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)
The other stylists had grumbled a little when they were forced to move their things down to the available station away from B so that he had room to work and entertain anyone who might arrive early for their appointment. The only person who was still set up near him was Cynthia, but she was going to be handling the manicures, pedicures, and facials. He did not envy the woman’s job when it came to Rowe. He even suspected Hollis might give her some grief.
“Are you excited?” Cynthia asked as she joined him at his station.
The bubbly blonde with the enormous blue eyes was practically bouncing in her wedges. Her black slacks seemed tighter than usual, and her boobs were nearly pushed up to her chin. B wanted to laugh and say that there was no reason for her to try so hard. These men weren’t going to notice her efforts.
But B kept his snarky comments to himself. Cynthia wasn’t so bad, even if she did chatter a bit too much at times. And he really needed to keep things civil with her, considering how long they’d be working together that day.
“Well, I guess this is just a normal day for you,” Cynthia continued before he could reply. “You’ve been Lucas Vallois’s private stylist forever.”
And now he felt ancient. B glanced over to the mirror, quickly checking for lines and wrinkles that could have magically appeared overnight. Sure, he might not be a sexy twentysomething any longer, but he didn’t look ancient for thirty-five.
“Every day I work with Lucas Vallois is special,” B said graciously, trying to hold back a smug smile when Cynthia released a dreamy sigh.
Yeah, that was sort of how it felt. Since Lucas had fallen for and eventually married Andrei, B had gotten the dreamiest glimpses into their lives because they usually scheduled their haircuts at the same time. It was their way of spending a few moments together during an otherwise busy day.
Before Cynthia could say anything else, a black town car pulled up in front of the downtown salon, followed by an SUV emblazoned with the logo of a local bakery and café. B wasn’t the only one in the salon who stopped to watch the driver jump out of the car and hurry around to open the rear passenger door.
Cynthia gasped to see the devilishly handsome Lucas Vallois step onto the sidewalk. He paused long enough to adjust his tailored suit jacket, then extended his hand toward the opening. A strong hand slid across his palm, and B felt his heart give a sappy little skip as Lucas helped Andrei Vallois out of the vehicle. Andrei brushed a quick kiss across Lucas’s jaw, and Lucas turned his face into Andrei’s, nuzzling him as if he needed the added contact before they separated.
“They are so perfect together. It’s like watching a real-life fairy tale,” Cynthia whispered.
“A hot, dirty fairy tale,” B murmured.
They continued to watch as a pair of women hopped from the SUV and started unloading baskets and boxes of food. B nearly sighed with relief when someone from the front desk had the presence of mind to hold the door open for the approaching clients.
Lucas and Andrei led the way into the salon, followed by the women. The scent of baked goods drifted above the lingering smell of hair products and mint that seemed to constantly hover in the air.
“There are Cincinnati’s sexiest men at last,” B greeted as they approached his station. “What have you brought me?”
Lucas leaned forward and they bussed kisses against their cheeks out of old habit, and B couldn’t deny the thrill it gave him. It was their thing, and it made the relationship feel special, even if it was just a business association.
“Breakfast.”
“Are you serious? It looks like you brought enough for the entire salon.”
“I hope we did,” Andrei chimed in. He stepped forward and pulled B into a tight but brief hug. “I was afraid we would be turning your salon upside down today. I thought this might help. We brought in a wide selection of pastries and breakfast sandwiches.”
“And I have a feeling you’re going to be destroying a number of diets today, you wicked men.”
It was another fifteen minutes of shuffling around, introductions to a suddenly silent Cynthia, getting coffee, settling the pastries, and then deciding who would be getting their hair cut first. B settled the cape around Lucas’s shoulders and ran the clippers over the sections close to his ears and the back of his head. As he worked, Lucas worked to convince Andrei to at least indulge in a manicure and facial while he waited for his turn in B’s chair.
With the clipping section done, B swept Lucas to the washroom for a shampoo and conditioning. They were running only slightly behind schedule when he got Lucas covered with a protective cape again.