by J B Heller
I nodded once. That was my only response before storming off to my room for a hot shower. I needed to alleviate some of the stress that had invaded my body. He hadn’t mentioned her for the last few days, and I was beginning to think he’d made her up to get things started between us. Then I remembered Cherry, there’s no way he would willingly harm his baby.
I threw my clothes on the floor in a pile by the once again overflowing basket. I should really get to that today. I let the hot water run until steam filled the bathroom, then climbed in.
The water was scalding, but that’s how I like it when I needed to unwind. It felt like hundreds of searing needles pounding into my neck and shoulders, slicing through the knots that had built up since waking up to such a mess.
When Kade walked into the bathroom he didn’t say anything, just leaned against the opposite wall watching me.
“This is FUBAR, Kade,” I said over the hiss of the shower.
“I know, babe, I’m sorry. But at least it gave you a reason to pull out an old Tango & Cash line,” he laughed.
Poking my head out from the shower curtain, I made eye contact with him. “I can always find ways to use FUBAR. Why are you sorry? This isn’t your fault. I’m pretty sure that even if you hadn’t stuck your dick in her she’d still be after you.”
He let out a humourless laugh. “Gee, thanks, Pip.”
A sarcastic smile plastered its way over my face. “You’re welcome. Now, are you going to just stand there, or are you going to get in here with me?”
A gorgeous smirk covered his luscious lips as he hooked his thumbs into the top of his track pants. He pushed them down, inch by tortuously slow inch. His beautiful cock bounced free as he continued to lower his pants. My breath halted. Oh shit, he’s already hard. I licked my lips in anticipation of what I would be doing to that splendid specimen of male perfection as soon as he stepped into the shower.
“I like it when you look at me like that,” he said as he gathered the shower curtain in his fists.
His words snapped me out of perusing his taut body. “Like what?”
“Like your about to pounce and devour me. It’s frigin hot.”
“It’s like you’re reading my mind.” Smirking at him, I summoned him to me with a curled finger.
As soon as he was in the shower he wrapped his arms around my slick body and lifted me up against the wall. He already had me panting, and we hadn’t even started yet.
“I love you, Piper,” he murmured against the column of my neck.
Before I had a chance to freak out on him his lips had claimed mine in a deep, sensual kiss. His tongue stroked mine with such passion I once again lost myself to everything that was Kade Benson.
After he had shown me just how much he loved me he carefully lowered me to my feet. Once I was steady, he grabbed my loofa, coated it in body wash, and washed me from head to toe. I closed my eyes and rested my head on the cool tiles of the shower walls, thinking about how easily I could get used to this.
The weekend flew by all too soon. Before I knew it, it was Monday and I was back at work. The week dragged on but everyday Kade would bring me lunch, and every night I came home to him preparing dinner. He had pretty much moved into my apartment. It should have freaked me out, but it didn’t. And I was beginning to like his continual declarations of love, even if I couldn’t voice my own yet.
By that Friday, I was hanging for the end of the day so I could spend some solid time with Kade. We hadn’t heard from Crazy Bitch since she showed up last weekend, and Kade had gotten Cherry back the day before, so we were planning to go for a drive over the weekend. I couldn’t remember the last time I had ridden in Cherry. My excitement made me feel like a giddy teenager girl going on her first date. Giddy, even though Kade and I had officially been together for a few weeks now.
“Piper, your three o’clock is here.” Tay’s voice snapped me out of my day dream. She had that knowing look in her eyes and I didn’t like it. The girl sees way too much.
“Thinking about ravaging lover boy?” she asked, coyly batting her eyelashes.
I snorted in response. “No, I was thinking about, um… getting Nate to do my nails this afternoon after close. I need my fills done.”
“Uh huh, that’s why you’ve gone beet red, huh.” She observed.
“Shut up.” I flipped her the bird and went out to meet my next client.
The hugger from last week was already there and waiting. She beamed at me and went in for hug, but I stepped to the side before she could grab me, and, instead, shoved my hand out to shake hers. Her brows crinkled up, but she took hand and gingerly shook it.
I directed her back to my chair. “So, do you know what you’d like yet?” I knew she wanted a full makeover, but my idea of a full makeover and hers could be completely different.
“I need a dramatic change. Every time I look in the mirror all I see is the woman whose boyfriend dumped her. I think I want it… just like yours,” she chirped.
Um what? “Like mine? You want to go straight from blonde to black. You do realise if you change your mind and want to go blonde again it’s going to take a really long time.”
“I won’t change my mind. I know he likes brunettes, so that’s what I’m going to give him.”
I was confused. Who is he? “Who likes brunettes?”
“My boyfriend,” she responded.
I raised one eyebrow. “The boyfriend who dumped you?”
She huffed and rolled her eyes. “Yes, but that’s only because some hussy stole him from me. I’m going to win him back, and this is the next step.”
Okaaaay. This chick was nuts. Who does that; changes their whole appearance to please a man? But whatever, if it’s what she wanted who was I to judge? “If you’re really sure, but I will say this, I wouldn’t change myself for any man.”
She looked at me like I was an idiot. “But I love him.”
And that makes a difference? Whatever. I didn’t reply to that stupid comment. I just left her to her thoughts while I went out back and prepped her colour.
After rinsing the colour from her hair, she asked me to straighten it. She had obviously spent time setting it in curls that morning, so by the time I was done she looked like a completely different woman. I dared to say her ex-boyfriend wouldn’t even recognise her.
“How does that feel?” I asked as I held up a mirror behind her so she could view the back as well. She ran her fingers through her long, smooth tresses and smiled up at me. With her hair straightened it, it nearly reached her shoulder blades, which was similar in length to mine.
“It’s perfect. I bet if I really tried, I could pass as you,” she gushed.
I smiled at her and pretended that last comment hadn’t been totally creepy. “Glad you’re happy with it.”
I ushered her to the reception desk so Reagan could process her payment. As I walked away, I noticed something odd, but I didn’t stop. I’d ask Reag about it after the hugger left. I scurried out to the back room and waited for a good ten minutes before I poked my head out to make sure the coast was clear.
“What the hell are you doing?” I jumped when I felt Pixie sidle up to me silently and whisper in my ear. “Are we on some kind of stealth mission?”
I glanced back at her and I could tell she was fighting back laughter. “I was just making sure my last client had left. That chick had a few loose screws if you know what I’m sayin’.”
“Yeah, I overheard her saying she could pass as you. Can you say creeper?” she whispered.
“That, and, she’s a hugger.”
Pixie feigned shock, grasping her chest with one hand as if I’d just said something terrible. “Oh, dear God, no! Not a hugger!”
I gently shoved her shoulder. “Shut up, it’s not normal to hug people you don’t know and try to act all buddy-buddy like you’ve known each other forever.”
Pixie nodded. “I give you that. She did come on a little strong.”
Snorting, I said, “A little
strong my arse, she wanted her hair just like mine. Anyway, looks like she’s gone. I’ve gotta check something with Reagan.”
Pixie saluted me. “No worries Boss Lady, good luck with your investigation into your new stalker.”
“Piss off.” I left her in the back room before she could hit me with another smartarse comeback. Reagan was finalising the sales data for the day when I interrupted her.
“Hey, Reags, that last client of mine, did you notice the name on her credit card?”
Reagan stopped what she was doing and turned to me. “Yeah, her name was Jamie. I only noticed because she was booked in as Jay. When I asked her for some ID to verify she said that Jay is a nick name. It was legit, her license confirmed her name is Jamie Jennings.”
“Thanks, Reag, glad you’re always on the ball,” I said, turning to walk away.
“No worries boss lady.” She winked and went back to finalising the day’s sales. All my staff called me Boss Lady. It was weird, but I kind of liked it. Dashing out back I grabbed my phone from my bag to call Kade.
He answered on the second ring.
“Hello, beautiful,” he crooned.
“Hey, um, what was Crazy Bitch’s last name?” I panted. I was a little breathless from rushing to get my phone.
“I think it was Johnson or Jenkins, something like that. Why? Are you okay, baby?”
“Something like Jennings?” I asked.
“Yeah, that’s it. Why, Piper?”
Rambling, I launched into my explanation. “I just did her hair. You know the walk in I did last week that kept me back late? Well, she came back the next morning and booked in for a full overhaul for today. When I booked her in she said her name was Jay. So I didn’t make any connection between Crazy Bitch and this chick. But she struck me as odd so I didn’t get too friendly with her. Anyway, my point it, she just had her hair changed to look like mine…”
“Who changed her hair to look like yours?” I could hear the confusion in his voice.
“You’re Crazy Arse Stalker Chick.”
“Tell me this is some sick joke, Piper.” A serious tone fell over his voice.”
“Nope.” Silence greeted me on the other end of the phone. I half thought he’d hung up on me. “Kade, you there?”
“Yeah, baby, I’m here. I just can’t figure out what the hell she’s playing at. She can’t seriously believe that changing her hair will make me want her.”
“Well, if I had to guess, I’d say she’s trying to reinvent herself, as me.”
“That’s all kinds of messed up.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” I half laughed.
“Are you all right, baby?” The concern was evident in his voice.
“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s not like she tried to knife me or anything. I just think it’s sick that she got me, of all people, to help in her weird scheme.”
“I have no idea what she’s planned now, and it’s freaking me out. Are you on your way home yet?”
“‘Soon, I’ll just lock up and be on my way,” I assured him.
“All right, I’ll see you soon.”
After hanging up I found myself growing angrier by the second. What the hell is this chick’s deal? I grabbed my keys to the shop and found Tay. “Can you lock up, I got something I need to do.”
She caught the keys as I threw them to her on my way out the door. I didn’t hang around to catch her reaction, but I know it would have been one of shock. These last few weeks I’d done something I never thought I would ever consider; I’d handed over some of the responsibilities of running The Den. Being with Kade had made me realise that The Den may be my baby, but it’s not my life.
Once I was sitting in my car I called Kade’s cousin Colby. I knew Kade had asked him to dig up what he could on crazy arse stalker chick.
“Piper, it’s been a long time! What can I do for you?”
Not bothering with the usual pleasantries, I blurted out. “I need her address, Colby.”
“Who’s address?” he asked.
“Don’t play dumb with me, Colby. You know whose address.”
“Yeah, I do. But I’m not giving it to you.”
“I wasn’t really asking. Remember that night not long after you graduated high school and we all got trashed together?” I’d never used blackmail on someone, but for Kade I’d do whatever I had to.
He was quiet for a moment before he answered me. “What about it, Piper?”
“Well, you know how you woke up wearing one of my dresses?”
“Are you threatening me?” His voice was no longer friendly.
“Not at all, I’m just saying if you do this favour for me, I’ll do you one too – by not posting those pictures online.”
He sighed. “You’re a crafty bitch, Piper. But this chick is fully freaking nuts. If you go around there and get yourself hurt, I’m as good as dead.”
I rolled my eyes, he and Kade had always thought I was a delicate freaking flower. “I won’t get hurt. What is with you guys? You know I can protect myself. I didn’t work my arse off training for nothing. Given, I wasn’t expecting to use my knowhow to fend off some crazy bitch with a crush, but if I have to, I will.”
“Yeah, Piper, I know, your badass,” he grumbled. “But my point here is that if one single hair on your head is damaged, Kade will come after me. I don’t want to give him a beat down.”
I had to laugh. The thought of Colby giving anyone a beat down is hilarious, let alone him trying to take on a pissed off Kade. “That’ll be the day, Colby. Please give me her address. I just need to talk to her. And if it comes down to it, you know I’m level five defender and fighter. I promise you, I will be fine.”
“All right, I’ll text you the address. But I’m also going to call Kade as soon as I get off the phone.”
“Fair trade.” I agreed before hanging up.
I waited for the address to come through, and once it did, I furiously typed it into my GPS. Fifteen minutes later I was knocking on her door.
I was not prepared for what faced me when she opened it.
I stumbled over my words. “What the… are you… you’re…”
I couldn’t find the right words— there were no right words for what was standing in front of me. She had contacts in that made her eyes blue like mine. Her lips were painted red, her makeup was dark and dramatic; just the way I did mine when I was working. She had on a black leather mini skirt, knee high boots, and a black singlet with holes torn in the sides. She looked nothing like the woman who walked into my salon earlier that afternoon.
“Told you I could pass as you.”
I couldn’t believe she actually just said that! “Are you insane? I mean, seriously, what the hell is wrong with you? I came here to talk, but I’m pretty sure you need to be locked up in a fucking asylum.” The words spewed from my mouth.
A smug expression came across her pained face. “Jealous, Piper? I pull off this look better than you do. Kade won’t know what to do with himself when he sees me, except toss you aside like the piece of trash that you are.”
I felt my eyes grow wide. “Excuse me?”
She tilted her head to the side and looked at me like I was the crazy one in this scenario. “You heard me. What could you offer him that I can’t? I would do anything for him— as you can see. And you said so yourself; you would never change for any man. Well I’m willing to do,” she gestured up and down her body like it was a prize, “whatever it takes to please him.”
Well I got news for you honey. Heat flooded my body.
“That was a lovely little speech and all but Kade isn’t into crazy bitches. I thought he already told you that. No wait, I know he’s already told you that, several times in fact. He mentioned you once, a while back. He told me some crazy chick wouldn’t take no for an answer. Now, I’ve known Kade for over ten years, and not once has he ever said a bad word about anyone, except you. Then you committed the sin of all sins, you screwed with Cherry. If you really knew Kade you
would know that touching his car is unforgiveable. So tell me, do you really think this little makeover of yours is going to change his mind about you?”
When I told her he’d only mentioned her once her eye started to twitch. She didn’t like the idea of him not sparing her much thought, or that when he did it was only bad. The further I got into my little tirade the more she lost her composure. Her face turned crimson, a vein popped near her temple, and she was flexing her fingers like she wanted to punch me. And God did I want her to. I refused to throw the first punch. I’m a bigger person than that but I would kick her arse if she as much attempted to touch me.
She was blink rapidly, or maybe both her eyes had started to twitch. Her feathers were all kinds of ruffled. Then she surprised me by doing a complete turnaround and asked me inside.
Umm I don’t think so, nutbag. “I’m good, really. I just came to ask you nicely to back the hell off, or you and I are going to have a real problem. Oh, and we will get the police involved. Kade has family on the force, they’d be more than happy to pull a few strings for him to have you put away.” I turned to walk away, and that’s when she made her move. I should have known wearing my hair in a ponytail was not a good idea.
She grabbed a fist full of my hair, pulling my whole body backward. I nearly tripped, but I regained my footing in time to spin around. Using my left leg, I swiped both her feet from beneath her. She let go of my hair and yelped when her butt hit the ground.
“Touching me is never a good idea,” I spat the words in her face.
She wasn’t done with her lame attempt to be the arse kicker here. She latched onto my ankle and bit my calf muscle.
“What the… you’re not a goddamn dog!” My fist shot out and nailed her right in the cheek. I felt the bone crunch under the force, and she instantly released my ankle to cradle her face in her hands. She shuffled back towards her front door and I took my leave.
I was nearly back at my car when I heard the distinct sound of a gun being cocked. Damn it, crazy went and got herself a gun. There really should be stricter gun laws.
“You think you’re so tough, don’t you, Piper?” Her voice had turned deadly. “You think you can steal him from me? Who’s the crazy one now, huh?”
