“It would seem he’s just down to a wife and a boyfriend now,” Adrian replied. “What we need to find out is how long it’s been happening and whether Jack knew about Rocky sleeping with Georgia again. Maybe he was willing to share Rocky with his wife because he’s a married man too, but drew the line at sharing him with a girlfriend also.”
“I think we need to pay a visit to the county commissioner’s office.” I walked to my desk and retrieved my jacket. “Let’s bring the captain up to speed first.”
“Let’s do this, partner.” Adrian sounded peppier than he had in days unless he was talking about Sally Ann.
I had a strong feeling that we were finally on the right track to solve the case. For me, it had nothing to do with our closing rate and everything to do with getting justice for Georgia Beaumont. Her friends mourned her loss and having the case go unsolved would only stoke the fires of misery. I knew that bringing her killer to justice wouldn’t make the pain go away, but it would help to know that he or she didn’t still walk among them.
MY BODY TOLD MEGabe was in my salon before I even saw him or heard his voice. Yes, I was able to hear his voice over the din of hair dryers, music, and gossip. Luckily for me, I was on the very last foil for my client or I might have lost track of the color pattern I’d been working on. I loved doing multi-dimensional colors, but I had to pay close attention so that I didn’t fuck it up. The last thing I needed was Detective Distraction waltzing in without an appointment and…
I saw Chaz show him to the sitting area between the salon and massage areas. Gabe happened to look in my direction and our eyes met in my mirror. I narrowed my eyes in speculation and he winked at me. Then my brain chose to function and recall that Sally Ann purchased a gift certificate for Gabe’s birthday. That meant he was in my building about to get naked with only a sheet between him and Josi.
Damn that man and all his distracting yumminess!
I turned my focus back to my client because no man was worth fucking up a woman’s hair and my reputation. “All right, Mary Beth, you’re ready for some time beneath the dryer.” I walked her over to a free chair and lowered the dome over her head. “Would you like something to drink or a magazine to look at?”
“Oh, you’re such a dear. Could I have the latest HGTV magazine and some sweet tea? Stan and I are planning a kitchen remodel and I’d love to get some ideas while I process.”
That meant I had to go into the sitting room wherehewas to get the magazine that Mary Beth wanted. I looked around the salon and hoped that one of the earlier clients had already snatched it up and set it aside, but it just wasn’t my day – week, month, or even year. I smiled at Mary Beth who was looking up at me expectantly. “I’ll be right back.” I turned on her dryer, dug up my courage, and went into the sitting room.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Gabe look up from his magazine and lock his focus on me.Please don’t say anything. Please don’t say anything.I willed him not to speak to me so that I could maintain my focus. I began sorting through the magazines on the coffee table in search of the latest HGTV that came in the day before and couldn’t find it anywhere, which probably meant…
“Looking for this one?” Gabe wiggled the magazine in front of his chest when I turned my head and looked at him.
“Yes, actually.” I was proud of how cool my voice sounded when I spoke because I felt anything but calm on the inside. “My client is getting ready to do a kitchen remodel and would like to look at the magazine.”
“What will you give me for it?” The arrogant look on his face and tone of his voice set my teeth to grinding while I dug deep for patience. Too bad I had none for him at that point.
“Not a goddamned thing,” I replied vehemently. “I’ll just tell Mary Beth that the magazine is gone. She’ll think Donna Sumner stole it like she’s been known to do.” I turned and was just about to the doorway of the salon before he caught me. Gabe’s body was pressed against mine, one arm held me tight against him, and the other held the magazine up in front of me.
“I was only teasing.” The heat of his breath tickled my ear and it was all I could do not to react. “Give this to your client.” I took the magazine from his hand then he dropped him arms away from me and stepped back. “Are you going to be around later? I’d like to talk to you.”
“We don’t have anything to talk about,” I replied, hoping he didn’t see the small shiver that worked its way down my spine as my body missed his heat.
“Liar.” He chuckled as I walked away from him with my spine stiff as a board. The nerve of that asshole.
I retrieved a bottle of sweet tea out of the refrigerator in the small kitchen and then presented the tea and magazine to Mary Beth, who clapped her hands gleefully before she accepted them. I turned my attention to cleaning up my station so that it was pristine and ready for her haircut after her shampoo. I tried my hardest not to think about Gabe being there by focusing on that traitor Chaz. I knew damn well that Gabe wasn’t on the schedule that morning when I looked, which meant he called the salon to schedule an appointment earlier in the day and Chaz worked him in without telling me.
I whipped out my phone and sent Chaz a quick text.I can’t believe you didn’t tell me that Gabe called and scheduled a massage.I looked over and watched as Chaz pulled his phone out of his back pocket. I could feel his humor at my discomfort from across the room.
He smiled the entire time he typed a reply.Since when have I been required to alert you to a client scheduling an appointment?
I bit my lip to keep from growling out loud.He’s not a client, jack wagon. He’s the enemy and you should’ve let me know he was coming into my territory so I could be prepared.
Chaz started laughing in earnest then.And where’s the fun in that?I was so happy that he was being entertained at my expense.
You’re fired!I typed and hit send.
Chaz only laughed harder.Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.He totally wasn’t worried about losing his job.
I slid my phone back in my pocket then grabbed the empty hair dye bowls and headed to the prep room right off the kitchen. I had just walked into the room when I felt, instead of heard, Gabe enter the room behind me. He moved like a ninja for such a big man. Gabe took the bowls from my hand and put them on the counter before he turned and backed me up against the door.
Gabe pressed the length of his body against mine and lowered his mouth to my ear. “How long before your client’s dome-looking thing goes off?”
“I’m not doing this with you now or ever, Detective.” Too bad he could feel the way my body betrayed me by trembling with want.
“So formal after we’ve been so intimate,” he said hotly against my ear before he peppered my neck with kisses. “I’ve had your dick in my mouth so I would think we should be on a first-name basis.” He pulled back and looked into my eyes. “In fact, we’ve been as intimate as two people can be except for having my tongue in your ass.” I swear to God that I nearly whimpered. “Is that what it would take for you to go to dinner with me? I’ve missed you, Josh.”
I wanted to believe him but the memory of his rendezvous with the club owner was still burning in my mind. It gave me the strength I needed to resist him. “You didn’t look very lonely last weekend.”
