‘Never!’ He marvels.
‘No. I’ve had attractions to men, enjoyed their company, but no, I imagine if you love someone you can’t live without them,’ I deduce. ‘I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life, but I’m happy in my own space. I have needs, but I can fulfil them and not be tied to anyone. So I do. Safely,’ I add.
‘You never had a long term relationship?’ He checks, evidently amazed by my admission.
‘Not more than a couple of months. To be fair, I have been building a business,’ I defend. I stop at confiding that I could never give all of me to someone, trust that they will take care of me.
‘That’s a damn shame,’ Nate murmurs, his eyes moving over my face. I shrug, embarrassed by what I see in the blue gaze, pity, empathy even.
‘It’s by choice, Nate, you don’t have to feel sorry for me,’ I notify him.
‘I don’t, I feel sorry the fuckers that you left heartbroken,’ he expresses, nonchalantly.
We had finished our food and were drinking wine, naked on the bed when Nate begins to look slightly uncomfortable.
‘What’s up?’ I asked, ‘are you worried about the ‘implications of all this?’ My stomach twists, has he had his fill?
His face instantly clears, ‘no, of course not. It wasn’t something that we could ignore, it would be a shame not to enjoy the attraction,’ he admits.
‘So, we are clear that this is just an itch that we had to scratch, right?’ I ratify.
‘Sure. I told you I’m not looking for anything permanent,’ he assures me. ‘My job is the great love of my life,’ he maintains.
‘Then what’s with the face?’ I press, ignoring the twinge of regret. Even if I stayed here, Nate wouldn’t be interested in a long term relationship with me, although this knowledge should reassure me, it makes me feel sad. Then I deduce that maybe the appeal for him is the temporary status of my visit.
‘I need to talk to you about Oliver,’ he moves the tray and places it on the trolley, before returning to a sitting position, his back to the headboard.
‘Okay,’ my insides tighten with apprehension.
‘Did you know that your father withdrew all financial support from him?’ He asked.
‘Yes, I told you that. Oliver wouldn’t comply with our father’s expectations of him, within the business, so dad gave him an ultimatum. It was that, which encouraged Oliver to pursue his dreams of becoming a hairdresser.’
He nods before his eyes raise cautiously to mine, ‘did you know he was in trouble, financially, Oliver that is?’
I sigh, taking a mouthful of wine and placing the wine glass on the side table. ‘Only very recently,’ I confess. ‘He was in arrears on his lease, I had to pay off his debts at the salon and his apartment,’ I confide, gently. ‘The heart-breaking thing is, I would have helped him if he’d approached me,’ I murmur, laying back against the pillows and inspecting the ceiling, ‘why didn’t he come to me?’
Nate rolls over and covers his body with mine, his eyes intent on my face.
‘None of this is your problem, London,’ he soothes gently. ‘You are not responsible for Oliver’s bad choices,’ his lips touch mine in a feather like kiss.
‘He was the only family I had left,’ I express, a lump forming in my throat.
‘I know, babe,’ his lips leave a trail of light kisses over my face, making me smile. ‘That’s better,’ he hums.
‘Is that all?’ I probe. ‘Any more surprises?’
‘He was in a lot of debt, Soph,’ Nate’s face clears of humour. ‘He did a lot of things that may seem out of character, even for the short while you knew him,’ he explains, gently. ‘He got involved with a lot of people that wouldn’t, and didn’t, stand for his feeble excuses.’
‘Is that what happened?’ I croak, my throat closing up.
‘I think so,’ he nods, ‘there is information that I cannot share with you, babe, you gotta understand that, some things that could be detrimental to the investigation should they become public knowledge.’
‘But, you will tell me, when you can?’ I check.
‘Of course,’ he promises.
‘Okay,’ I nod.
‘Now, how about you help me forget all about the bad things in my life and remind me of the good?’ He mutters down to me, his mesmerising blue eyes penetrating mine with such lust, my heart almost stops.
We finally fall asleep with our limbs a tangle and me feeling safe and secure in the knowledge that he is getting closer to solving who is responsible for Ollie’s death.
********
‘Nate!’ I cry out as I come hard, his tongue lapping at sex as he continues to thrust his fingers deep inside me.
‘Oh yeah, baby,’ he growls, ‘on all fours,’ he demands, helping me to flip over onto my stomach. ‘Jesus, fuck, Soph. I’m not going to last five minutes at this rate,’ he complains, lifting me up onto my knees and ploughing deep inside me, his hands opening up the cheeks of my backside to sink deeper into my hot, wet depths.
‘Fuck, I’m coming again,’ I cry out, barely having time to recover from the last orgasm before more waves engulf me. He quickens his pace, pounding in and out, around and around as my inside clench him into me.
‘Fuck!’ Nate growls and shudders his release, collapsing on top of me, pushing me into the mattress. ‘What the fuck,’ he lifts onto his elbows to relieve me of his weight. ‘I feel about thirteen years old,’ he complains, ‘can’t control my dick!’
I giggle, exhaustedly. ‘Bloody hell, Nate,’ I pant, ‘I’ve had more orgasms in the past twelve hours than I have in the past twelve months,’ I express, tiredly.
‘You woke me up, beautiful,’ his lips find the crook of my neck. ‘There I was, in the land of nod, when some siren decides she wants to suck my dick dry.’
‘It’s a good dick,’ I comment.
He chuckles, his body shaking with amusement, ‘you got two hours until you have to leave for the airport, you want to get some shut eye?’ he pulls out of me, ‘or you want to clean up and explore some more?’
********
Thankfully, by the time I arrive back in Krystal, the paperwork I had been waiting for had arrived. I had my social security number and the relevant licenses to work the salon, a way of clawing back some of the unforeseen expenses I had faced when moving into Ollie’s. If I could earn some money while waiting for answers, it meant I could stay longer.
Nate was still in Boston, having more to investigate, but he had driven me to the airport and kissed me senselessly in the car, before notifying me he would be back in Krystal mid-week.
I spend the weekend preparing the salon for opening on Monday morning. I hadn’t confided in anyone my intended plans for the salon, in case there was a problem with the paperwork, and now wonder if I should have put out some fliers to alert potential clients of my existence.
Krystal operated by word of mouth; I figured that all it would take is to open the doors and offer an inexpensive introductory price, and hopefully clients would come running. Krystal itself didn’t have a woman’s salon, so I would entice the women in with the pure fact that I was on their doorstep.
I appear at Ellie’s Sunday lunchtime, craving some girlie company and good food, and knowing Ellie will satisfy that hankering.
‘Hey, girl!’ She grins, as I enter the doorway. She comes forward and hugs me tight, ‘I’ve missed your funny accent, how did the funeral go?’ She guides me to my table and sits opposite me.
‘Sad, but okay,’ I nod, wondering whether she was aware of Nate’s intention to join me. ‘But best of all, it’s over,’ I state. ‘Thank you for your support El’s,’ I send her a heartfelt smile. ‘You have been so kind to me, and I want you to know how much I appreciate your friendship.’
‘Jesus, girl, you dying or something?’ Ellie’s eyebrows raise to the ceiling.
I giggle, ‘I mean it, thank you.’
She waves a hand, dismissing my gratitude. ‘You hungry?’
&n
bsp; ‘Starving,’ I admit. ‘What’s the special?’
‘Meatloaf?’ she asks.
‘Fuck, no! Looks like dog food,’ I twist my mouth disapprovingly. ‘I’ll have breakfast if I may, pancakes and eggs?’
‘Cheeky bitch!’ She calls, but smiles as she makes her way to the kitchen. ‘Soda?’
‘Diet, please,’ I call.
‘Light!’ she corrects me.
‘Jesus fuck, woman,’ I roll my eyes.
Ellie giggles, ‘someone’s been around my brother for an extended amount of time,’ she winks.
Yeah, she knows.
********
Monday morning dawns to a hot, humid day in Krystal. I am up at the crack of dawn, eager to begin the day. I dress in a short floaty, floral skirt, tank top and push my feet into my wedge sandals before I prepare a breakfast of muesli and yoghurt.
I had called through an order to Ollie’s supplier, but he wouldn’t entertain me as a customer until I settled Ollie’s overdue account, which reluctantly I did. I was beginning to haemorrhage money just paying off a few of my brother’s debts, and it was now becoming crucial that I bring some money in rather than continually pay out. I had a substantial savings account, thankfully, due to the success of my own business, but that would only last for so long.
Anxiety curls in my stomach as I open the doors to Ollie’s salon. I put the flex sign on the pavement, or sidewalk in the United States, and pull down the awning that covers the front of the shop. I’m set to go.
I watch with baited breath as the town begins to wake and people pass by curiously peering inside the barbershop. I wonder what they make of me opening my dead brother’s business.
‘Morning Ma’am,’ the police officer enters the shop and glances around suspiciously. I imagine this must be Frank, who was the first person I met in Krystal, on the night I arrived.
‘Good morning,’ I call, pleasantly. ‘Are you looking for a haircut,’ I ask, cheekily.
His lips twitch, ‘not today, Ma’am. I noticed the paperwork approving your license to trade here, thought I would pass by and introduce myself. Officer Frank White, Ma’am,’ he tips the hat of his uniform.
‘Oh, how sweet of you,’ I smile, holding out my hand. ‘No more of this Ma’am business, Officer White,’ I tease, ‘Sophie Parker.’
He grasps my hand and squeezes it lightly, ‘pleased to meet you, Miss Parker.’
‘Sophie, please,’ I send him one of my most dazzling smiles.
‘Sophie,’ he nods. ‘No customers?’
‘Not yet, I guess it’s early days,’ I shrug. ‘If you could pass on the word that I am open for business, I’d appreciate it,’ I asked boldly.
‘Sure will, Ma’am,’ he nods, this time I don’t correct him. I guess he feels more comfortable calling me Ma’am. ‘Anything you need now, you call the sheriff’s office, you hear?’
‘Of course, and thank you, Officer White,’ I call him, but he’s already walking out of the door.
An hour later, a tornado, in the form of a very pretty sapphire eyed woman, enters, ‘what the fuck, Sophie Parker,’ Ellie calls, standing before me with her hands planted firmly on her hips.
‘What?’ I puzzle. Shit! Maybe she didn’t know about Nate and me and has just found out.
‘You have to learn to communicate better, since when are you opening your brother’s salon?’ She speaks in an accessory tone.
‘What?’ I garble, shocked by the fury on her expression.
‘You don’t think it’s polite to inform your girls that you are opening your brother’s salon?’ She questions, ‘Does Nate know?’
‘No, and no,’ I respond, blandly.
‘Honey, if people don’t know you are opening, how are people gonna know you have opened?’ She expresses as if I am a five-year-old child.
‘Word of mouth,’ I inform her, scowling towards her.
‘Word of whose mouth?’ She splutters, ‘you don’t tell anyone, how can they spread it?’
‘It’ll get about, by tomorrow the whole of Krystal will know,’ I scoff.
She frowns, ‘right!’ Swivelling on her heels, she exits as promptly as she entered, leaving me dumbfounded.
An hour later, a group of six girls, three of them I met at the Karaoke bar a couple of weeks ago, enter the salon in a waft of perfume.
‘Hey doll,’ Beth announces, hugging me swiftly into her bosom. ‘Me and my girls need to make some hair appointments, is that cool?’
‘Of course,’ I grab the diary, awaiting their requirements. I booked the girls for their various trims, styling and colours and two of them asked whether I did manicures. I decide on the spot that I would go where the work takes me and mentally order a nail table for the front of the shop, along with the products I require. ‘Yeah, I can do that,’ I nod.
‘Great! She does beauty, girls,’ she calls over to the others who are busy admiring the figure of Detective Johnson, from the front window as he walks up the street toward the shop.
‘No way!’ One of them explodes. I then proceed to book in manicures and pedicures and hoped and prayed I could get a swift order from Ollie’s supplier.
Detective Johnson enters the shop and takes in the gaggle of women.
‘Ladies,’ he purrs, confidently and they almost melt on the spot. They all respond to his greeting with a girly, ‘Hi,’ as they touch their already immaculate hair. Detective Johnson is clearly considered a catch.
He is a looker, without a doubt, all blonde and surfer dude with his green eyes and luscious lips. Not Nate, dark and dangerous, a different genre of gorgeousness. His eyes move directly to Beth, and he provides her a sexy smile of her own. She flushes, her eyes lighting at his arrival. It looks like there’s mutual appreciation between them.
‘Hello, Detective Johnson,’ I smile, welcomingly. ‘You need a trim?’
He runs a hand through his blonde locks, ‘actually, I probably could do with a bit off,’ he states. ‘But, that isn’t why I am here,’ he grins.
‘Oh, okay,’ I glance over at the girls who are almost dribbling at the sight before them.
Beth calls, ‘we should go,’ and hustles the girls out. ‘Tomorrow, at three?’ Beth checks over her shoulder at me.
‘Tomorrow at three,’ I confirm, with a wave, before turning my attention back to Detective Johnson.
‘What can I do for you, Detective?’ I ask politely, ‘is there any news on Ollie’s investigation?’
‘Not directly,’ he points to a leather chair sat in front of one of the workstations.
‘Of course, please,’ I invite, sitting my backside on the edge of the adjacent chair, anxiety stirring my middle.
‘Brad,’ he smiles, ‘the name, Brad.’
‘Oh okay,’ I relax slightly, surely if it were something of major importance, Brad wouldn’t be so chilled. ‘Please, call me Sophie,’ I insist.
‘Okay, Sophie. I just wanted to check on a few things. Nate was hoping to be able to have a chat about this with you himself, but is up to his eyes in shit in Boston,’ he updates me.
‘Is he okay?’ I ask, my insides tightening at the possibility that this has something to do with my dad and the funeral.
‘He’s ace,’ he assures me, ‘Nate told you about your brother’s habits?’
‘Drug habits, yeah,’ I nod, patiently.
‘Just for peace of mind, more than anything, we are going to be keeping an eye on the property,’ he glances around the salon, ‘both down here and the apartment upstairs.’
‘Keep an eye out?’ I echo.
‘Yeah, drivebys, dropping by to make sure all is cool. Nate suggested we fill you in beforehand rather than spook you, that okay by you?’ He quizzes, positively.
‘I guess,’ my brain is racing one hundred to the dozen. ‘Why?’ I finally ask.
‘Why?’ He repeats.
‘Why do you feel the need to drive by and drop in?’ I elaborate, suddenly feeling very apprehensive.
He sends me a measuring
glance for a moment before responding, ‘your brother was into drugs, Sophie,’ he announces, ‘with drugs comes dealers, you get me?’
‘I think so,’ I mumble.
‘Oliver owed some of those dealers a hoard of cash,’ he explains, carefully.
‘You think one of those dealers killed my brother because he owed them money,’ I finally comprehend the necessity for protection.
‘It’s a possibility. Nate wants you kept safe,’ he confides.
‘I thought Nate was working with his own people,’ I relay the information Brad gave me last week.
He nods, ‘that’s correct, his people are in Denver, Eli is in Denver working from a different angle,’ he confides, ‘I’m here, I will protect you until the time comes you don’t need protecting, or Nate does it himself.’
‘Okay, do we know how long this protection is going to last?’ I question.
‘Until we feel you are no longer under any threat,’ he expresses, ‘maybe I’ll grab a cut while I’m here.’ He spins in the chair and regards his reflection in the mirror opposite. ‘I imagine once the word gets out the stunning Brit will run her hands through your hair, for a price, every guy in Krystal will be visiting your salon,’ he compliments me, although I know he is purposely distracting me.
I force a smile and stand, ‘of course, come over to the basin,’ I encourage, automatically.
As I wash the soft hair of Detective Brad Johnson, my mind whirls with different scenarios, each one spooking me more than last.
‘Sophie,’ Brad interrupts my thoughts.
‘Yeah?’ I glance down to his handsome face regarding me, upside down, as he lays back against the shiny white ceramic sink.
‘Don’t overthink things, this is purely a precaution,’ his voice is strong, I almost believe him.
‘So, I’m currently under threat?’ I whisper.
‘Precautionary,’ he announces, with more feeling.
‘Okay,’ I smile down.
By the end of the day, I had almost forgotten the consideration that I may be in some danger. Instead, I have been inundated with walk in clients, mainly men from the sheriff’s office, and it has to be said, there are some mighty fine looking men in the Krystal police department.
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