Once I got to Curl Up and Dye, all my tension faded away because I knew I was going to get a scalp massage that rivaled sex, a beautiful hair style that always made me feel like a million dollars, catch up on the latest town gossip, and I’d walk out of there with freshly painted nails that would make me happy every time I looked down at them.
I wasn’t wrong either. Josh worked his magic with two different shades of blonde and a contrasting shade of brown that made the blonde look more vibrant. As for the gossip, I learned that Mr. Jacobi was trying to pass a kidney stone, Mrs. Danvers was testing the latest beauty cream from an infomercial she saw during late night reruns ofI Love Lucy, and Nadine Beaumont finally left that worthless, piece of shit husband of hers. Rocky Beaumont, former town mayor and current town slut, was finally getting his just desserts.
My mood had completely turned around by the time I left the salon. I might’ve sacrificed four hours of my day off, but it was worth every second. I was convinced my luck had also turned around because Becker, a local realtor, called on my way home to tell me I had first crack at the Renzo estate. The older couple had recently passed away within months of each other and their son, Thom, was looking to sell the property since he had moved away after graduation and had no desire to return to Blissville. It was the best opportunity presented to me in a long time, and I couldn’t wait to see what treasures were in store for me in that old house.
I know it sounds like I have questionable character, but I’m a good person.I swear!I don’t wish death on people, and I certainly don’t try to take advantage of the grieving families I work with, in fact, the opposite is true. The reason I’m successful at procuring first crack at the items is because I’ve earned the reputation as someone who is respectful to the families and honest in my dealings. I’m very proud of that too.
It was already dark by the time I left the salon, and I was ready to make myself a cup of hot cocoa and settle in my recliner with my book and Lulu curled up on my lap. Well, best laid plans and yada yada yada because Lulu had an upset stomach and wanted to eat grass. I decided to let my girl do her thing while I went upstairs and put on my pjs. Here’s a quirk about me. I own more pajamas than I do anything else and in every style you can imagine. I have everything from the sexy frilly shit that never gets to see play time, because neither do I, to the floor-length nightgowns like my ninety-year-old nana wears, and everything in between.
That night, I grabbed my favorite pair of Betty Boop pjs. The top was a baseball T-shirt with a white torso and a sassy, sexy Betty in the center, and long, red sleeves. It was a little thin for winter, but so soft against my skin and it wasn’t like I was going to be camping outside. I wasn’t expecting company either so I decided braless was perfectly acceptable. The pj bottoms were made from the softest red and black flannel that hugged my lower half in a warm embrace. It was the perfect outfit for lazing about for the rest of the evening.
Once I got back downstairs, I looked out the window of my kitchen door to check on Lulu’s progress. My heart raced in my chest when I didn’t see her. I whipped the door open and used that whisper-yell technique to call her name.
“Lulu! Stop fooling around and get in here.”
I stepped onto the back porch in my bare feet when I didn’t see or hear her. I turned my head to the right and saw that the gate was hanging wide open.
“Oh my God!” My baby!
I darted back inside the house and pulled the emergency flashlight from the junk drawer next to the refrigerator. I ran back outside and was grateful that the batteries still worked because I didn’t think to check them. There were only two things in the house that I could be sure always had batteries—my remote control for the television and my vibrator.Hey! A girl must have her priorities straight in life.I ran through the open gate and swept the weak beam of light from left to right as I looked for my precious dog. Too bad there wasn’t snow on the ground or I could’ve followed her footprints.
“Lulu!” I didn’t bother trying to be quiet. I heard the fear in my voice grow each time I called her name. “Come on, baby girl. Where are you?”
As soon as I crossed into my new neighbor’s back yard, a bright spotlight came on, blinding me instantly.
“Fuck!” I yelled as I tried covering my eyes with my free hand.
I heard the back door fly open hard enough to smash into the side of the house. “Who’s there?”
Oh, fuck!That hot, gravelly, just-woke-up voice sent shivers down my spine and made my lady bits clench in straight-up need. Damn, that voice would whisper the dirtiest shit in your ears while he pounded you from behind. I bet he would yank my hair and bite my neck.Whoa! What’s happening here?My reactions to his angry voice shocked me enough that I dropped my flashlight.
I shaded my eyes and looked in the direction of the back porch, but due to the bright lights behind him, all I could see was a dark silhouette. And what an amazing silhouette it was too. If he wasn’t naked then he was pretty damn close because I couldn’t see any hint of clothing hugging his thickly muscled thighs, broad shoulders, or bulging biceps that tapered into massively strong-looking forearms that…
“Is that a fucking gun?”
