For the Love of Mike (Men Of Maine Series Book 2)

by Diana Tobin

  “Whoopie!” shouted Charley as she dashed for the door.

  “Yeah, I guess so,” said Mike. “We need to clear the place out before we can clean.”

  “That’s what the boys will help with tomorrow,” stated Ethan. He held the door open for her then waited while she locked up.

  “How was your press deal?” she asked as they crossed the parking lot.

  “Good. I’m sure it was the haircut.”

  She grinned at him. “You look impressive, so I’m sure they took you seriously.” She had to agree with Charley, he did look pretty. She remembered the feel of his hair in her hands, their bodies nearly touching as she’d combed and clipped. She’d trimmed Denny’s hair many times, Bruce’s, too. But, she had never felt the flutters she’d had when performing the same task for Ethan.

  “Did you two try to clean the place with yourselves rather than mops?” Nettie looked at Mike and Charley as they entered before turning her gaze to Ethan. “At least you live up to your name, Handsome. Flip the sign, will you?”

  Ethan turned the sign in the door. “Want me to lock it?”

  “No. Wil’s bringing the pizzas. We’ll lock up after he gets here.” Nettie went back to counting the cash in the register.

  “Where’s Dani?” Mike asked.

  With a nod of her head Nettie indicated the back room. “Cleaning up.”

  Mike moved beside her mother. “How much trouble was she?”

  “She did good, Micki. Once you and Charley left, I made it clear she was here to work—and she did.” Nettie patted Mike’s arm, then grimaced. “You need a bath.”

  “Want some help with that?” Ethan said quietly as he walked by. “I’m getting out of this monkey suit. Be right back.”

  “I’ll—uh, just go clean up in the bathroom,” Mike said, flushing.

  “Good idea,” agreed Nettie, grinning.

  Dani was just finishing when Mike walked into the back room. “Hi, honey. I heard you did well today.”

  “It was okay,” said Dani with a shrug, but her sparkling eyes denied her bored tone.

  “Thanks.”

  “I didn’t do it for you,” snapped Dani.

  “Of course not,” muttered Mike as she headed for the bathroom.

  When Mike returned to the front of the shop Wil had arrived with three large pizzas and Ethan and Dani were shoving tables together for the group. Nettie took drink orders before taking a seat next to Wil, managing to softly bump her shoulder against his.

  As everyone ate, Nettie again praised Dani in front of the group. “You did real well today, Dani. Do you want to be paid for today, or are you willing to come in each day and get paid at the end of the week?”

  Mike stared at her mother but Nettie ignored her, keeping her gaze on her granddaughter.

  “You’re going to pay me?” Dani’s gaze slipped from Nettie to Mike and back again.

  “You do the work, you get the pay,” Nettie said casually. “You can come in with me each morning until school starts. Once you’re in school, have the bus drop you off here and help me close up. We’ll figure out Saturdays depending on what you have going on.” She turned her head to look at Mike sitting next to her. “That work for you?”

  Mike looked down the table at Dani, seeing her trying to hide her excitement at the prospect of a real job. “As long as Dani is agreeable, it’s fine with me.”

  “What about me?” piped up Charley. “How come I don’t get to work?”

  “I was thinking about that,” said Mike. “Once my salon is open, you could get off the bus, like Dani, and come help me. The floors will need to be swept, towels washed and dried, supplies organized. Would you be willing to help me?”

  Charley’s face lit up. “Will you teach me to cut hair, too?”

  “You have to be licensed by the state, but you could practice manicures.” Mike patted Charley’s arm. “It’s going to take a lot of work, first, to even get the shop ready for business.”

  “We’ll get started on that tomorrow,” Ethan put in. For a man who didn’t spend his time around children, he managed to end up sitting between Mike’s daughters. “Web and I will be there in the morning with most of the players. Once the place is cleaned up, we’ll bring in however many men you need to set up things.”

  “I’ll come help, too,” said Wil.

  “What about your store?” Nettie asked.

  Wil shrugged. “No reason I can’t be closed a bit to help out.”

  Mike had to blink away the moisture in her eyes. “Thank you, Wil. I can’t believe so many are willing to help me.”

  “That’s what we do in this town,” assured Nettie. “When you finish eating, you need to get groceries for tomorrow.” At Mike’s blank look Nettie explained. “We need to feed everyone coming to work.”

  Mike felt her face heat. “I should’ve thought of that.”

  “You’ve had a few other things on your mind,” Nettie said. “Gusta is going to come help me with the food.” She looked at Charley. “I’m sure Gusta will be bringing her little boy, Noah, so we’ll need you to keep an eye on him.”

  “What am I supposed to do?” Dani asked quietly.

  “Why, honey, I need you to run the store when there’s customers. Otherwise, we’ll need your help getting the food ready, too.”

  “Miz Nettie, don’t let Web hear you talk like that,” said Ethan in a lazy drawl. “He’ll give you my job as coach in a New York minute.”

  Nettie threw back her head and laughed. “No fear of that, Handsome. I can barely skate.”

  Ethan smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I don’t skate much these days.”

  Mike heard a rumble come from Wil that might’ve been a growl. She hid a smile; evidently he didn’t like her mother calling other men “handsome.”

  “Got a name for your place, Micki?” Wil asked.

  “Yes.” She took a drink of her iced tea and hoped they all wouldn’t laugh when they heard. “I sent in for my business name and license today. The Hair Mousse. ”

  Five sets of eyes stared at her.

  “You mean a hairy moose, like the picture Grammie has on the wall?” asked Charley.

  “No, mousse, like the hair product.” Understanding glimmered in the eyes of the other three females, but Wil and Ethan still stared in puzzlement. “M-o-u-s-s-e, pronounced like the animal Mom’s shop is named after.”

  The men exchanged glances, then each gave a shrug and resumed eating.

  “Betcha a buck everyone will just call it Micki’s,” Wil finally proclaimed.

  “That’s a sucker bet,” said Ethan. “No thanks.”

  Nettie gave Wil a poke in his side with her elbow. “I like it.”

  “Me, too,” said Charley.

  “Yeah, it’s okay,” said Dani. “Goes with the name of Grammie’s place.”

  All of them looked at Ethan. “I don’t know anything about the name, but the owner does a damn fine job,” he said, with a big grin.

  Mike sat back, pleased. It shouldn’t matter what they thought of the name she’d come up with, but she was glad to have their approval. Even Ethan’s. Although, she didn’t want to think about why his mattered, she just knew it did.

  “Okay, Mom, I suppose you have a list of things you want me to get for tomorrow.”

  ****

  Mike couldn’t get over how much they’d accomplished in one day, despite the rough start.

  Nettie and Dani had left home before Mike and Charley were out of bed. Mike was too excited to eat and promised Charley breakfast at her grandmother’s shop. Mother and daughter separated in the parking lot, Charley going into Moose-ley Coffee with Mike heading into what would be The Hair Mousse. She’d barely turned the lights on when Ethan came in.

  “You better get over to your mother’s and take care of Dani.”

  Mike whirled for the door. “Is she hurt? What happened?”

  Ethan stopped her by gripping her upper arm. “You didn’t see her this morning?”

/>   “We woke up just as they were leaving. Let go of me. I need to see to her.” He let go of her but she could feel the anger pouring off him. “What’s your problem?” she asked as she walked across the parking lot.

  “I can’t believe you’d let a child her age have clothes like that.” He sent her a look of pure disgust. “If those rags can even be called clothes. For God’s sake, she’s only what, twelve, thirteen?”

  “Fifteen,” Mike replied automatically, stopping at the door of the coffee shop. “What is she dressed like?”

  “A cheap whore!” Ethan shoved the door open and pushed her inside.

  Charley was behind the counter with Nettie. “Where is she?” demanded Mike.

  “In the back,” said her mother. “No way can she be out here with customers looking like a-a—“

  “Never mind. Mr. Reigh told me what she looks like.” Placing her hands on her hips, she stared at her mother. “How could you let her leave home dressed like that?”

  “I didn’t see it until we got here,” Nettie said as disgusted as Mike. “She came out wearing a long sweater. All I could see were the black stockings and high heels. Told her her feet would be killing her in an hour. She never would’ve left home if I’d seen the rest.” Mike started for the back room when Nettie stopped her. “I told her if she won’t dress decently she’s fired.”

  “Good,” Mike stated, then drew in a deep breath and went into the other room. Even with the warnings from her mother and Ethan, Mike could scarcely believe the sight before her.

  Dani had on a black bra that managed to have her not-so-small breasts pushed up and nearly out. Over the bra was a too-thin white tank top, cut low revealing more of the bra than it covered, with a short ragged hem showing her midriff. Tiny shorts that were two sizes too small were around her hips. The scars on her legs Dani didn’t like showing were covered with slashed and ripped black stockings that reached just above her knees, and on her feet were four-inch black stilettos.

  Mike didn’t know how she’d been able to take a step in those shoes. Dani could barely keep her ankles from wobbling as she stood.

  At some point, Dani had rimmed her eyes in thick black liner and painted her lips with dark red lipstick.

  “Where the hell did you get this getup?” Mike demanded. As soon as she spoke, she knew where the clothes had come from: Dani’s mother, Nancy…

  Mike had seen Nancy in these clothes just once, and that had been when she’d turned her back on her new friend. Mike had told Nancy she wasn’t going to cheapen herself just because Nancy wanted to. Nancy claimed her husband thought she looked sexy, to which Mike had responded, “Was he drunk?”

  They’d both known the answer to that question.

  Weeks later, Nancy had sought out Mike, claiming she wanted to better herself, be a good role model for her girls. She was even getting after Denny about his drinking. Mike thought Nancy had thrown out the cheap clothes, but she must not have—and Dani had found them.

  “I don’t think Webster has a red light district. You might have to go to one of the bigger towns.”

  “What’s a red light district?” Dani asked.

  “It’s where the whores can be found.”

  “I’m not a whore!”

  “You’re dressed like one,” shouted Mike. “Put something over that ridiculous outfit until I can take you home to dress properly. And, this time, those rags are going to be burned.”

  “If they were good enough for my mother they’re good enough for me,” declared Dani.

  “Your mother was too good for that trash.”

  “You’re just mad because I’m sexier than you,” sneered Dani.

  Mike couldn’t help it—she started laughing. If this child thought being sexy was dressing cheaply, then Mike didn’t stand a chance.

  “Your mother has more respect for herself than to dress like that,” said Ethan coming up behind Mike. “You should have more respect for yourself. You’re not sexy, you’re a pathetic child playing a bizarre game of dress up.” Turning his back to Dani he came around to stand before Mike. “You take her home. I’ll wait next door for Web and the guys. I’m sure some of the guys would get a cheap thrill out of seeing her, but that’s all she’d get from them.”

  “Why…”

  He shoved his hands into his pockets and glanced away from her. “I misjudged you and I apologize. I should’ve known you wouldn’t approve of her looking like that. You’re a better mother than that.”

  As she had feared, Mike’s laughter turned to tears especially from Ethan’s words. “Thank you,” she managed to get out. “Let’s go, Dani.”

  Dani wobbled forward and stopped next to Ethan. “You’re wrong. She doesn’t care about us. All she ever wanted was my father.”

  “You’re wrong, again, Dani,” Mike said, giving the teen an even stare. “I only married him for you and Charlotte.” She turned, heading for the door, stopping long enough to press a kiss to Charley’s cheek, then walked out the door, leaving Dani to follow.

  CHAPTER NINE

  The hockey players along with Ethan, Web, and Wil had the old ice cream shop cleared out and cleaned in one day—something that would’ve taken her weeks. With a clean slate, Mike painted the walls a burnt sienna, hired someone to put down new flooring in a deep golden tan, and had the electrical and plumbing updated to her needs.

  As equipment arrived and was installed, she decorated in what she thought of as autumn colors hoping to appeal to males as well as females. Wil found some screens for her to separate different areas. Gusta found her a gently used washer and dryer so she wouldn’t have to cart towels back and forth from home. A big surprise was the large plants Catherine Yablonski had delivered not only for color, but to help screen customers from the windows.

  Mike started an online page titled The Hair Mousse counting down the days until the salon would be open for business and advertising for other services. She’d had a message from a Rose Kelley who claimed to be a nail technician. Mike wanted Rose to come in and demonstrate her talent, figuring Nettie would gladly be the guinea pig.

  Again, with Wil’s help, she’d found a desk to use in her reception area, along with comfy arm chairs for waiting customers. In the spring, she would see about an awning to shade the front windows and door.

  Ethan and Web could always be counted on to bring some of the players over to help with moving and placing heavier items. In exchange, she, Dani, and Charley had become volunteers for the hockey team’s home games. They handled ticket sales and collection, sold merchandise, handed out programs, or any other jobs needed.

  Fortunately, Dani dressed appropriately for a girl her age, even if she did push the issue from time to time with a shirt showing more cleavage than Mike thought necessary. The team sort of adopted Charley as a little sister, and too often didn’t know what to make of Dani. Of course, no one knew quite what to make of Dani; she blew hot, then cold. She grumbled about volunteering, yet was the first one in the car on game night. She grumbled about school, yet completed her assignments. She got off the bus and worked in Nettie’s coffee shop each afternoon, riding home with either Nettie or Mike, depending on who left first.

  As Mike’s salon came together, the hockey players and their host families began coming in for their free haircuts. She obliged, even though she wasn’t officially open for business. After all, these young men had made her business possible.

  Ethan had brought in three of the five players who were now living with him. He’d moved out of Nettie’s upstairs room two days after the team had helped clean Mike’s shop. The furniture he’d ordered had been delivered and he could move into his rental house.

  Mike was trimming the hair of a young blonde Canadian who spoke with a slight Scots accent. She was laughing at something he said, making Ethan scowl.

  “Dawson, you’re here to get your hair cut, not sweet talk the owner.”

  Michaela looked wide eyed at Ethan as Dawson laughed and winked at her. “No reason no’
to do a bit of both. Aye, lass.”

  “Aye,” she repeated laughing at his outrageous flirting. “Although, I’m old enough to be your…older sister.”

  Ed Dawson gave her a gleaming grin. “I’ve no need of a sister, but I don’t mind an older woman.”

  “Dawson,” Ethan growled, but Michaela lightly smacked the boy on his head with her comb, claiming she was fine, thanks just the same.

  Not the least bit deterred, after she removed the cape from around his neck, Dawson headed for Charley at the desk. “You wouldn’t mind me dating your mom, would you sweetheart?”

  Charley grinned at him. “Good luck with that. Mama wouldn’t even date Brucie Bear.”

  Michaela swept up the hair around her chair, then placed the cape around the next player who took a seat.

  “Who the hell is Brucie Bear?” demanded Ethan.

  Charley held out her hand. “Quarter, Ethan.”

  Dawson laughed as he headed for the door. “I’m gonna grab a drink from next door. Maybe the lovely Danielle will agree to a date with me.”

  Michaela didn’t even look up. “She’s too young for you, Dawson.”

  Dawson stopped, looked at the frown on Ethan’s face, the smile on Charley’s, and the concentration on Micki’s. “I’m too old for Dani, too young for you. The solution is all three of you ladies should go out with me.” With another grin, he was out the door.

  “Who the hell is Brucie?” Ethan repeated.

  Michaela said nothing. Charley said, “Fifty cents, please.”

  “I’ll give you a dollar if you answer the question,” he growled.

  “Brucie was my daddy’s best friend. I think he wanted to marry Mama, too, but she married my daddy.” She smiled at Ethan. “He didn’t want us to move to Webster. He was hoping Mama would change her mind about marrying him now that Daddy’s gone.”

  “Charlotte, that’s enough,” Michaela said in a voice that meant business. “Mr. Reigh isn’t interested in the friends we left behind, or your fantasies.” In a softer voice she added, “Bruce knows he can come visit you, and he will one day.”

  “Sorry, Mama,” she said contritely, then turned to Ethan with her palm out.