“Yeah, me too.”
“I gotta get over to the shop. There’s a bunch of one-off orders to fill, and we’re already behind.”
Wolf nodded. “I’ll see you tonight. Get some sleep if you can. It might be a long one.”
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
Sabrina dumpeda load of sheets into the washer and added detergent. If there was time between clients, everyone took turns keeping up with laundry and other tasks around the spa. Stocking oils, making calls, cleaning bathrooms—whatever task was needed, the expectation was for the staff to jump in and get it done.
Stephan walked by the open laundry room, playing a game on his phone.
Sabrina called out to him, “Hey, Steph, can you check the mudroom for any towels?”
The man actually looked down his nose at her. “Really? I don’t do menial.” He walked off with the sounds ofMario Kartfollowing him.
It pissed her off, but she reminded herself that this place was just a temporary gig until she figured out what came next.
She closed the machine lid and turned the dial to start it.
Whatdidcome next?
Up until last night, she had a plan, but the impulsive dare threw her off. What possessed her to ask for that kiss? Now she couldn’t stop thinking about it.
When was the last time she did that? Years ago, when she and Carlos had their thing going. They’d been high school sweethearts. He was her first kiss and first big crush. She gave her virginity to him at graduation, and they’d dated a little while longer after that, but he had other plans that included four years of football at the University of Georgia. Those plans didn’t include her. Later, there was Parker, but his love was based on her breadwinning capabilities. Right off the bat, he’d tried to move in with her and suggested he become a house-boyfriend. Nope. Whoever she lived with didn’t have to support her, but he damn well needed to support himself. Ernie taught her that.
“If a man can’t stand on his own two feet, you don’t need him.”
Sabrina paused as she recalled her dad’s words. She had to thank her on-again, off-again mother for that as well. Raquel spent most of her life sponging off any man she could find to give her money. Sabrina vowed a long time ago to never be that kind of woman.
“Find something you like that you can earn your own living doing,mija. Always be able to pay your own bills and take care of yourself.”
That’s exactly what she did. Ernie had helped her out as much as he could with school, but she’d paid most of her own way and made it into a career. In the short time she’d been here in Pittsburgh, she’d met a number of people and built a budding reputation. More musicians were coming to see her about hand and elbow issues, and a few of them offered comp tickets for any concerts she wanted to see.
Would Cam be interested in hearing the symphony?
She closed her eyes and took a cleansing breath.Stop thinking about him all the damn time!
The vision of this morning appeared behind her eyelids. Waking up, seeing his handsome face relaxed as he slept on, hisarm around her as he held her close and secure. All of it was etched into her memory, and she would never forget the sense of safety she felt, of belonging.
She took another breath, drawing air deep into her lungs, and held it.Stop it, Sabrina. You’re too old to have schoolgirl crushes anymore.
The pep talk didn’t work.
Stephan broke her concentration by calling her from the front.
“Earth to Sabrina! You have a new person up in here!”
She gritted her teeth. Her next appointment was in two hours, so this must be a walk-in type or someone Stephan didn’t want to deal with.Money is money,she thought as she walked down the hall to the counter.
The short, tubby man wore a business suit that was at least one size too small. He drove a hand through his spiked-up hair, lifting it farther as he snapped irritably, “No, no, no, no! I said two hundred twenty-four, not twenty-four hundred!”
Sabrina’s confusion dissipated when she spotted the dual Bluetooth devices in his ears.
“Absolute incompetence! Someone’s getting fired. I’ll give you an hour to figure out who. What’s taking so long?”
A moment passed before Sabrina realized he was talking to her. “I’m ready when you are. Right this way.”
