“No problem,” she said. She cast a sly smile in his direction. “By the way, averynice-looking woman came in asking about you not too long ago. If I wasn’t happily married, I would be jealous that some newcomer is scoping out Gauthier’s most eligible bachelor.”
Matt’s stomach dropped. “Was she wearing a red top and black skirt?”
“Yeah,” Theresa confirmed.
Dammit.
“What did she want to know?”
“Just stuff.” She shrugged. “Whether or not you’ve lived in Gauthier your entire life. How long you’ve been practicing law in your grandfather’s old building. Stuff like that. So.” Theresa raised her brows. “Is she someone special?”
“Yeah, a special pain in my ass,” Matt muttered. “Any idea where she went?”
“I think she said she was heading to Claudette’s.”
“Aw, shit.” Anywhere but the beauty parlor. “I’ll come back later for the deposit receipt. Or better yet, have someone bring it over to Carmen at the office.”
“No problem,” she called.
Matt quickly made it out of the bank and across the street to Claudette’s Beauty Parlor. He opened the screen door and was nearly bowled over by all the estrogen. He usually avoided this place at all costs, mainly because he’d dated two of the beauticians who worked here.
Dread crept up his spine as he spotted Tamryn sitting in one of the twirling salon chairs, her lean legs crossed. His gut clenched at the sight. It had done the same thing this morning when she’d assumed a similar position across from his desk.
“Well, look who’s here,” Claudette Robinson called, waving a comb at him.
“Hi, ladies,” Matt greeted everyone.
Joelle Richardson gave him a wave from where she stood at one of the shampooing basins along the back wall, washing someone’s hair. Mariska Thomas grunted at him and rolled her eyes.
Things had ended amicably with Joelle. With Mariska, not so much.
“We were just telling Tamryn here about you running for state senate,” Claudette said.
“They sure were.” An amused glint lit up Tamryn’s eyes. “They also told me about your work with the Boys and Girls Club, and the scholarship you award at the high school, and the work you do with the elderly. You reallyarea Boy Scout, aren’t you, Matthew?”
“Everybody loves Matt around here,” Claudette piped in.
There was another grunt from the station where Mariska was slathering cream in a customer’s hair and folding pieces of foil over it.
“Don’t mind her,” Claudette said. She pointed a finger between Matt and Mariska. “They used to date. Didn’t end well,” she said in a loud whisper.
“Oh.” Tamryn’s eyes widened in what looked like genuine curiosity. That expression alone told Matt that he needed to get her the hell away from these wagging tongues as quickly as possible.
“Professor West, you mind if I talk to you outside?” he asked.
“Professor?” Claudette’s brows met her dyed hairline. “You didn’t tell us you were a professor.”
“I am.” Tamryn unfolded those stunning legs and stood. “I teach African American history and women’s studies at a small liberal arts college in Boston.”
“Well, well, well. How very fancy,” Claudette said. “I hope you enjoy your time in Gauthier. Stop by and see us again.”
“I’m sure I will,” Tamryn said as she slipped out the door Matt held open.
“What was that?” he asked as soon as they were outside.
“What was what?”
“Why are you going all over town asking about me?”
