by Linda Wisdom
She jumped when a hand landed on her shoulder.
“If I could go on vacation and meet someone like him, I’d be gone tomorrow,” Nora murmured.
“I don’t know what you mean,” Ginna lied.
“Honey, you looked at that man as if he was one of those éclairs you’re so crazy about,” she told her. “And the way he looked at you?” She fanned her face. “We’re talking hot stuff here. I’m amazed the two of you didn’t go up in flames when you looked at each other. I am so jealous.”
“Oh, sure, and that’s why he hasn’t called once,” she said between clenched teeth.
Nora nodded knowingly. “I had a feeling that was him. I’d say if he hasn’t called you, it’s for a good reason. Give him a chance before you stab him with those scissors, okay?”
“I’ll think about it,” Ginna said grimly. She felt more composed when Kim returned Zach to her.
“Ginna—” he began.
“I’d say you need more than a trim,” she said brightly, combing this way and that to see how his hair lay.
He tried a bit more forcefully. “Gin—”
“Some serious shaping needed here.”
He captured her wrist. “There was a medical emergency in my family,” he said rapidly. “I wanted to call you. God, I wanted you so badly.” His voice broke.
She paused long enough to get a good look at him. A nick on his chin where he must have cut himself shaving. Bloodshot eyes. Sleep hadn’t been one of his activities lately. He looked exhausted. Before thinking, she blurted out her thoughts.
“You look terrible.”
He smiled wanly. “Thanks. Now I know my mirror wasn’t lying.” His fingers caressed her wrist. “I missed you.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“The hell I didn’t. I missed you wrapping yourself around me at night,” he kept on relentlessly. “I missed your shower fogging up the mirror while I tried to shave. I missed your cute little hip wiggles when you put on your makeup. I missed you.”
“You were supposed to forget about me,” she whispered. “Go on with your life.”
“The hell I was,” he said furiously, but keeping his voice low. “Tell me you didn’t think about me.”
“I didn’t think about you.”
His eyes gleamed. “Liar.”
“Zach, I’m holding a sharp pair of scissors here,” she said in a low and extremely seductive voice. “Not exactly a good time to call me a liar.”
He released her wrist. “Okay, but if you cut my ear off, you’re not getting a tip.”
Ginna combed her fingers through his wet hair, watching the strands curl around her fingertips. It wasn’t easy for her to think as a hairdresser when the last time she’d combed her fingers through his hair, they were both naked. Her motions slowed. She lifted her eyes, glanced at him in the mirror. His gaze was intent on her face.
“The conditioner helped,” she said, forcing herself back to her professional persona. “You should think about using one on a regular basis. You’ve got dry ends, but those will be trimmed today.”
“I noticed my hair had gotten lighter in the past month or so.”
“You were in a lot of sun, so it’s natural there’d be a bleaching effect,” she explained. “Didn’t Rupert ever tell you about sun damage?”
“You remembered his name,” he murmured.
She ignored his comment. Instead, she combed strands, held them up and began cutting.
Zach, realizing that now might not a good time to say anything provocative, remained quiet and didn’t move a muscle.
“I haven’t stabbed a client in months. You can relax,” she murmured.
“I wanted to call you every night,” he said, deciding to take the plunge.
His reply was the quiet snip of scissors.
“I missed having you in bed with me.”
“My dog takes up the other half of the bed very nicely. Get a puppy.”
“I’d rather have you.”
“That was then. This is now. Real life, Zach,” she mocked him.
He winced at her choice of words, ones that had been haunting him for the past couple of weeks.
He remained silent during the rest of his haircut.
When she’d finished, Ginna picked up a hairdryer and switched it on. In no time, his hair was dry and styled.
Zach studied his reflection. The style wasn’t much different from the way he normally wore his hair, but he could see subtle differences.
“How come it looks the same but doesn’t?” he asked.
“The difference comes from the cut,” she replied as she set down the dryer.
Zach pulled out his wallet.
She shook her head. “If I’d had my scissors with me in Hawaii, I would have done it then.”
“This is also how you make your living.” He pulled bills out.
“Zach, no,” she said firmly.
“Then let me take you to dinner.”
Out of the corner of his eye he could see in the mirror the hairdresser next to them. She’d obviously been eavesdropping on their conversation. Her head was bobbing up and down and her mouth was shaping the words do it!
He decided to press the issue when he noticed Ginna’s hesitation.
“Please.”
Ginna closed her eyes. “Give me some time to clean up.”
Zach knew when to back off. He nodded and headed back to the reception area.
“He is adorable!” Nora whispered the minute Zach was out of earshot. “If you don’t want him, can I have a try?”
Ginna glared at her friend. “No!”
Nora grinned. “I rest my case. You’re not as mad at him as he thinks you are.”
“No,” she reluctantly admitted. “But that doesn’t mean he has to know that right away, does it?”
Nora chuckled. “Someday you and I are going out to lunch and you are going to tell me just what went on out there.”
Ginna’s good humor surfaced. “Sorry, sweetie, you’ll just have to use your imagination.” She glanced in the mirror and applied fresh lipstick.
“Don’t be sorry. I have a very good imagination.”
Chapter Seven
Zach asked Ginna for restaurant recommendations in the area. She suggested a place that was within walking distance of the salon.
As they moved down the sidewalk, she noticed he kept glancing at her.
“What?” she asked, still not ready to forgive him for not calling her. She, above all, understood family obligations. But a tiny selfish part of her wanted him to have taken even two minutes to call her and explain the situation.
“You cut your hair.”
Ginna shrugged. “It was time for a change.” It wasn’t as easy as she’d thought to put on an uninterested front.
Zach was a welcome sight even if she could see the signs of weariness in his manner. He had the appearance of a man who hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in some time.
Two weeks, perhaps?
She quickly looked away.
“You’re not going to make it easy for me, are you,” he said, holding the restaurant door open for her.
“I’ve been busy catching up,” she said, preferring not to answer him. “I’m sure you’ve been busy, too.”
“Oh, yeah,” he murmured, before moving forward to request a table for two. “Had a couple surprises I hadn’t counted on.”
They were seated immediately. They declined a before-dinner drink and were left with their menus.
“Everything here is good,” she told him as she opened her menu.
“Red meat sounds good to me.”
Ginna frowned at him. “Try fish, instead. I’ll have the grilled chicken breast, rice pilaf and iced tea,” she told the waitress as she handed her the menu.
“Sirloin, medium rare, baked potato,” Zach said with a warm smile. “And coffee.”
The moment they were left alone, he turned back to Ginna.
“As you said, it’s back to real life,”
he said. “Did your dog miss you?”
“When I first picked Casper up at my parents, I wasn’t too sure,” she said, relieved Zach was keeping their conversation impersonal. “I have an idea they spoiled him rotten. Too many treats, sleeping on the couch. Probably even let him eat dinner at the table. My mother claims his manners are better than my dad’s. I think she was exaggerating a little, but then, with my dad, you never can be too sure.” She looked up and smiled at the waitress as she placed the glass of iced tea in front of her. “I let him know his vacation was over. Back to morning runs. Treats at specified times only and his food dish remains on the kitchen floor.”
“Boy, you’re a tough dog mom.”
“I have to be.” She sipped her drink. “If I wasn’t, he’d walk all over me.”
Zach grinned. “So instead, he runs with you?”
“I like to run in the mornings. About two years ago, there were some assaults on women joggers on the paths I took. For a while, I drove out to my parents’ house, started running on the back trails there and took their dog with me. When she had puppies, I took one look at Casper and it was love at first sight,” she said. “When he was old enough and big enough, I returned to my old running trail.”
“Did they ever catch the guy?” he asked.
“More like he did it to himself.” She chuckled. “He made the mistake of trying to drag a female marine off into the brush. She beat the crap out of him. He was begging for the cops to arrest him. By then, more women were running with dogs or in groups. There hasn’t been an assault there since.”
“Never mess with a woman who has survival skills.” Zach picked up his coffee cup. “You know, after those two weeks, coming back home was a major culture shock. Rush hour. Car alarms going off at odd hours. Everyone in a hurry to get somewhere.”
Ginna nodded. “I know. The first morning I was home I realized I had no coffee in the house. Not a good thing at all where I’m concerned. And it wasn’t as if I could call down and order from room service. I had to get dressed, or at least look dressed, so I could run out for coffee. In the end, I went over to one of my brothers’ houses and bummed coffee off them.”
“I miss the sound of the ocean.”
“The band in the lounge.”
“Finding sand in my clothes.”
“Not having to wear shoes.”
Zach held up his finger to emphasize he had the ultimate complaint. “Telemarketers.”
“At dinnertime!” She laughed.
“Anytime.”
Just like that, they were once again in sync. The two weeks apart dissolved as if they’d never happened.
After dinner, they shared cheesecake and coffee and kept on talking.
Zach was surprised when he realized just how late it was. He hadn’t planned on staying out this late. Good thing Lucie was keeping the twins for the night.
“I can’t believe the hour,” Ginna exclaimed, glancing at her watch. “Casper has a doggie door, but he doesn’t like to use it unless it’s absolutely necessary. He got stuck in it once. Not to mention he’ll be looking for his dinner.”
Zach asked the waitress for the bill and quickly settled it.
“Where do you park?” he asked.
“All of us have parking behind the spa,” she explained. “It’s well lit, so we’ve never worried going out there at night.”
“I’ll still walk you back there.”
“What about you?”
“I’m out in front.”
Ginna headed for a gleaming black 1966 Mustang. She clicked a remote and heard the chirp of her car alarm.
Zach couldn’t stop staring at the car. “I think I’m in love.”
“You men,” she said, opening the driver’s door and tossing her bag onto the passenger seat. “If you like this, you would have loved my brother Brian’s Corvette convertible. He sold it when he became a new daddy. Mark and Jeff cried when they found out he’d done that. I told you my dad restored classic automobiles. This was one of his babies.”
“Knowing about it and seeing the results are two different things.” He ran his hand lovingly along the fender.
He stopped when he was next to her. He started to dip his head, then stopped just before his mouth brushed hers.
“I think I should tell you I won’t be as easy this time around.”
Ginna laughed out loud. “As if you were before.”
Her laughter was cut off by his mouth covering hers. Her arms lifted, circling his neck as she angled her body against his.
Their tongues tangled as their bodies reacquainted themselves.
“Ever make love in the back seat of a Mustang?” Zach asked her.
“Ever have your back broken?” she replied.
“Because of the question or because of the seat?” He nibbled his way along her jawline.
“You figure it out for yourself.” She pushed up the hem of his forest-green polo shirt. She purred with delight at the feel of his warm skin.
“How about the hood?” He bumped his hip against hers.
Sanity reared its ugly head as Ginna pulled back. “I have a hungry dog to feed.” Her breath came in short gasps. “Besides, I want to stay mad at you for a while longer.”
Zach pulled her back in his arms and kissed her until they were both clutching at each other. When he stepped back, he kept hold of her arms.
“Still mad at me?”
“Yes.” She didn’t sound one-quarter as convincing as she had before.
He started toward her again. She thrust out her hands in a stop action.
“Okay, you made your point.” She practically pressed herself against her car. “I have to go now.”
“I want to see you again,” Zach told her.
“I work the next two evenings,” she replied.
He looked thoughtful as if he was mentally reviewing his calendar. “How about brunch on Sunday?”
She smiled. “I’d like that.”
“I’ll pick you up at ten.”
She nodded. She ducked into her car, rummaged through her bag and pulled out a business card and pen. She wrote her home address on the back and handed it to him.
Zach took advantage of the moment to steal another kiss, which would have led to more if they hadn’t heard voices in the distance.
“Go,” she ordered, pushing him off.
“Hey.” He stopped her before she closed the car door completely. She looked at him. He gestured to his head. “You give great hair.”
Ginna rolled her eyes, closed the door and drove off.
Zach whistled under his breath as he walked around to the front of the building.
As long as the twins remained healthy, he’d be just fine.
“EVERYONE’S COMING OVER Sunday for a barbecue,” Cathy Walker told her daughter as she pulled a muffin pan out of the oven. “You can make it, can’t you?”
“Actually, no, I can’t. I have plans.” Ginna should have known stopping by her parents’ house wasn’t a good idea. But she knew Thursday was her mother’s day to bake, and her caramel pecan rolls were better than anything sold in a bakery. By the time she arrived, two pans of rolls were cooling on the counter, along with freshly baked loaves of coconut bread and orange bread.
The Walker household was always filled with hungry men due to Lou Walker’s garage being on the property. He refused to retire and continued bringing classic cars back to life. Friends and clients alike were known to stop off at the kitchen to beg for a muffin or a cinnamon roll and a cup of coffee. Lou complained no one came to see him—they came to eat his wife’s cooking.
Ginna sat at the breakfast bar with her hands cradling a large mug detailed with bright lettering stating Mechanics Know Their Parts. She nibbled on a still-warm caramel pecan roll.
Cathy poured coffee into a mug and sat on the stool next to her daughter. “Anyone we know?”
“No,” Ginna said promptly.
“Do we get to meet him?” her mom probed.
“Only
if he passes the background investigation to make sure he doesn’t have a criminal record,” Ginna said flippantly.
Cathy waved her hand airily. “One little mistake.”
“Little mistake? Mom, the guy was wanted for fraud in three states.” She reminded her mother of the man Cathy deemed perfect for her oldest daughter. “Not to mention, he always made the worst jokes.” Ginna wrinkled her nose in memory.
“Blame your father. Steve was here to buy that Nash your father was selling. He knew cars. Your dad was in love on your behalf.”
“He fell out of love fast when he found out the check Steve gave him was no good.” Ginna licked her fingers. She looked around. “Didn’t you make any cookies this morning?”
“Not today.” Cathy studied her daughter. “You’re more cheerful than you were after you got back from your trip. Oh, you were happy enough when you got back, but after that first week…” Her voice fell off. She leaned forward and peered into her daughter’s face. “Either you met someone new or you saw the man you met in Hawaii.”
“What are you? The head of one of those psychic networks?” Ginna reared back. “Why don’t you do this with Nikki?”
“She’s dating a very nice medical student. He’s going to specialize in cardiology, so for now, she’s off the hook.” Cathy didn’t take her eyes off her daughter. “Which is it?”
“Zach.” Ginna supplied the one word she hoped would call her mother off. The moment she said the name, she realized her mistake.
Cathy’s face lit up. “That’s who you met in Hawaii. That settles it, then—you need to bring him on Sunday.”
“No way,” Ginna said. “He’s not ready to meet the piranhas I call Dad and brothers. Not to mention Mother,” she muttered, reaching for another roll.
Cathy smoothly slid the pan out of Ginna’s reach.
“It’s too soon,” Ginna argued, her hand still outstretched. “In Hawaii, it was like something out of a movie. Two people meet on a plane, find they have a lot in common, end up at the same hotel, and something develops. But now they’re back home. Their jobs take precedence, as does real life. What they saw in each other out there might not be the same here.”
