t care what or who was good for him, because Bryce was here.
“Right back there,” Sophie crooned, pointing to where I stood, utterly dumbfounded.
“What are you doing here?” Not only was I confused as to how he found me here, but I felt like Cinderella with the damn broom and apron.
“I have my ways.” His brow quirked, showcasing those eyes that stirred up a longing I wished I could ignore.
But I couldn’t. It was potent, dizzying. And maybe . . . maybe I no longer wanted to ignore the way he kicked up those butterflies.
Admitting that to myself was like suddenly lifting this invisible ban on my heart. It was a renewal of my spirit. A warmth crept to my cheeks and a smile tugged at my lips, both reminders that I was still very much alive, the numbness of the last year finally fading.
I registered the way his eyes danced across my features, soaking them in, committing them to memory, adoring them. This man looked at me as if looking away would hurt. He went to the trouble to find me; he hadn’t given up. Now it was up to me to accept whatever it was he had to offer.
Calm, steady breaths soothed my racing mind. I licked my parched lips and finally said, “I’m working, you know.” I looked up at the clock for good measure. “Don’t get off for another forty-five minutes.”
Relief glimmered in his steadfast gaze and he tucked his hands in his pockets. “I can wait.”
Relentless. A tiny giggle escaped me. It was nice to be on the receiving end of this kind of persistence. “How’d you find me?”
“Does it matter?”
It did, but it didn’t. Men like Bryce probably had all kinds of resources at their fingertips, people willing to lend favors. “I guess not.”
“Good, because if I kept waiting around for you to call, I’d probably be waiting forever.”
This was true. As much as I thought about calling him, about embodying a strong woman ready to move on, the chances of me actually picking up a phone and dialing his number were very slim. “Yeah, about that—”
“Don’t worry about it.” He closed the distance between us, inch by inch. “I’m here now and I’m taking you out tonight.”
Relentless and aggressive. I wasn’t complaining. But I was underdressed. “I’m—” I looked down at my ripped jeans and plain T-shirt.
“Beautiful,” he finished for me. His eyes traveled up my body and then appraised my upper half. “I love your hair.”
“Thanks.” I sensed my cheeks blushing again and brought a hand up to the loosely styled curls. “I needed a change.” If he only knew the weight that sentence held.
Seemingly sensing the nerves bubbling beneath my heated skin, Bryce took a step back and thumbed in the direction of the waiting area up front. “How about I park myself over there with a magazine until your shift ends? Is that okay?”
Sure it was okay, but it made me laugh.
“What’s funny?”
I shook my head. The joke wasn’t that funny the more I mulled it over in my head. “Nothing. Just . . . kind of a role reversal.”
“True.” He chuckled. “I hope you’re not as anxious as my patients when they’re waiting for me.”
Ha! Now there’s a joke if I ever heard one. “I plead the fifth.”
“There’s nothing to be nervous about, London. I’m just a regular guy, hooked on your hypnotic beauty.”
“I bet you say that to all the girls.”
“And I bet you’ll have such a good time tonight, you’ll kick yourself for staying away so long.”
After saying something like that, how did he expect me to get through the next forty-five minutes unscathed by his dominant presence?
Sophie let me leave before Bryce could even choose a magazine to keep him busy. On my way to the bathroom to freshen up, I called my mother to tell her I was going out. I didn’t mention with whom because there was no time for everything that conversation would entail.
I left my car at the salon and Bryce and I drove together to wherever he was taking me in his BMW. I’d never seen the inside of one and couldn’t help but melt into the luxurious butter-like leather.
“I hope you’re hungry,” he said, peering over at me. His face was aglow from the dim, blue dashboard lights, and it was obvious then that no form of lighting was unkind to him. Florescent hospital lights—gorgeous. Bright salon lights—even more gorgeous. Lavish, premium package, automobile interior lights—drop dead gorgeous.
I cleared my throat to stop my drooling. “Very hungry. You?”
I didn’t miss the way his eyes traveled—painstakingly slow—to my chest and into my lap and then back up to my eyes. “Starved.”
“Where are you taking me?” I ignored the heat that coated my body from his gaze alone.
“A place I think you’ll like.”
“Yeah? How do you know what I like?”
“I don’t, but I hope one day your likes and dislikes will be second nature. In the meantime, learning will be fun.”
How did he do that? Everything that came out of his mouth dripped with depth. The simplest responses to the simplest questions were laced with confidence and always took me by surprise. Not to mention how elusive he was. Did he ever actually answer any of my questions? How did you find me? Where are you taking me? Nope. He had a mysterious way about him. It drove me positively mad but turned me on something awful.
Our short drive to the restaurant ended with a valet attendant opening my door and Bryce coming around to escort me inside. He thanked the young kid, slipped him a tip, and piloted me up a few steps.
“Have you eaten here before?” His arm was slung loosely around my waist. It was intimate, but nice.
“No.” I’d never been, but after taking in the casual dining space and the view—an expansive eyeful of Horseneck Beach—I gasped in delight. “How did you know?” He’d managed to find the perfect spot for our first date. New but familiar. How very telling.
“How did I know what?”
We followed the hostess to our table, my eyes still fixated on the view of the ocean with childlike wonderment. “I love it here.”
“But you said you’ve never been.”
“I haven’t.” I giggled, shaking my head. “I meant, I love this beach. You couldn’t have . . . I never mentioned . . . Did you talk to my mom, or something?”
Bryce chuckled, a show-stopping smile that plumped up the apples of his cheeks. “Please sit.”
We took our seats and the menus. The small table was set on an outside balcony that overlooked the ocean in the near distance. It was so serene and beautiful at night. The stars glistened across an ebony backdrop, the waves crashing serenely, their daytime violence simmering in the cool evening breeze. I closed my eyes and drew in my favorite scent in the entire world. Sea-salted memories wafted around me, embracing me, anchoring me, igniting me.
“You are so beautiful.” Bryce’s sultry tone caused me to open my eyes.
Embarrassed by the weight of his stare and how unguarded I’d become because of my surroundings, I crumpled into myself. It’s like I’ve never been out in public with another man before. I haven’t been out in public with another man before. “I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
I shrugged, taking a sip of the water the waiter must’ve poured while I was in my daze. “Please forgive me if I act a little strange.” Ironically, that was the opening line to a David Gray song I adored. The lyrics that followed . . . For I know not what I do. Feels like lightning running through my veins, every time I look at you . . . were poignantly perfect for this moment.
“There is nothing remotely strange about you, London. I’ll keep telling you that until you believe it.”
His simple words were lyrical in their own right. They put me at ease, helped melt away any apprehensions I might have had going into this.
Unintentionally biting my lower lip, I acquiesced to his challenge. “Okay.” The word slipped out of its own volition.
Bryce was right. Why had I fought this for so long? One long year of loneliness, sadness, and disappointment started to wither away and we hadn’t even gotten to the first course yet.