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)
Grabbing Noah’s chair, B spun him back toward the mirror and resumed his work. The cops came in with a thunderous rush only to be deflated in an instant at the sight of the poor guy taped to the chair, getting his nails done. Cynthia had just pulled out her eyeshadow color palette to start on the man’s eyes when the cops started ripping the tape off him and waking him up so they could read him his rights.
B ignored them all, keeping his focus on Noah.
The cops were taking everyone’s statements when he finished with Noah and pulled Rowe into the chair. B didn’t have time for a wash, and the cops were still questioning him, so B simply grabbed a spray bottle to wet his hair as he worked. There was another cop trying to give Noah some grief over taking out the robber instead of waiting, but Noah couldn’t have looked more relaxed sitting in that chair with his hair perfect, a blue mask on his face, and Cynthia working on his nails. If anything, B almost felt sorry for the cops.
God help Cincinnati. If Rowe and Noah ever turned to a life of crime, there would be no stopping them.
Everything was returning to normal as B finished his work on Rowe’s hair. The devilish redhead grinned at B in the mirror, then turned his head to the left and right, inspecting the cut.
“Perfect, B,” Rowe announced.
“You and your boy did save everyone’s life. It was the least I could do.”
Rowe waved off the comment. “I doubt the idiot would have actually hurt anyone.”
“B, can I come see you again?” Noah asked.
“You’re coming back?” Rowe straightened a little in his chair.
Noah lightly touched his hair with one hand. “Yeah. I look good.”
Rowe’s hand snaked out and wrapped around Noah’s neck. “Damn straight you look good.” He pulled Noah across the small distance separating them. “Whatever makes you happy, babe,” Rowe murmured softly, his lips brushing against Noah’s before taking them in a searing kiss.
B could only shake his head. They were insane.
Chapter Five
B skipped the coffee this time around and pulled out his hidden bottle of tequila. One shot—that was all he needed. Just to steady his nerves. The alcohol burned his throat and he coughed, his eyes watering. He held his hands out to see they were steadier than he expected. He’d thought today would be interesting, but not quite this interesting.
He’d never forget Noah walking up to that robber so casually. The man had nerves of fucking steel. And Rowe had laughed like he’d expected nothing else. They’d sure made good use of the duct tape.
By the time Ian and Hollis arrived, B’s nerves were calm, everyone had put the salon back to rights, and everything was copacetic. Still, excitement buzzed in the air. The salon staff flitted around the place as he touched up his eyeliner and lipstick, all talking about what had happened.
Ian and Hollis made a striking couple as they stood waiting at the front counter, one big and gruff-looking, the other smaller and elegant. Hollis tilted Ian’s head and kissed him with one of the most romantic, soft kisses B had ever seen. Butterflies filled his stomach as he took in the man with his fiancé, took in the way he looked at Ian, love shining in his eyes.
“You guys ready for your makeovers?” he asked as he walked toward them.
“Yes!” Ian smiled and B had to blink at the pure happiness radiating from the pretty man.
He waived Ian into his chair and bit back a grin to see Hollis hovering in uncertainty. The big guy looked completely out of place and not as happy to be there as his fiancé.
“I heard about what happened. You sure your hands are steady enough to do this?” Ian asked as he stared at B in the mirror. “Little too much excitement and all that.”
“I’m fine. My hands are my trusty weapons.” He clipped the cape over Ian’s clothes, which were a shame to cover up. He wore trendy skinny jeans and a gorgeous Hugo Boss light-blue slim button-down. “You should have seen your friends take down that robber like it was nothing.”
Ian crossed his legs. “Sounds like Rowe and Noah. Never a dull moment with those two. We never know what kind of trouble they’re going to stir up.”
“Well, this time, they didn’t do anything wrong. Trouble came to them.”
“That sounds about right, too.” Ian winked.
B looked at Ian’s blond-streaked brown hair and smiled. “Doing anything different today?”
Ian shook his head. “A low fade like usual. Long on top, short on the sides.” He pointed to an image on the wall. “Just like that.”
Cynthia led Hollis to her station, and B chuckled when he leaned away as she held out the facial scrub.
“It won’t hurt you, Hollis,” Ian said. “Let her do her thing.”