When he entered Tegan’s Tresses, he looked around tentatively. The place was abuzz with the sounds of ladies chatting and laughing, hair dryers humming, and a radio tuned to the local modern country station. He quickly confirmed he was the only male in the place as all eyes landed on him, the patrons ogling him like meat on a stick, even though most of them appeared to be the same age as his mother. Scratching the back of his head in embarrassment, he caught Morgan’s eyes through the mirror at her station, hoping she would throw him a lifeline.
Grinning like a Cheshire cat, she responded to his silent plea. “I can take you after I finish this cut.”
He took a seat on a silver-colored velvet love seat near the front and picked up a gossip magazine from a side table made of glass. The magazine would give him something to focus on rather than the not-so-subtle looks from everyone in the salon.
About fifteen uncomfortable minutes later, Morgan approached him after escorting her customer out. “How about a shampoo first?”
“Uh, sure.” He followed her back to the shampoo bowl where she handed him a smock.
“Put this on and have a seat.”
Next thing he knew, Morgan was doubled over in laughter.
“What?”
“It’s way too small and you’ve got it on backwards. Let me help you.” Once she adjusted the smock as best she could, he sat in the chair and leaned back.
“Are you comfy?”
He supposed he was as comfortable as he could get, given that he’d just folded his well over-six-foot-tall frame into a salon chair meant for a woman. He adjusted himself slightly in the seat in an attempt to relieve the pressure on his neck and closed his eyes, anticipating Morgan’s touch and wondering if the reality would beat the fantasy. Once she squirted the shampoo and rubbed it into his hair, she used her nails to massage his scalp. He breathed in the pleasant scent and couldn’t help himself as he moaned in pleasure.
“Careful. People will wonder what we’re doing back here with you making all that noise.”
His eyes remained blissfully closed as he responded. “Sorry. Can’t help myself. I feel like I died and went to heaven right now.” He wrinkled his face into a frown as he voiced a thought out loud. “Do you have any male customers?”
“A few. Why?”
“You do this with them?”
“Do what?”
“That thing you’re doin’ with your fingers that makes me feel like the luckiest guy in the world right now.”
“Nope. You get the special treatment.”
With that settled, he relaxed once more, continuing his enjoyment of her touch as she rinsed out the shampoo, then followed with a conditioner. He’d never considered himself to be the jealous type; quite honestly, he’d never understood why a man would engage in a fight or argument over a woman. But Morgan was different. He wanted to claim her as his, even though they’d just recently met. Something about her, and this town, made him feel at home, at peace. Contentment settled in his gut, unfamiliar, yet comfortable at the same time.
After Morgan towel-dried his hair, he unfolded his body from the too-small shampoo station and followed her back to her station. He settled into her chair and watched her reflection in the mirror as she got to work trimming his curls close to his scalp, just the way he liked it. Following the cut, she used a razor on the back of his neck and sideburns, then dusted away the tiny bits of cut hair and unfastened his smock, stepping back to admire her work.
“Don’t you look handsome? Whatcha doin’ tonight, now that you’re all styled up?”
He swiveled around in the chair to face her, grinning. “No plans.”
“I’m looking for a dinner date. You interested?”
Desire snaked through him, causing his fingers to itch as he longed to repay the favor and massage her in the most intimate of ways. “Hmm, maybe.”
She came closer, leaning down and whispering in his ear. “Well, maybe we can find a place to spend the night.”
“I can try to get my room back at Brewer’s,” he replied softly.
“No. Nana might see me,” she replied just as softly.
“Okay, I’ll think of something and text you the details.” Now if he could only figure out how to get up from the chair and nonchalantly exit the salon before his body revealed to everyone just how much he was looking forward to the evening ahead.
13
MORGAN
