Cheyenne (The Women of Merryton Book 4)

by Jennifer Peel

  Jade’s smile only grew. “He said he’ll wait for as long as he needs to.”

  “Tell him to get comfortable; it’s going to be a long day.” For both him and me. I glared at the gorgeous man that tormented me day and night. I didn’t outright kick him out because that would have only caused more problems and suspicions. I figured he would eventually get tired of waiting and leave.

  His eyes softened and he took a seat in the waiting area, grabbing a magazine from the table in front of him.

  Jade walked back to the desk laughing to herself. My friends buzzed around me like we were teens.

  Jessie grinned stupidly with a flailing Tristan in her arms. “What’s going on?” she mouthed.

  All the other ladies were asking the same thing with their eyes. This wasn’t up for discussion. I couldn’t believe he had the nerve to show up here, and out of all the days it had to be this one. I had already had it up to here with my friends always asking me about him. He saved my life, end of story. There wasn’t anything between us other than hate. I turned from them all and focused on my job.

  My friends collectively laughed at me.

  One of their kids was going to get mohawk if this kept up, and it wasn’t going to be a son.

  I took a deep breath and pretended like there wasn’t an idiot in my waiting area staring at me. I knew he was. I could feel it.

  I focused on Connor. “The flippy hair is going.” I smiled at him through the mirror.

  “Whatever.” He sulked.

  “I sent Maddie a pic of the cut I’m going to give you and she said it looked like a rock star.”

  He perked up a bit.

  “Too bad you’ve been such a jerk to her.”

  Abby smacked me. “Cheyenne.”

  “Hey, I love him almost as much as you, actually probably sometimes more than you. I’m only trying to help him.”

  “Not too much,” Jessie pleaded.

  “Tell Blake to go eat some bran and take a chill.” Blake was almost as much of a health nut as Taylor.

  Everyone laughed. Even Connor’s lip twitched.

  I squeezed Connor’s shoulders. “Girls don’t like jealous guys or ones that ignore them. Quit playing games. You’re going to be the loser here.”

  “Fine.” He rolled his eyes. Teenage angst was alive and well.

  “All right, let’s turn you into a stud.” I ran my fingers through his light brown hair. “And FYI, Maddie’s at the café. She wants you to walk down when I’m done torturing you.”

  He gave me a real smile.

  I listened to my friends chatter behind me as I worked my magic on Connor.

  Abby was the most animated, which was unusual. “Shane got home from his Internal Medicine conference last night, and you’ll never believe what he brought me back from New Orleans.” I looked at her through the mirror to see her pull out a diamond pendant necklace from under her shirt.

  Even from my standpoint it looked to be a good size. It couldn’t be real. Shane was the cheapest guy I knew. “He bought you a cubic zirconia necklace?”

  Abby’s green eyes met mine in the mirror. At first, she looked affronted, but she knew that was more probable. It was a miracle he bought her anything. “It’s real.” She sounded happy, happier than I’d heard in her in a while. So happy, I didn’t voice how suspicious it seemed. I wondered what Shane wanted.

  Both Taylor and Rachel looked it over and confirmed it was real. They would know. Their husbands plied them with gifts. I knew it made Abby jealous. Even Blake, who was denser than a rock, had stepped up his game and would do thoughtful things for Jessie like buy her paintings and steal her away for afternoons together. Shane never thought of those things. His idea of romance was picking his underwear up off the floor and buying Abby a hotdog at a baseball game. And from what Abby said, he hardly ever picked up his underwear. Maybe she had finally gotten through to him. Maybe?

  I finished up Connor’s hair and styled it. Definite rock star material.

  Abby embarrassed him by kissing his cheeks. “You look so handsome.”

  He really did. He was taller than both his mom and me now, and he was a looker. He had killer green eyes like his mom. Maddie loved them.

  “Okay, Romeo.” I took off the cape and handed him a sucker that I normally gave to little kids for being good. “Don’t disappoint me or Maddie.”

  He flew out of there.

  “Who’s next?”

  “Why don’t you cut, Aidan’s hair?” Rachel suggested. All the other women nodded.

  I looked out to the waiting area to see Aidan’s head pop up at the mention of his name. His eyes had some hope that I might cut his hair next. He was in for a rude awakening. He could wait there all day. I wouldn’t be cutting his hair. I hoped he got the hint and left.

  “Drew it is.” I smiled evilly, making the ladies laugh.

  Aidan went back to the Ladies Home Journal he was reading.

  Cute Drew eagerly jumped in my chair while Felicia, my assistant, swept up Connor’s hair. Drew had sandy brown hair like his dad, and incredible amber eyes to match. He was going to be a heartthrob one of these days.

  “How’s football going?”

  “Awesome! Coach Bates is the best.”

  Ugh! I forgot he coached. No wonder Drew went to talk to him while I was cutting Connor’s hair.

  “If you say so.”

  Jessie smacked me. “Be nice.”

  Not happening. “So, what kind of haircut do you want?”

  His eyes lit up. “My dad says you can put my football number in my hair. Can you?”

  I looked at Rachel, who was sitting down looking tired and like her middle had grown since last I saw her. I guess carrying twins had that effect. “Is that okay with you?”

  “Not really, but Andrew promised him if he made his bed every day for a month he could.”

  “Did you make your bed?” I asked Drew.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Numbers it is then.”

  “Yes!” Drew threw his fist in the air.

  Rachel sighed in the corner.

  “Are you going to come to my games?” Drew’s ears burned red. It was cute.

  “Yep.” What else did I have to do? I missed men.

  “Make sure to wear red, because that’s my team’s color.”

  “Drew Turner, you don’t tell people what to wear to your games,” Rachel scolded him.

  “That’s okay. I look fantastic in red.”

  “See, Mom, it’s okay.”

  She looked too tired to argue. Instead she changed the subject. “Andrew wants to throw an end-of-summer-slash-anniversary party next weekend if you guys are all game.”

  “You guys have only been married for a year. Why do you need a party for that?”

  “Cheyenne.” Abby and Jessie echoed each other.

  I was used to it. But seriously, who threw a one-year anniversary party?

  “That’s what I said, but you know Andrew, he loves any reason to throw a party.”

  “And he loves you.” Taylor put her arm around Rachel. She was the mother of the group.

  “Sounds like fun. Let us know when and what time.” Jessie bounced Tristan on her hip.

  I better cut that kid’s hair next. Jessie looked at her wits end with the troublemaker.

  I made my way through each kid. Each time my friends offered for Aidan to go next and each time I declined. We even broke for lunch. He still waited even after I smirked at him when we headed out to Jessie Belle’s Café. Each woman pestered me about Aidan during lunch, but I wasn’t saying a word, which only fueled their suspicions.

  Aidan finally left after we returned around one, only to come back with his laptop a half hour later. That caused more snickers and hushed conversations between my soon to be ex-friends. They needed to drop the whole Aidan thing. And he needed to leave. He was causing all the salon’s clients to talk. I almost cut his hair just so he would go away, but I wasn’t touching him or talking to him. He might act li
ke a nice guy around everyone else, coaching football and teaching Sunday School, but he was a hypocrite. So what if he saved my life? He probably hadn’t realized it was my car.

  My leg ached the entire day, but I gave no outward indication. I didn’t need the mother hens pecking around me telling me I should go back to physical therapy, or worse, feeling sorry for me. Isabelle was the last kiddo and the funniest. I wouldn’t mind having one of her around. Her baby soft curls reminded me of my own hair at that age, and she had stunning blue eyes like me. Not sure where those came from—neither of her parents had them. And she was blonde as blonde could be, the only one in her family.

  “Mr. Bates keeps staring at you.” Isabelle giggled.

  I turned and looked at the infuriating man eating an apple and somewhat smiling. He must have overheard Isabelle.

  “I know, it’s kind of creepy.”

  Abby smacked me. She was the only friend left now. All the other breeders had hauled their offspring off for naptimes and various other activities. “Don’t listen to her, Isabelle.” Abby was shaking her head at me.

  Aidan almost choked on his apple.

  Too bad he was able to cough the piece up. I had tried my best to off him, so I turned back around to give one of my favorites a cute bob cut. And that was a wrap.

  With all the people I admitted to liking and even loving in the world gone, I took a ten-minute break in my office to ice my leg. I had wanted to be alone, but Jade interrupted me.

  “Are you ever going to cut Aidan’s hair?”

  I hid my leg and ice pack under my desk. “Not planning on it.”

  Her grin was off the charts. “I don’t think he’s going anywhere. He had a pizza delivered.”

  “I hope he ordered a large because unless the devil is ice skating to work now, there isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell I’m cutting his hair.”

  Chapter Six

  There was a major shift in the jet stream and the devil got some new skates. We closed at seven on Tuesdays. I was done with my last client thirty minutes after closing time. Well, I intended Kasey to be my last haircut of the day. But Mr. I’m Settling In For The Long Haul still sat there typing away and drinking a bottle of water that Jade had given him. I would have fired her for the act, but I needed her. She was the best manager I’d ever had.

  Kasey openly drooled over Aidan. “Mmm, mmm. What I wouldn’t give to get some of that action.” She was recently divorced and on the rebound.

  “Good luck with that.”

  “I’m surprised you haven’t tried. Or is that why he’s here?”

  “No. Have a good night.” I dismissed her by cleaning up my station and sneaking some ibuprofen. I’d about had it for the day.

  I heard Kasey making small talk with Aidan. Her flirtations grated on me, but his disinterest was apparent. I wasn’t surprised at his lack of enthusiasm. Kasey, though beautiful, was not what one might call the picture of piety like the pastor’s family. She took drinking and smoking to extremes, and unfortunately, her children had suffered for it. I was glad to see her ex-husband had been granted custody. Of course, she had a million excuses of why and how he screwed her over, but we all knew the truth.

  When I heard her walk out, I hoped that meant that Aidan had followed. After all, Jade had told him we were closing and only she and I remained. Everyone else was gone for the night. But when I turned around he was still there, staring at me.

  The game was over. I walked into the waiting area. “Why are you still here?”

  He closed his laptop. He looked between me and an amused Jade. His eyes landed back on me. “I need a haircut.”

  “You could have used another stylist.”

  “I wanted the best.”

  “It’s past closing.”

  “I’ll be back tomorrow then.”

  Oh, no, no. We weren’t having a repeat of today. As much as I enjoyed when people talked about me, I was over the Aidan drama. “If you take a seat in my chair, there’s no telling how you may look when you walk out of here.”

  He actually smiled at me. He shouldn’t have. It caused my lips to ache. I wanted to capture his.

  “I’ll take my chances.”

  I had a feeling he was going to say that. “Fine.” I waved toward my chair. “Jade, I’ll lock up.”

  Jade gave me the slyest of smiles. “Have fun.”

  Last year at this time, I would have. I’d had my share of romantic encounters in the salon, but the only thing on the menu tonight was Aidan’s head on a platter. He’d better watch his words, or my razor would be the least of his concerns. Though buzzing off his beautiful hair would have been a crime. Maybe I’d accidently nick his ear, as in major flesh wound.

  He was sitting in my chair by the time I got there. I was walking slower than normal.

  “You should probably get off your feet.” He watched my every move.

  I hated that he noticed. “Thanks to you, it will have to wait, and I feel fine.”

  “You put on a good show, I’ll give you that.”

  “No need to act concerned.”

  His gorgeous eyes met mine in the mirror. “I’m not acting.”

  “Let’s just get this over with.” I ran my fingers through his hair. I had always wanted to. I was surprised to find it full of hair product and a little crunchy. Not the sensual experience I had been hoping for. I may have hated him, but did he ever turn me on. “We’re going to need to wash this crap out of your hair. What are you using, glue?”

  He chuckled. “Something like that.”

  “Well, stop.” That was a crime. Hair like his needed to be soft and ready to have fingers run through it at any moment.

  “Do have any recommendations?”

  “I have a few. So, what do you want to do with this crunchy mess?”

  “Do you really let anyone choose?”

  “What kind of question is that?”

  “I’ve watched you all day.”

  “I noticed.” I narrowed my eyes.

  “I noticed some things too. Like you let them think they’re choosing, but you always get your way.”

  “My way is the best way.”

  “Maybe.”

  “You doubt me?”

  “It’s too early to judge.”

  “Please. You’ve been judging me since you met me. Just tell me what you want done to your hair.”

  The war inside his eyes raged. Each side was preparing for battle. But who would win? He closed his eyes and breathed in deep. When his eyelids fluttered back open, the hostile side had retreated. “I shouldn’t have lashed out at you yesterday. I’m sorry.”

  “At least you’re honest. Let’s wash your hair.”

  He cocked his head. “That’s it?”

  “I don’t have time to care about what you or anyone else thinks about me.” I lied. I did care what he thought about me and it was driving me crazy, but he was right, I could put on a good show.

  He took another deep breath. “I spoke out of anger yesterday. My wife was sensitive about how others thought of her.”

  The way he said “his wife” stirred something in me, something like jealousy? I wasn’t sure. It was a foreign feeling. All I knew was that no man had ever spoken about me with the kind of deep emotion Aidan used. Sure, I’d had handfuls of men profess their love for me, but I knew it was always lust. I, at least, knew the difference. No man could have ever been in love with me, because no man ever really knew me. I had to ask. “Where’s your wife?”

  “She died eight years ago.”

  I figured she was deceased. “Let’s head over to the washing station.”

  “You’re not going to ask how?”

  “It’s none of my business.”

  “I know the whole town wants to know. Here’s your chance to break the news.”

  I gripped the back of the styling chair. It was either that or his neck. I gave him an icy glare through the mirror. “Don’t pretend for a second that you know who I am. I think it’s time for you
to go. And if you come back tomorrow, I’ll call the sheriff on you for trespassing.”

  I saw his eyes widen before I pushed away. I was headed to unlock the front door so he could leave.

  “Cheyenne, wait.” He scrambled out of my chair.

  I wasn’t waiting. I kept marching toward the door. I knew I was limping, but I didn’t care.

  “Damn,” he swore under his breath. “Why do I always say the wrong thing around you?”

  I spun around. The fact he could swear was a plus for me, and his only saving grace at the moment. I stood there with my hands on my hips daring him to tell me why I should listen to him.

  “I’m sorry for swearing.”

  I relaxed my stance. “You call that swearing?”

  He edged forward. “I don’t know what to think about you.”

  “Have you been thinking about me?”

  His eyes fell on my lips. He was remembering the kiss. But they drifted and landed on the scar on my leg.

  “Regret saving me?”

  His head jerked up. “Why would you say something like that?” He moved closer and so did I, as if an unseen force was having its way with us.

  I entered his space. I took a moment to dive into his battle-filled eyes. “I know you don’t like me.”

  He leaned in. The smell of garlic from the pizza he ate and his attempts to cover it up with a mint lingered in the air between us. “I don’t want to like you.”

  “Good, because I hate you.”

  His brows reached a remarkable height before . . . before I found myself grabbing his shirt again and doing what I had been aching to do for months. My lips collided with his, making my entire body sigh. It was better than the chocolate I had been depriving myself of, better than anything. This time he didn’t hesitate to take control. His lips demanded that mine part and they were all too happy to comply. His hand fell down my back. It blazed a trail of heat like lava down a mountainside. His other hand weaved through my hair. The pressure he was applying said he couldn’t get close enough, and I agreed.

  My hands twisted in his cotton tee as I tried to erase any space between us while savoring him. In between thoughts of how I never wanted this to end, I yelled at myself to push him away. I even reminded myself that we hated each other. Was that what made this so incredible? If so, I should have been with more men I hated before giving up all men. That’s right. I’d given them up. I wasn’t going to end up like my mother, abandoned and used. I didn’t need a man, especially one that didn’t like me. I’d never needed one. I pushed hard against Aidan’s chest. We both gasped for air.