“Now that’s what I call a sappy grin,” Audrey said, breezing by her and grabbing a banana from the basket on the table.“Please tell me you went out with Hunky Security Guy and had wild, crazy sex.”
Freya choked out a laugh. “Wow. You got all that from my sappy grin?” Work gossip spread like wildfire, and she wanted zero part of it.
Audrey eyed her up and down. “I can’t tell if you’re evading or not. But throw me a bone. Did you at least kiss the guy?”
Chuckling, she grabbed a fresh apron and made her way to the door. “I don’t kiss and tell.”
Audrey squealed, following close on her heels. “So you admit there was kissing!”
She shook her head and wagged a finger at her colleague as they rounded the corner to the front desk. “I’m not admitting a thing. Now behave, miss!”
“You’re no fun.” Audrey sighed. “And FYI, your first appointment is here. She knows she’s twenty minutes early but wanted to have some snacks first.”
The next few hours were jam-packed with one appointment after another.
“Enjoy the cooking class tonight,” Freya said as her client stood, fluffed her hair, and thanked her.
It was one o’clock, and she finally had a half-hour break. She was contemplating running over to the café when Miriam strode toward her holding a large to-go cup with a giant pink straw popping out the top.
“Here you go.” Miriam handed her the cup. “A large peanut butter and strawberry smoothie.”
“Oh my God, I love you.” Freya took a grateful sip of the decadent goodness and sighed. Her stomach growled in approval.
“It’s the least I can do for booking you solid until five thirty.”
Freya’s eyebrows rose. “Five thirty? The schedule said my last appointment was a four o’clock men’s cut.”
Miriam cringed. “I know. I just added a woman’s cut and blowout at four thirty. The guest was a client of Hazel’s that was originally down for tomorrow, but she wanted to change it to today. I’m sorry. I’ll buy you whatever you want for dinner.”
What was another hour, right? “It’s fine, Mir, but I’ll take a rain check on that dinner.”
“I do come bearing good news too.” Miriam pulled out a key fob with a valet parking ticket attached to it. “Your rental car is here. It’s a gray Ford Explorer, which is nice since it’s supposed to snow at the end of the week. This is the spare key and claim ticket. Valet has the other key.”
“Thanks. Do you know how long the autobody shop is going to have my car?”
“I’ll have to double-check with security, but I think I heard two to three weeks? And again, the rental is on us.”
“Well, I appreciate that, and the car upgrade.” It would be nice having four-wheel drive if it snowed. She wasn’t the best at driving in the stuff, so she could use all the help she could get.
“Freya, out of curiosity, have you heard from Hazel?”
She noted the hint of unease on her boss’s face. “I thought I saw a couple texts come in from her this morning, but I haven’t had the chance to check them. Everything okay?”
“Well, just as an FYI,” Miriam said, “she left a message on my voicemail saying she’s planning on opening a salon downtown.”
Freya’s eyes widened. “Really?”
Miriam nodded. “I want to be completely transparent with you. Please know that we value you. If she offers you something at her salon, by all means, feel free to consider her offer, but know that we’ll fight to keep you here.”
Freya pulled her phone from her apron. Sure enough, there were three messages from her. “Hazel did text.” She flashed her screen at Miriam. “I’m not going anywhere. This place is great. With everything that happened, not only with the shooting, butalso my car getting damaged, it made me realize how lucky I am to work here.”
“I appreciate you saying that, Freya.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Audrey said, walking toward them. “Your next client is here, Freya.”
Miriam glanced at her watch. “You still have ten minutes. Finish up your smoothie. Let me know if you need anything—another smoothie, snacks, or whatever, and I’ll grab it for you. Thank you again for staying late.”
“No problem,” she said as Miriam walked with Audrey back to the front desk.
