She held her breath as Xander turned his face, and without taking his gaze from hers, pressed a kiss to her palm. Her heart pinged, and heat curled low in her belly.
“Spend the weekend with me, Frey? I know we talked about dinner tonight, but I don’t think that’s going to be enough. Spend tomorrow with me too?”
The desire in his eyes was mixed with another emotion she couldn’t define. All she knew was she wanted this man. She wasn’t going to concern herself with overanalyzing where this was going or whether things were moving too fast. She’d been cautious her entire life and it had gotten her nothing,just dead-end relationships that were all variations of the same dysfunction.
Go with the flow. That was the mantra she was embracing. Forget the rules she’d made for herself, and all thepropersteps of dating she’d set.
Moving her hand away from his mouth, she raked her fingers through the hair along his nape and tugged him closer. Without giving herself time to think, she pressed her lips to his, kissing and nipping at his lower lip.
He let out a low growl before he deepened their kiss. Her heart raced as his hands ran up her sides. When his fingers gently traced the edges of her breasts, heat pooled between her thighs. What she’d do to have him touch her...
A loud honk had her pulling away, breathless.
She chuckled with her hands still buried in his hair, and Xander looked out the driver’s side window and flipped off a passing car that was inching by.
In the passenger seat, smiling and waving at them, was a familiar face. Xander’s friend Tash.
“It’s like I work with a bunch of fucking middle schoolers,” Xander muttered, shaking his head as the other car drove away. With a sigh, he took her hands from around his head and pressed a kiss to both of her palms.
Her stomach flipped at the gesture.
Releasing her hands, he leaned back in his seat. The uncertainty in his expression was adorable. “Can I assume that kiss was a yes to spending the weekend together?”
Confident-and-in-control Xander was sexy and had her lady parts tingling. But uncertain Xander? Bullseye straight to the heart.
“You assume correctly,” she replied. The relief that flashed over his face had her chuckling again. “Now, we better get going, mister, before I’m late.”
Twenty minutes later, Freya waved at Audrey as she entered the spa. The soothing scents did nothing to calm the zip of energy coursing through her. A buzz that had nothing to do with the iced latte in her hands, and everything to do with the man who’d gotten her favorite drink.
Their quick drive to the resort had been filled with comfortable chatter. She’d told him more about her brothers, and he’d told her about Tash and Wilson, the guy who’d been driving the honking car. When he’d pulled up to the resort, he’d waved off the valet and waited until they’d gone back into the building before blowing her mind with another smoking-hot kiss. She wasn’t embarrassed to admit that her legs had been jelly when she’d stepped out of his SUV.
“Well, aren’t you a morning person,” Audrey said, smiling at her. “That must be some magical latte because—not that you’re a grump or anything—you’re not usually this smiley. I mean—” Audrey gasped, shot to her feet, and rounded the front desk. “Oh my God,” she whisper-squealed, “did you get lucky with Hottie McHotterson last night?”
If only . . .
“Down, girl.” At Audrey’s dejected face, Freya laughed. “I don’t kiss and tell, you know that. But no, he did not spend the night, though we had a wonderful time.”
“That must have been some wonderful time if you’re still walking on air,” Audrey said, flopping back into her chair. “But I’m glad to see someone other than Hazel getting a hottie.”
She shook her head. “Xander’s more than just a hottie. He’s sweet too.” She held up her latte. “He brought me this when he picked me up for work this morning.”
Audrey’s eyes widened. “Oh my God, that’s right! I heard about what happened to your car. Are you okay?”
“I’m good. My car?” She grimaced. “Not so much.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Miriam said, approaching the front desk. “Freya, I know you still have a few minutes before you clock in, but can I talk with you in my office?” She turned to Audrey. “Since it’s still quiet, could you restock the snack bar?”
“Of course,” Audrey replied. “Catch me during your break, Freya. I need to know more.”
Shaking her head, Freya chuckled and followed Miriam into her office. Taking a seat, she asked, “Everything okay?”
“I hope so,” Miriam said, sliding a piece of paper across the desk. “This is the proposed schedule for the rest of the month. I kept your day off tomorrow, but I have you working every day with only next Sunday off this coming week. The following week is Thanksgiving, and Lisa will be off on her two-week cruise. I have you and Sophie working Monday through Wednesday, and as you know, we’re closed Thursday. So far, the schedule is pretty light for Friday, but it picks back up Saturday and Sunday. Sophie said she can work all those days. Would you be able to come back Saturday and work the weekend?”
Freya glanced at the color-coded schedule. “That shouldn’t be a problem, but let me check in with my brothers. Can I get back to you?”
“Of course, and thank you, Freya. I know this entire schedule upheaval isn’t ideal, especially with Thanksgiving coming up, so I appreciate your flexibility.” Miriam let out a sigh and leaned back in her chair. “The good news is I’ve already had nearly a dozen applicants send in their portfolios for the open stylist position. Unfortunately, none of them have a whole lot of experience.” Her gaze shifted to her monitor. “Make that a dozen.”
“Well, good luck. I hope one of them works out,” Freya said, waving the schedule in the air. “And soon.”
