Saylor gasps as her eyes blow wide. I know exactly what it sounds like I’m implying. The sound of Wren’s boots click against the hardwood as she moves deeper into the salon to find me.
“Riggsby,” she greets with a smirk, and I groan. I hate her calling me by my last name.
“Wait?” Saylor interrupts. “What’s going on here?”
Wren rolls her eyes as Saylor rubs some kind of clear gel in her hands.
“Are you almost done?” I grumble, flinching as her fingers rake through my hair.
“Trust the process, bro. Let the magician do her work,” she says, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
She moves a few pieces around as she stares in the mirror, trying to get everything right. “Nothing’s wrong with it, but this—” she moves one last piece— “makes you look like a man.”
“I’m never going to…” I start to complain, but Wren’s voice stops me. “I like it.”
“You do?” My head whips her direction, searching her face for any lies. I catch her looking at me, gaze lingering before those whiskey eyes flick to my mouth, then up again as her composure snaps into place. She swallows, pressing her lips together, but not before biting her bottom one. My chest tightens because she’s not just looking at me with approval in her eyes, but desire she’s trying to, and failing to hide.
She nods as Saylor unsnaps the cape from around my neck, leaning down to whisper, “told you so.”
I stand and reach for my wallet. Sliding out a twenty, I place it on the shelf, grabbing my cup as I step around the chair. My feet carry me closer to Wren. I can’t help but inhale her spicy, floral perfume.
“Whiskey,” I rasp, voice low and gravelly. She pinches her legs together, but I clock the motion. “You’re giving me that look again.”
“Wh-What look?” she stammers, chest rising.
“Like you’re trying to decide if I’m worth the trouble.”
Her cheeks turn my favorite shade of pink. But Wren surprises me.
“Are you?” Her voice is low, breathy.
“Yeah, baby. I am.”
I wink before walking by her. Our shoulders brush against each other. I don’t miss the goosebumps erupting over her creamy skin and the electricity shooting through me.
She doesn’t say anything as I tell my sister goodbye. I’m moving toward the front of the salon when I hear Saylor.
“Sit downand spill everything.”
I chuckle to myself as I push through the door. My body is alive and humming with energy and excitement. I’m another step closer to getting my girl back.
Chapter 23
Wren
“Holyhell,itsmellsamazing,” Greer praises as she walks into the kitchen, balancing a bottle of wine in one hand and a pie pan in the other. “I’m looking for Wren Drummond’s house, but it smells like I stepped into a five-star restaurant.”
I chuckle, stirring a wooden spoon as garlic and butter sizzle in a skillet. Tonight, I’m having the girls over for dinner and drinks. We’ve been trying to go to Pilates every weekend, but not all of us can make it. Tonight, we’re all here, and I’m looking forward to some girl time.
“It’s carbonara,” I say. “Nothing fancy.”
“Whatever you say, Giada,” she teases, referring to me as Giada De Laurentiis. She leans close, pressing a welcoming kiss on my cheek.
“Did you all carpool?” I joke as I watch the rest of the girls follow Greer through the doorway.
“Not all of us,” Saylor answers from somewhere in the living room.
“I picked up Saylor. The other two were a coincidence,”Greer explains.
