Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 15430 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 77(@200wpm)___ 62(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15430 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 77(@200wpm)___ 62(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
“We do, actually. We also have a nice peppermint oil for your hands.”
Rowe’s expression turned wicked as he looked over his shoulder at Noah. B could only groan. That peppermint wasn’t going to be limited to Noah or Rowe’s hands if they walked out with it. But considering B got a cut of the profits for any products his clients bought, he didn’t give a shit how they used the oil.
After quick introductions to Cynthia, B directed Rowe to the manicurist’s chair. There might have been more threats with the duct tape and the threat of calling Lucas before B managed to get Noah into the washroom. Since it was the man’s first visit, he gave Noah a quick shampoo and a deep condition. As the conditioner was soaking into his hair, B massaged his scalp and down his neck, placing a warm towel over his eyes, scented with the salon’s relaxing aromatherapy rosemary mint spray.
By the time he was completing a final rinse on Noah’s hair and sitting him up, the man looked like a puddle of relaxed muscles. He blinked slowly and smiled at B, his expression a little sleepy.
“I totally get it now,” Noah said.
“What’s that?”
“Why Lucas and Andrei go to a fancy salon. I’m so relaxed.”
B smirked as he led Noah back out to his station. “You haven’t even seen me cut hair yet.”
“I’m already sold.”
“I’ll make sure I find a spot for you on my schedule.”
Rowe was talking to Cynthia as she worked on his hand and she giggled softly, the sound almost musical. If B hadn’t been walking so closely to Noah, he might have totally missed the way he stiffened, but then Rowe looked up at Noah, directing his blinding smile right at him. The tension disappeared in an instant.
Settled in B’s chair with a cape wrapped around him, Noah breathed a deep sigh and met B’s questioning gaze in the mirror.
“What are we thinking?” B asked. “Preserve the length or something more drastic?”
“How about you get rid of an inch or so? Maybe make it a little less…poofy. I don’t know. Clean it up, I guess.”
B nodded and grabbed his comb, starting to run it through the thick strands. Noah had some split ends, but nothing too horrible. Things had definitely grown out from his last cut, leaving him with a number of strange lengths. He could easily clean this up, thin it in some places. He also had a nice leave-in smoothing cream that would help reduce frizz.
“How long have you two been together?” B asked as he started to section off Noah’s hair. He twisted up a large chunk and clipped it to the top of his head, which only made Noah grin.
“Two years.”
“But we’ve known each other longer,” Rowe quickly added. “We met in the Army. Served together for several years.”
“Awww…that’s so sweet,” Cynthia cooed. “Did you guys fall in love while you were serving together?”
Rowe was frowning at Cynthia, but B had a feeling it had more to do with the thick lotion she was slathering on his hand and up his arm. “Something like that,” he murmured.
“Doesn’t matter. We’re together now,” Noah said firmly.
Rowe’s gloomy expression cleared with a blink, and he grinned over at Noah. “Very true.”
B started to ask what Noah did for a living when chaos broke out in the salon. Well, a different kind of chaos than they were normally faced with.
A man in a long-sleeved black shirt and black jeans rushed into the salon. A backpack was slung over his left shoulder. Nothing too out of the ordinary…except for the ski mask covering his face and the gun tightly clutched in his right hand.
“Everybody shut up and put your hands up where I can see them! Do as I say, and nobody gets hurt!” the man bellowed over hair dryers and screams of customers.
“Holy fuck!” B swore. The shears and comb he’d been holding clattered to the floor. His heart was pounding a mile a minute, and he was pretty sure he was going to faint. He worked in a freaking hair salon. Who the hell robbed a hair salon?
They all watched mutely as the intruder corralled everyone at the front desk and lobby into the back, to the stations where there wasn’t a clear view of the front windows that looked out on downtown Cincinnati. He wasn’t even trying to rob the front register.
“Hiding?” Rowe murmured.
“Must be on the run from another robbery,” Noah replied softly. “I’m thinking ‘The Good Samaritan.’ ”
“Nah. ‘Squeaky Wheel,’ ” Rowe said with a small shake of his head.
“Oh, that’s a good one. Calling dibs.” Noah was already rising from his chair before B could even make a grab for him.
“What are you two talking about? Where are you going?” B demanded in a rough whisper. “If you get shot in my salon, Lucas is never gonna forgive me.”