by Lea Coll
I signed my name in the blank box, avoiding her gaze. If I said I was here to see Elle, she’d know I was interested in her. “I thought I’d check this place out.”
Piper eyed me warily. “You can have a seat. I’ll get my station ready.”
I hesitated, not following her gesture to the waiting area where a flat-screen TV hung on the exposed brick wall surrounded by black leather chairs and a shelf of bound books. I swallowed, wondering if this was the worst idea I’d ever had, if Piper would know immediately what was going on in my head. “Is Elle available?”
Piper stilled, then smiled knowingly, like she had a secret. “If you don’t mind waiting a few minutes. She’s just finishing up with a client now.”
I glanced back at Elle. Wearing a form-fitting dress, her back was to me, her brown hair tinged red under the lights.
Her client stood. Elle stepped into his space, using a lint roller to brush off the stray hairs from his shoulders. She paused, saying something that made him throw his head back, letting out a loud guffaw. Her eyes twinkled with amusement; her lips tilted into a pleased smile.
I wanted to be the one to make her smile. I went to sit in the waiting area, nervously running my fingers through my hair, wondering what she would think when she saw me waiting for her.
I kept my eyes trained on the TV, a home improvement show playing as I strained to hear the exchange between them, relaxing when she said, “Have a good night.”
Finally, she stood in front of me, her hands clasped together. Her forehead wrinkled in confusion.
I wanted to reach out to touch her, connect with her like we had in my truck before I’d backed off.
“Gray? Piper said you were here for a cut.”
“Yeah, she said you take walk-ins.” I stood, realizing too late the move left only inches between us.
“I thought Piper usually cuts your hair?”
I wanted to smooth the wrinkle between her brows. I wasn’t sure how to answer.
I was walking by, wanted to make sure you were okay. I walked in because seeing you with your customer made me tense. My jaw ached from clenching my teeth. I shifted on my feet. “I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.”
A small smile played on her lips. “Piper could have helped you.”
Was she teasing or was she searching for validation after I’d pulled away from her last night? I wanted to set things straight. “I wanted you.”
Her eyes flared at my unintended double entendre for a second before she carefully schooled her features. “Okay. If you’d like to take a seat, I’ll be there in a minute.”
Relieved, I moved past her, her shoulder brushing my chest. I leaned closer, inhaling her scent, something citrusy mixed with the masculine scent of leather and shaving cream.
I sat in the oversized maroon leather chair with its old-fashioned metal footrest as I scanned the walls. There was a wooden sign proclaiming it to be a man cave and a wall of badges honoring the local police departments. It was classy. I loved what she had done: made a place where men could feel comfortable, pampered even.
I wasn’t focused on the ambiance. I was hypersensitive to where she was in the room, how close her hands were to touching me, the way her dress rippled around her, highlighting her curves.
She appeared behind me, gazing at me in the mirror, her hands on the back of the chair. “What were you looking for?”
I gestured at the unruly mess on my head. I was overdue for a cut. This time, my procrastination worked in my favor. “A trim.”
She smiled.
I loved being the one who made her smile.
“Would you like a shampoo first?”
The thought of leaning back, her hands on my scalp, massaging as she worked in the shampoo had a shiver running down my spine. “Yes.”
I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be getting a shampoo. It was one thing to regret how I pulled away from her last night. It was another thing to let her touch me.
I discretely adjusted myself as I stood, following her to the chair in front of a basin. Piper was nowhere to be seen. I was worried she’d tease me in front of Elle for requesting her, so I was glad she was giving us space.
Music played softly on the sound system as I sat in the seat she indicated. I leaned back as she turned on the water. “Tell me if it’s too hot.”
With her fingers in my hair, her nails lightly scraping my scalp, I closed my eyes, imagining we were in the shower. The warm water ran over my hair as her fingers deftly wet each strand before adding shampoo. I wanted to groan at the arousing sensation of her fingers massaging my scalp. I imagined her kneeling between my spread legs, her hair tickling my thighs, her fingers working my cock as she sucked me into her mouth. Her eyes looking up at me from under lowered lashes.
I opened my eyes, trying to remember where I was—in Elle’s place of employment—getting my hair shampooed. I wasn’t in the shower with Elle. She wasn’t on her knees. This wasn’t a fantasy, no matter how much I wished it were. The idea that this fantasy could be a reality, if I were honest with her, had my cock twitching in my jeans.
She rinsed my hair, taking care to avoid my ears. She wrapped a warm towel around my head before walking around the counter to stand next to me.
“I’m going to dry your hair.”
I nodded, unable to speak with my throat dry. She used the warm towel to squeeze excess water out of my hair, rubbing my scalp, then tossed the towel in a bin.
“You ready for a cut?” She placed her hands on her hips as if she expected me to walk out at any second.
I didn’t blame her for being wary after last night.
“Sure.” I followed her, walking stiffly to the chair.
She smiled, our eyes meeting in the mirror. “You trust me?”
I scanned her face. I didn’t trust easily but I wanted to make up for last night. To show I did trust her, or at least I wanted to. Starting with something simple like a haircut would be a good first step. “I do.”
“That’s good. I’m not going to do anything drastic. I like your hair long.” She moved to grab her scissors, my eyes dropping to her ass clearly outlined in that dress, not a panty line in sight. Was she wearing a thong or was she commando?
Realizing she’d admitted to thinking about me, I asked, “You do?”
Her arms stilled, her chest close to my shoulder. “Yeah.”
“So, what you’re saying is I don’t need a cut?”
“You will eventually, or it will fall in your eyes.” She moved her hands deftly around my head, cutting this way and that. I couldn’t see any pattern. I should have been nervous about surrendering control to her. Instead, I felt taken care of.
The shop was quiet, only the soft croon of music filtered through the air. I looked around to see if there were any other customers. “Is Piper gone?”
“Yeah, she left while I was cutting your hair. You’re my last client.” She nodded toward the front door where the sign facing us said open, meaning the side facing the street said closed.
We were alone. No one could interrupt us. I was glad Piper left, giving us time alone. I just hoped I wouldn’t screw things up like I had last night.
“What do you think of the shop?”
“It’s classy yet cozy.” The words were out of my mouth before I could censor them.
She paused as if she was surprised by my words. “I love that description. Who knew you could be eloquent with words?”
She moved away from me, placing her scissors on the counter. Grabbing a hand mirror, she spun my chair so I could see my reflection. “What do you think?”
“It looks good.” I wasn’t looking at my hair, I was looking at her. Open. Honest. Vulnerable. If I wanted to be close to her, if I wanted to keep her in my life, that’s what I had to be.
She spun the chair again, so I faced the mirror. She stood next to me, one hand on the back of the chair.
“I’m sorry about last night.” My eyes locked with hers in the mirror.
/>
She toyed with the chain of her necklace which dangled suggestively over her breasts. “What are you sorry for?”
“For pulling away from you. I wanted to—”
“Thank you.” She unhooked the smock, throwing it in a bin beneath her station. “You’re good to go.”
She was still distancing herself from me. I didn’t like it even though I’d done the same thing to her last night. I needed to voice what I wanted, not push her away. I needed to be upfront and honest with her.
“Can we be friends?”
She flitted around her station, tidying, doing a whole lot of nothing, probably to avoid meeting my gaze. Finally, she braced her hands on the counter, her back to me. “You want to be friends with me?”
I stood, my heart beating hard in my chest. I wasn’t sure what I’d do if she said she didn’t want to be friends with me. I’d gone years without needing or wanting anything from anyone. Admitting my feelings felt like taking a step off a cliff. Exhilarating, yet terrifying. “Yeah.”
She turned to face me, her eyes conflicted. “Why?”
“Because I like being around you.”
She sucked in a sharp breath. “I don’t know, Gray. I’m very particular about my friends. I prefer they be friendly, not hot one second, cold the other.”
I winced at her accurate assessment. “Being open with someone is difficult for me. I can’t say I won’t push you away again when you get too close, but I’ll try hard not to.”
She finally nodded.
Relief flowed through me. I knew I’d have to show her I meant what I’d said. I wanted to tell her about my day. “You were right, by the way.”
She tilted her head. “Right about what?”
Pulling in a deep breath, I said, “Ed liked the idea of helping local rescues. He was even open to my idea of a mobile vet clinic.”
“That’s amazing, Gray. I’m so happy for you.” Whatever walls she’d put up last night were lowered. She smiled, seeming genuinely happy for me. She stepped into me, wrapping her arms around my waist.
I stiffened before relaxing in her embrace, wrapping my arms tentatively around her shoulders. The warmth of her body, the tickle of her hair against my jaw, grounded me, reminding me how good it felt to be with her.
When was the last time I’d been hugged? I’d forgotten how good they felt when it was done by someone you cared about. Of course, I’d never had Elle Carmichael in my arms before.
Chapter 9
Elle
Still feeling the warmth of his arms around me, I waved Gray off when he tried to pay. Cleaning up, I found cash at my station he must have left when I wasn’t looking. Smiling, I tucked it into my pocket.
I’d been a little annoyed after he’d left things the way he had in his truck. I’d felt a connection to him at the Rigbys’ farm. We’d even talked a bit about our pasts while on the swing, eating pie. It was nice. A part of me thought it had been too much for him too soon, so he’d pushed me away. I appreciated that he showed up tonight. It didn’t seem like something he would normally do, which endeared him to me even more.
After everything I’d experienced growing up, then on the show, I thought I would be attracted to someone who was straightforward, the what-you-see-is-what-you-get type. That was not the case with Gray. He pulled me in one minute, with his gentle manner around animals and the Rigbys, then pushed me away the next. I felt like I was in front of the stage during a concert, caught in a mosh pit. Every time I tried to make my way to the edge of the crowd, he’d suck me back to the middle. I was powerless to resist him.
Gray Stanton probably wasn’t good for me. So, why was I giving him a second chance? I closed my eyes, remembering the joy on his face when he told me Ed’s reaction to his plans, the feel of his arms around me, his breath coasting over the shell of my ear. When he was like he was tonight, I could fall so easily into him.
I couldn’t forget that his moods ebbed and flowed according to whatever was going on in his head. Whatever it was, he might not confide in me. Was that something I was willing to put up with?
I finished cleaning the shop, double-checked the locks, then took the narrow steps in the back up to my apartment. Crew’s claws scratched the tray in the crate, excited I was coming home. It was nice to have someone not only waiting on me to come home but excited to see me.
Crew’s whining greeted me when I opened the door. Releasing the latch on Crew’s crate, he flew out, running in circles around my feet. “Are you ready to go out, bud?”
I leaned down, petting the soft fur on his head, dodging his kisses before grabbing the leash off the hook next to the door. Locking up, I jogged down the steps then out the back door of the shop to the small strip of grass that came with the property.
The evening was cool. A few people were walking to restaurants and bars, enjoying the fall weather. I felt safe in Telluride, far away from the cameras. It was exactly what I was searching for, but I hadn’t expected to feel so lonely. I thought once I removed toxic people from my life, I’d meet genuine friends. It wouldn’t happen organically. I’d need to make an effort.
My phone buzzed in my back pocket. I pulled it out seeing Piper on my screen.
Piper: You want to go out tonight?
Piper had invited me out a couple of times since the shop opened. I’d always said no. Staying in was intentional. For the first time in my life, there were no producers telling me to go out every night so they had footage. It was nice to have choices.
Maybe it was time to meet some of the residents, be open to the possibility of making friends. It would also be a good opportunity to spread the word about Smoke & Mirrors.
Elle: Sure.
I fed Crew, playing with him for a few minutes before I got ready to go out. Unsure what to wear for a night on the town in Colorado, I put on my tightest skinny jeans, heels, silky shirt, and a jacket. I felt bad leaving Crew by himself for a few more hours, but I needed to meet some people in my new town.
The Last Dollar Saloon’s sign hung over the door in maroon and gold lettering. I took a deep breath before stepping inside to the narrow space. The bar was rustic with worn, wooden floors. A long bar was to the left with liquor stacked on backlit shelves. Seating was to the right with a stone fireplace, and old-fashioned chandeliers hung from the ceiling. I scanned the room relieved to see most people wearing flannel and jeans. Piper waved at me from the bar. Some of the tension eased from my shoulders at seeing a familiar face.
I crossed the room, weaving between tables until I reached her.
She hugged me. “Hey, I’m so glad you made it.”
I eased onto the bar stool next to hers. “Me too. I’ve been here for a few months, and I haven’t had a chance to meet anyone.”
“I’m excited to introduce you to everyone.”
“What can I get you?” The bartender braced his hands on the bar between us.
Piper waved a hand at him. “This is Sebastian. Sebastian, this is Elle Carmichael.”
Recognition flitted through his features. “You’re the new owner of Smoke & Mirrors.” Sebastian inclined his head toward me. “The barbershop is all anyone’s been talking about lately.”
A rush of excitement shot through me that people had been talking about us. “That’s good to hear.”
“Is it okay if I send tourists in your direction? You okay with walk-ins?”
“Of course. I’m not turning down any customers.” This was exactly why I needed to come out tonight. I wanted friends, to find my place in the community. If the locals knew me, they’d be more likely to recommend my business. Being aloof would have the opposite effect.
“What can I get you?” Sebastian repeated.
I glanced at the beers on tap, asking for the one that said it was a local favorite.
“You got it.” Sebastian grabbed a glass, filling it as he talked to another patron.
I turned to face Piper.
Two women approached Piper wearing skinny jeans and booties, one
with a tight long sleeve shirt, the other with a flannel tied at her waist. I felt out of place in my silky shirt, dressed for a casual night in LA, not Telluride.
Piper gestured at me. “This is my new boss, the owner of Smoke & Mirrors, Elle Carmichael. Elle, these are my friends, Reagan and Angela.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” We smiled, shaking hands.
“You want to grab this table?” Angela gestured at a nearby high top that was recently vacated.
“Sure.” We slid off our stools, following them.
I sipped my beer, listening to them talk about whatever guys they were dating. I couldn’t keep all the names straight, but I enjoyed the easy camaraderie. There was none of the posturing and pretense that I’d seen in LA, bragging about the latest handbag or club you got into.
“Hey.” A man stood at the end of the table, his broad shoulders filling out his shirt, a beer in his hands. His blue eyes were on me as if he were waiting for an introduction.
Piper eased under his arm for a side hug before introducing me. “Hey! This is my boss, Elle Carmichael. Elle, this is my older brother, Henry.”
I shook his hand. He had the same stocky build as his father. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Gray sidled up next to Henry. He’d said he was close with the Rigbys, so I shouldn’t have been surprised to see him, but I was. “Hey, you want to grab a table or sit at the bar?”
My heart beat rapidly in my chest. We’d hugged not more than an hour ago before he left the shop. Would he treat me with the same intimacy he had at the shop, or would he create space between us, pretend we were just casual acquaintances?
Henry raised his glass to the full tables. “The place is packed. I was just talking to Piper.”
Gray’s gaze traveled around the table, nodding at Piper before resting on me. His eyes widened slightly.
A rush of heat flowed through me, making my knees weak. I hadn’t expected to see him again so soon. I thought I’d have time to separate myself from the time we’d spent together in the shop.
He dipped his head. “Elle.”
When I stepped in front of him to dry his silky hair with a warm towel, his legs splayed wide and his eyes hooded, it would have been so easy to straddle his lap, kiss him, and run my fingers over the scruff on his chin. I crossed my legs to suppress the throbbing in my core at the memory.
