Sapphire Falls: Going Gets Hot (Kindle Worlds Novella) (My Country Heart Book 4)

by Rachelle Ayala

  “Why, I thought—” Amber’s jaw dropped and she glanced at the beauties in a new light. “If Peyton Wells can pull off brunette, then I’ll stick with what I have.”

  After all, she was a scientist, and she had better things to do than spend every other weekend in a salon chair getting her hair color retouched.

  “Okay, your choice.” Ginger shrugged. “Let’s start styling. You have a ton of split ends, and I bet you don’t condition. There’s a lot we can do with your hair to give it more body and shine.”

  Amber let her sister steer her into a salon chair. “Whatever you do is fine. I just want to fit in here.”

  The front door jangled, and a short and wide middle-aged woman strode in. Her short and very blond hair was spiked and sprayed with blue, the same hue as the bright blue planters in front of the store, but what shocked Amber were the tattoos and piercings.

  “Oh, Ellen, meet my sister,” Ginger said in a deferring manner that suggested Ellen was her boss.

  “Ah, you’re the brain of the family.” Ellen parked herself in front of Amber’s chair. “Beautiful hair. Don’t let Ginger lop it off.”

  “Shouldn’t I get a style like them?” Amber gestured at the Wall of Fame. “I’ve had it long and straight all my life.”

  “You wear it well.” Ellen fluffed her fingers through Amber’s hair and lifted a section. “Part it on the side and get the split ends trimmed off. Your hair’s so dark and glossy, it would be a shame to cut it.”

  Wow. A salon owner who was honest and not out to get her on highlights, trims, and perms?

  She was starting to like this town already. Maybe even a nerd could fit in here.

  Chapter Three

  Chad gunned the engine of his brand-new Ford pickup truck and sprayed gravel around the turn to his Uncle Carl and Aunt Anne’s farmhouse.

  It had been a close call, getting all the bacteria cultured and the samples assayed, but he’d turned in his thesis at the stroke of midnight.

  He’d gotten his degree and made his parents proud. Moreover, he’d called Mason Riley and finagled a sign-on bonus and salary advance for his move out west.

  Enough to buy the truck and get an apartment in one of the new luxury Sapphire Hills developments. It had an indoor pool, fitness center, and 24-hour concierge service.

  A flock of chickens squawked and scurried away from the braking truck, and two Irish wolfhounds bounded toward him with eager curiosity.

  Chad shut off the engine and jumped from the cab of the truck, taking in the bucolic farmhouse scene: wraparound porch, white siding, surrounded by mature trees and a white picket fence.

  He patted both of wolfhounds, cognizant that he was exchanging microbes with these beasts, and turned to greet his uncle and aunt.

  It was a Sunday morning, and they were dressed to go to church—hopefully without him.

  “Uncle Carl, Aunt Anne.” He gave them both hugs. “I hope this isn’t a bad time.”

  “Not at all. Marsh is over in the barn, and Mike is getting ready for church,” Uncle Carl said, slapping him on the back. “Care to come with us?”

  “Not this week. I still have a lot of unpacking to do, and I start work tomorrow.” Chad rubbed his beard as his stomach growled. “Came over to show you my new truck.”

  Actually, he was hungry and lonely.

  “Come in for breakfast,” Aunt Anne said the words he’d been waiting to hear. “Marsh should be back from milking the cows, and you can tell us everything about your new job. We’re ever so proud of you.”

  “My parents give their regards and wish they had the time to visit,” he said, passing on their message.

  “Now that you’re here, it’ll give them an excuse to come home,” Uncle Carl said. “Lots of changes here, especially with all the new development going on.”

  His mother was Uncle Carl’s sister, but the two siblings couldn’t be more different. Chad doubted his mother, a chief surgeon, could take time out of her operating schedule to swing by the old family homestead. Growing up, she couldn’t wait to get out of town. While the other girls joined the 4-H club and competed in baking pies, she was peering into a microscope and studying infectious diseases. She had, however, won first prize at the fair for first aid and resuscitation on the practice dummy.

  Chad followed his uncle and aunt into the farmhouse. His cousins, Millie and Megan, smiled shyly at him. He blinked and did a double-take.

  “Wow, you two are all grown up,” he said. “Which one is which?”

  Even though they weren’t identical twins, the last time he saw them, they were about nine or ten and still playing with dolls.

  “And you’ve grown old,” one of the young ladies said. “I’m Megan. What’s with the Unabomber beard?”

  The other sister, who, by logical deduction, was Millie said, “Ewww. You didn’t even shave your neck.”

  “He researches bacteria, fungi, and creepy parasites,” Megan said. “All the more places to grow them.”

  Okay, so being the immature scientist who’d never charmed a single woman in his life, he rubbed his beard and scratched his pits, then made creepy hands at them and roared. “I’m going to rub dirt all over you. Ya, ha, ha.”

  They both squealed and ran from him around the sofa, while he stumbled around like Big Foot with the two wolfhounds getting in his way.

  The front door thudded, and the two sisters ran toward their older brother, Marsh. Meanwhile, Mike came down the stairs dressed in a suit and tie.

  “Icky Chad’s scaring us,” Megan complained.

  “Make him wash his hands.” Millie gave him a sneer and stuck her tongue at him. “You know he studies germs?”

  Chad wiped his hands on his jeans and stood back, blinking. If his girl cousins had become swans, his boy cousins were practically Marlboro men—without the cigarettes.

  Which made him feel all the more self-conscious.

  “Is that your truck out there?” Marsh slapped his hand in a brother’s handshake, seemingly unconcerned about germs. Then again, he’d just had his hands all over the udders of his dairy cows.

  “Where’s the truck?” Mike opened the front door for a look, then whistled. “F-250 Super Duty King Ranch, V-8 engine. They pay you that much for germs?”

  “Yep, but I prefer to call them microbes. Did you know without microbes in the stomach of your cattle, they wouldn’t be able to digest the grass they eat? And without microbes in the dirt, your plants won’t get any nitrogen? And I bet you spray Bt, or Bacillus thuringiensis, onto your crops to kill caterpillars, right?”

  “Okay, okay, we believe you,” Mike said, giving him a punch. “Let’s chow down and take that baby to church.”

  “Actually, I wanted to collect some droppings from that sick cow Marsh was telling me about. Check out her microbiome and see if the antibiotics you’re dumping into her system is giving her a leaky gut.” Chad followed his cousins into the kitchen.

  “He can’t go to church looking like a wild man anyway,” Millie said, giggling. “Let’s take him to The Bang and Blow.”

  “B-bang and b-blow? What’s that?” Chad stuttered, wheeling around.

  “Beauty salon.” Marsh swept a hand over his spiky hair, and Chad noticed for the first time, a flashing earring on his left earlobe. Whoa, what was with his country cousin?

  “You go to a beauty salon called Bang and Blow?” His eyes darted to Mike, who sported a poufy hairdo that stood up full on top, but was shorter at the sides. “Wait, I thought you all wore your hair long or bowl cut.”

  “That was before my girlfriend rolled into town.” Marsh’s eyes twinkled with a look of amusement. “She’s from New York, too.”

  Chad’s heart slumped into his stomach. He’d thought he’d fit in here with his wild mountaineer lack of grooming, but it seemed his country cousins had all spiffed up—thanks to this New Yorker.

  “I’m not going to a beauty salon,” Chad said, sitting down around the kitchen table. “I’m a researcher, and I�
�m too busy for haircuts and shaving.”

  No one replied as Uncle Carl led them in prayer, and then the family passed the food around the table.

  The heavenly sight and scent of bacon, hash browns, eggs, and sausage made his stomach do a happy dance. Face it, the town’s diner was nowhere as good as home cooking, and he was lucky he had relatives in town.

  “Well, if you’re not going to church,” Marsh said, scooping hash browns into his mouth. “Then you’re visiting The Bang and Blow. I’ll give Ellen a call and have her do you up. No way do I want my cousin running around like a wild mountain man, even if you’re collecting cow dung.”

  “At least you’re wearing contacts,” Mike said, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “But if you want to score any fillies at the festival, you’re going to have to get a new wardrobe. Those polyester pants and pocket protector shirts are going to stick out like a sore thumb.”

  “Who s-said a-any-th-thing a-about sc-scoring?” As soon as his mind turned to women, his tongue tied up, especially when thoughts and worries about the only woman he wanted to get acquainted with simmered on his backburner. "I have to go to work tomorrow.”

  “Work? On Festival Week?” Mike shot a pleading look at his father. “Most bosses let people off early.”

  “Except farmers,” Aunt Anne cut in. “The animals need tending and so do the crops. Although we’ll let the boys get up earlier and finish their chores before heading off to the festivities.”

  “The merchants don’t let their employees off either,” Uncle Carl said. “They’re busy tending the booths, baking cakes, cookies, pies, serving up food, and staying open to sell souvenirs and clothes.”

  “Ah, but in the evening, everyone gets out there and relaxes,” Marsh said. “There’s the Dance Auction tonight at the Come Again. I think we need to get Chad turned into a proper farm boy before we show up tonight.”

  The thought of letting his cousins change him into a farmer hipster with piercings and a Mohawk haircut had Chad sweating and shaking with the heebie-jeebies. He’d cultivated the scruffy researcher image all through college, and hiding behind a beard made him feel protected from scrutiny. Besides, he’d already ditched the thick glasses. That was his concession to possibly attracting a female, and the only one he wanted, Amber Myers, wore glasses herself, so it was hardly an advantage.

  “I just wanted to show you my new truck, but I have a lot to do to get ready for the job.” He dug into his breakfast and kept his head down, trying not to let egg yolk get into his beard.

  “Fine, then meet us at the Come Again at eight.” Marsh cleaned his plate. “Be there, or be square.”

  For some reason, all his cousins laughed at what Chad didn’t think was a joke.

  Chapter Four

  By the time Ginger shampooed Amber’s hair and had it wrapped up in a towel, other customers and hairdressers had arrived at the salon.

  “You’re going to love it here,” the petite redhead who introduced herself as Phoebe said from the salon chair next to her. “Mason and Adrianne are the sweetest couple, and you couldn’t ask for a better boss. Genius. Of course, you must be a genius, too. Have you met your new coworker? I heard he’s a real genius.”

  “I haven’t had a chance to go to the office yet,” Amber said. “I heard they hired someone last minute, but Mason didn’t mention it when I checked in last night.”

  “Must be some bigshot,” Phoebe said. She looked exactly like one of the pictures on the Wall of Fame, and she was as pretty and glamorous as a movie star. “He got a big sign-on bonus and bought an expensive truck.”

  Amber’s jaw dropped. “No one said anything to me about a sign-on bonus.”

  Well, duh. She had been so excited to get the job, she hadn’t even asked how much they paid before accepting the offer.

  “You have to negotiate these things,” the redhead said. “I’m sure Max can give you some pointers.”

  She mentioned Amber’s brother-in-law who was a former investment banker. He was married to her sister, Honey, but because of geographical reasons, Amber didn’t feel as close to Honey and Candi as she did to Ginger.

  When their parents divorced, Honey and Candi stayed in San Francisco with their mother, while she and Ginger went to live with their father in New York City. Everyone she knew thought it strange that their father took the two younger sisters, but it was what their parents agreed to, and life with her father wasn’t too bad, especially with Ginger hovering over her and taking care of her.

  Several women walked through the door, including her sister, Honey, who was eight months pregnant, and Candi, her eldest sister who was a ballroom dance instructor.

  The two older sisters interrupted Ginger’s scissors, and gave Amber hugs and kisses. Ginger and Candi had come to her graduation a week back, but Honey was too uncomfortable to travel. Apparently, the pregnancy was harder on her than the previous two because her blood pressure was slightly elevated and she’d flunked her glucose tolerance test, despite her vow not to eat sugar.

  Amber hugged her pregnant sister lightly. “At least you didn’t have the baby before I arrived. I wouldn’t want to miss out on the excitement.”

  “You’ll be tapped for babysitting duties.” Honey maneuvered herself onto an unoccupied salon chair.

  “I’m not sure I know how to change a diaper or even hold a baby,” Amber said.

  “That’s what Peyton said before her sister’s baby was born. Now, she’s a pro,” Ginger said. “You should make friends with her. She’s the town party planner, and she knows all the hot, single guys.”

  “I won’t have time for parties. I’ll be analyzing all of the genomes of the crops Mason’s developing for pest resistance." Amber checked her watch. “Are we almost done?”

  Ginger combed out her hair and compared the two sides. “Yep, done with the hair trim, but next, we have to take you to Julie’s to get new outfits.”

  “I don’t need any new outfits,” Amber said. “I just need to get unpacked.”

  “Don’t be silly,” Candi said. “You can’t go to the festival wearing a polyester pant suit. You’ll melt in the heat. It’s air conditioned in here, but when you step out, you’ll be drenched with sweat.”

  “I don’t have extra cash on hand. Didn’t get a sign-on bonus or advance.” Her gut clenched at the fact she hadn’t thought to ask, or maybe it was automatically offered to the male employee. Wouldn’t surprise her if he made more than her, too. She was pretty sure she was the long awaited DNA expert, and as Mason had told her in the interviews, the entire company needed someone with her skills to make sense of their investigations.

  Honey patted her hand. “No arguments. You’re getting new clothes. It’ll be your graduation present. Besides, think of it as a down payment for your babysitting services.”

  Despite not having any experience with babies, Amber had missed her older nephew and niece when they lived in San Francisco. Now that all the sisters were together in Sapphire Falls, they finally had a chance to be together as a real family.

  She settled back to watch the small-town scene in front of her. Patrons gossiped with each other and the hairdressers, and the entire salon felt like a huge party.

  “Look at you, Miss America.” Ginger finished and brushed hair off Amber’s shoulders. “Now you have body and bounce.”

  “Thanks.” Amber turned her head in front of the mirror, side to side, to admire her hair. “You didn’t take too much off, that’s good.”

  “It’s so long and lush. Some man’s going to love running his fingers through your hair.” Ginger fluffed it and smoothed it down. “Time to get your new clothes.”

  * * *

  Later that evening, Amber arrived for dinner at Max and Honey’s house wearing jeans, a ribbed tank top, checkered shirt unbuttoned but tied at her waist, hoop earrings, makeup, and insect repellant. Her hair was parted to the side and fuller than she ever remembered it, and she’d even gotten a manicure and pedicure, not that anyone was going to see
her toes.

  Half of the women in the salon had poured over to Julie’s Apparel to give fashion advice: skinny jeans versus boot cut, Ugg-style boots versus cowgirl ankle boots, and an assortment of tanks, camis and sexy T-shirts.

  Then there was the denim—racks and racks from basic blue to bright white and sultry black. Honey simply told her to buy them all and add it to her babysitting tab. Yep, she was going to have to get real good with formula and diapers.

  Mattie and Sara bounded from the front door at the sight of them.

  “Auntie, candy!” Sara, her almost two-year-old niece said.

  Amber wasn’t sure if the little girl thought all aunts were either named Candi or passed out candy to little kids, but if it was a country tradition, she’d better be prepared with sweets next time.

  “I’m Auntie Amber.” She knelt and gave Sara a big hug. “I don’t have any candy, but I have a dolly for you.”

  The little girl smushed a kiss on her face, while her nephew held out a black square replica of a mortarboard graduation cap made of construction paper. “Auntie Amber, I made you this card. Mommy says you’re the smartest. When I grow up, I want to be just like you.”

  Wow. Little Mattie was already a charmer.

  Amber gave him a hug and whispered, “I heard you’re pretty smart yourself.”

  “And you’re pretty, too,” the little guy said.

  Yep, definitely a future farm boy of America. She’d heard they were polite, down-home charming, and honorable men.

  “You’ve grown so tall and handsome.” She patted Mattie’s shoulder.

  After giving out presents: a Mets baseball cap for Mattie and a realistic Nursery baby doll for Sara, Amber followed Honey into her big, farmhouse-style kitchen.

  Max and Ginger’s boyfriend, Marsh, got up from the table and greeted her with hugs.

  “Hey, gorgeous,” Marsh said. “You’re going to be a big hit at the Dance Auction. We’re raising money for the new pet rescue in town.”

  “I don’t know how to dance.” Amber’s tongue felt as lame as her two left feet. “Can I just watch? I’m sure there are plenty of women willing to be bid on.”