Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 52277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
He gripped her hand quickly and released her without lingering. "Nick Rule."
Before Angie could say anything more, Justine grabbed her hand and began leading her into the room, while whispering, "He's not for you, darling. We've still got to give Damian time to pull his head from his butt."
The words were so incongruent with the woman's appearance that Angie stumbled and began laughing.
"You think that's funny?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Well, it's true. He needs to realize that you'd be perfect for him, but in the meantime, come and meet Rick's son, Caiden. He's about your age, maybe a little younger, but he's absolutely adorable."
As Angie was all but dragged across a room full of people and they came to stand in front of Rick and his son, Angie said with a smile, "I already know Rick's son. I'm his stylist, also."
Caiden leaned in and kissed Angie's cheek and then his father followed suit.
"You cut his hair, too?" Mrs. Rule asked and then turned to Rick. "You didn't tell me they knew each other already."
As Angie and Caiden shared a look, she abruptly realized what this was about. Justine was trying to set the two of them up. Would the woman never learn? Finding herself on the receiving end of her manipulations, Angie suddenly realized why his mother drove Damian so crazy.
After chit-chatting a few minutes, the older couple excused themselves and Justine pulled Rick away, undoubtedly trying to give Angie and Caiden some time alone. Angie rolled her eyes and glanced back at Caiden, who she'd known for a good two years. "She's trying to set us up!"
"Actually she's been trying to set me up with every single woman who's here tonight."
"Why?" Angie leaned closer and whispered, "Doesn't she know you're gay?"
He looked taken aback. "Justine? Hell, my father doesn't know I'm gay."
Angie glanced back around the room, wondering if she should mind her own business, and saw Courtney speaking to a dark-haired young woman with familiar looking eyes. Caiden noticed her interest and said, "The blonde girl is Courtney, the goddaughter. The brunette is the actual daughter, and her name is Erin."
Angie looked away, not wanting to stare. "I've met Courtney but not Erin."
"Oh, you will. Justine is in her element tonight."
"Don't you like her?" Angie asked, referring to Justine Rule.
"Actually, I do. She's exactly what my father needs, but she is a bit of a match-maker want-to-be, and that's creating a bit of a problem for me."
Angie stopped just short of cringing for the young man and decided she would tell him what she knew, after all. "Hey, let's wander around a bit. I want to tell you something and you may need a bit of privacy for it."
He looked at her with a frown, but he turned and followed her. She stopped and snagged a glass of champagne from a side table, and he did the same. Glancing around as if about to mingle, Angie walked from the room as surreptitiously as possible and headed down a hallway that looked private enough.
She came to an open door that contained a library, and walked inside, Caiden following her. She shut the door and took a sip of the champagne to fortify herself.
"What's up?" he asked.
She attempted to broach the subject slowly. "How long have we known each other?"
He shrugged. "A couple of years, I guess."
She nodded her head and gave him a bittersweet smile. "I like you a lot. I always enjoy cutting your hair. You're cool," she said with a small grin. "I also like your dad."
He frowned as if bracing himself. "Okay?"
"I try to mind my own business, you know?"
Now he was looking really confused. "Spit it out, Angie."
She took a deep breath. "Dude, your father already knows you're gay."
His face paled and he looked cut to the bone. "No way."
She nodded her head sympathetically.
"How do you know?"
She held his eyes as a slice of compassion gentled her voice. "I don't remember the exact conversation. I know it was before I met you. I was cutting your dad's hair one day and he said he had a son who'd just moved back from college and asked me if I could take on another client."
"And?" Caiden prompted.
"I jokingly said something like 'for sure, if he's as good-looking as you are.'"
Angie studied him for a reaction. She didn't know him all that well, but she understood that coming out was something that many people struggled with, especially when it came to their parents.
He winced and asked, "And then?"
"Caiden," she soothed. "It was obvious to me, even then, before I met you, that your father loves you and is proud of you. All he said was, 'Well, my son looks just like me, but don't get your hopes up, the kid's gay." Angie gave him a smile to take away any sting her words may have imparted and then continued, "He said it with so much pride, like you were the light of his life and could do no wrong. It's never occurred to me before tonight that you didn't know that he already knew."