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Chapter Seven
I am sitting at the reception desk of the salon, having closed the doors for the day. I have cashed up my day’s takings, which although don’t compare to my London salon, aren’t too shabby at all considering. I have processed the order for the beauty equipment I require for my upcoming appointments and am just debating dinner when my mobile phone rings.
‘Hello,’ I sing into the phone, half expecting Shauna to reply. She had recently begun to call me during the night from London, while she was feeding Emily-Jane.
A deep voice purrs down the phone, ‘I hear the entire Krystal police department is sporting a new hairstyle.’ Nate.
I smile, ‘you hear right, you feeling a tad left out?’
‘A tad? Fuck London, you come out with some expressions,’ he chuckles.
‘You still in Boston,’ I test, my lips stretching to a smile.
‘Yeah, has to be said, babe, your dad is a dick,’ he growls.
‘Agreed,’ I sigh, ‘he giving you a hard time?’
‘Nothing I can’t deal with, so you putting down roots, London?’ Nate enquires, softly.
It takes me a minute to ascertain he is referring to me opening Ollie’s salon. ‘No, although I figured if I’m staying a while, I may as well earn some cash while I am here. I didn’t envisage having to settle my brother's outstanding bills on arrival,’ I mutter, disappointedly.
‘I’m sorry you got dragged into all this, babe,’ Nate purrs.
‘You have to take the bad with the good in families, I guess,’ I sigh.
‘Had much good?’ Nate probes.
I contemplate his question for a few seconds, ‘Yeah, Ollie and I had a good time last summer, and waiting for his weekly calls made me somehow believe I belonged somewhere.’ Embarrassment flows to my cheeks at my candidness; this wasn’t me, I didn’t confide in virtual strangers, even if we did share bodily fluids. ‘Sorry,’ I brighten, ‘I’m not normally such an over-sharer.’
‘Hey, you share away,’ he encourages, kindly.
‘You have a lovely phone voice,’ I flirt, as his tone sends tremors through my body, bringing to the fore memories of our shared night together.
‘Yeah,’ his voice drops to an even lower tone, ‘where are you?’
‘In the salon,’ I smile.
‘Maybe I’ll call back later when you are in bed,’ his voice is gravelly, and I feel a stirring between my legs.
‘Maybe you should,’ I advise him gently.
‘Jesus, fuck!’ he growls, and I giggle.
‘Brad, popped by today,’ I guess he already knows this, but I am attempting to change the subject, to prevent me from having a spontaneous orgasm on the spot.
‘Yeah, you okay with everything?’ His tone alters to one of concern.
‘I guess so. I can’t say I’m not altogether slightly panicked,’ I confess.
‘There’s nothing to panic over, I'm just being over-cautious,’ he relays, seriously.
‘You think they are going to come after me, for payment?’ I voice the fear that had crashed through my imagination the moment Brad had informed me I would be under the protection of the police department.
‘No, Sophie. If the motive were money owed, the debt would have been wiped on Ollie’s death,’ he updates me. ‘Maybe I want you safe, so that the images that are currently flashing through my mind, can be made a reality.’
‘The images?’ I whisper, my body covering with goosebumps.
‘Oh yeah,’ he breathes. ‘All the different ways I want to fuck you,’ he growls, ‘and London, there are a lot of ways I want to fuck you.’
‘Yeah?’ I tease.
‘Fuck, yeah!’ I hear so much promise in his words that my stomach flip-flops at the vision.
‘I thought we decided, we were going to keep things cool,’ I remind him.
On the drive to the airport a few days ago, Nate had expressed that it would be easier, for the investigation, if no one was aware of our intimacy. For an instance, ice ran through my veins, at the probability of being just a convenient fuck. As if he sensed the drop in temperature within the car, he had turned to me and informed me, in no uncertain terms, that it was temporary and was intended purely for him to continue with the investigation. I had nodded, as I gazed casually out of the window, and informed him that it was no big deal as I would be going home to London when the investigation had reached its conclusion, anyhow. He had then pulled into a parking space and kissed the living daylights out of me, before returning his attention to the road.
‘I don’t remember agreeing to cooling things,’ his voice holds an edge.
‘Nate, we agreed that no one could know about the other night, a conflict of interest, remember?’ I respond dryly.
‘I never agreed to cool things,’ he repeats, stubbornly.
‘Semantics!’ I sigh.
‘I’ll be back in Krystal on Wednesday,’ he announces, ‘in the meantime, don’t over think, but stay alerted, yeah?’
‘Yeah,’ that unease I first experienced at Brad’s explanation of why I was on the police department's radar, reappears.
‘Detective Johnson,’ Nate states.
‘Detective Johnson?’ I echo, confusedly.
‘I got to worry about Detective Johnson?’ he asks, gently, ‘or Brad?’ He over-emphasizes his Christian name.
‘He told me to call him, Brad,’ I argue. ‘You are so jealous,’ I grin down the phone.
‘Baby never experienced jealousy in my life, I have, however, recently experienced the best fuck of my life. Don't want anyone else experiencing that, you get me?’ The command in his voice sends fire through my veins.
‘The best fuck of your life?’ I repeat, dumbly.
‘Wasn’t it for you?’ He tests, ‘Because, London, if there’s more, I have to tell you, don’t know if I’ll survive it.’
‘Jesus, fuck!’ I whisper, Nate laughs, and he laughs loud.
I grin, huge.
‘Got to go, beautiful,’ he purrs when the loud booming sound of his laughter subsides. ‘Wednesday. Don’t make any plans; you’re mine.’
My insides tumble at his possessive demand. ‘I’ll see what I can do,’ I answer, breathily.
‘Make it happen, London,’ then he is gone.
********
The following morning, I wake early and take a walk up to Ellie’s to have breakfast with her before the salon opens. I hug her hard, thanking her for sending her girls in to make appointments, and she waves me away stating she would be in today for a cut and blow dry and for me to let her know a convenient time. She also expressed how she wasn’t doing me any favours and her girls are fed up with having to drive into the next town to have their pampering sessions.
The day is busy; evidently the word has circulated that I am open for business and people walk in throughout the day to either make an appointment or to sit and wait for a slot. A few of the clients are curious to meet me and ask about Ollie, others just genuinely want a haircut.
I notice the police vehicles drive by the salon, and Brad pops in on a couple of occasions for a coffee and a chat, but all their appearance does is remind me that someone, probably Nate, thinks that there could be severe consequences to Ollie’s former behaviour.
It’s as I am finishing blow drying Ellie’s hair out, later that afternoon, something occurs to me. I turn off the hairdryer and Ellie questioning eyes meet mine in the mirror.
‘I keep meaning to ask about Simon,’ I frown. Every time he appears in my mind, I seem to be alone and unable to ask someone.
‘Simon?’ Ellie asks.
‘Yeah, where does he fit into all this?’ I tease Ellie’s dark hair and reach for the hairspray, ‘where did he disappear to? No one seems to know, but at the same time, no one seems to care? Doesn’t he have family, people that are worried about him?’ I glance at Ellie’s impassive expression. ‘Why don’t you like him?’
‘He was a weasel,’ she twists her lips i
n disgust. ‘He emerged out of nowhere and changed Ollie overnight,’ she concludes. ‘No one cares, because no one cares, Sophie. The guy was trouble with a capital T.’
‘Why did Ollie allow himself to be so easily led?’ I ask, confused. Ollie never gave me the impression he was naive.
‘Love will do that to you,’ she smiles, ironically.
‘Love?’ I gasp.
‘Yeah,’ Ellie frowns, ‘you know Simon was Ollie’s boyfriend, right?’
I drop my hand from her hair, ‘Ollie was gay?’ I state, blandly.
‘You didn’t know your brother was gay?’ Ellie’s eyebrows hit her hairline.
‘Why didn’t he tell me?’ I ask, disappointment searing through me, ‘why didn’t he tell me?’ I repeat, attempting to make sense of my brother’s secret life. ‘I don’t judge, it makes no difference to me,’ I mutter, my inside tightening with discontent.
‘I’m sorry, doll,’ Ellie turns in her chair. ‘I thought you knew,’ she explains.
‘Well, I feel like a prize idiot,’ I exhale a breath. ‘What kind of sister am I, I didn’t even know my brother was gay?’
‘Honey,’ Ellie soothes, ‘don’t beat up on yourself, Ollie was battling something deeper than being gay; drug addiction is all encompassing.’
‘How do you know?’ I ask confusedly, my mind flickering with people’s responses to Simon when I had asked. Everyone knew he was Ollie’s boyfriend, everyone but me.
A darkness enters her gaze, ‘my high school boyfriend overdosed the night of our prom,’ she murmurs, quietly.
‘Ellie,’ I hum, ‘I’m so sorry.’ I take a deep breath, ‘fuck, what am I doing here?’ I question. ‘I fly half way around the world to be supportive to my only sibling, even in death, to find out I knew absolutely nothing about him!’
‘This isn’t personal to you, Soph,’ Ellie stands and embraces me tightly. ‘This isn’t a reflection on you, this is all on Ollie,’ she states. ‘You are the best sister anyone could be and he was lucky to have you.’
‘No,’ I step out of Ellie’s embrace, feeling decidedly foolish. ‘I’m not, my life’s one big fuck up.’
‘Come on Soph,’ Ellie calls gently.
‘I’ll be fine, I just need to get my head around it,’ I assure her, moving to the broom set in the corner.
‘I know you will,’ she smiles, affectionately. ‘I love the hair, what do I owe you?’ She reaches for her purse.
‘Nothing,’ I shake my head, adamantly.
‘Oh, no!’ she begins.
‘That one was a welcome to Ollie’s, the next one is on you,’ I recite her words of that first meal I ate in the diner.
She grins, ‘Thanks, doll, you sure you’re okay?’ She checks. I assure her I will be fine, and she departs the salon, leaving me to deal with my emotions alone.
********
I lay awake for hours debating on whether to cut and run, or stay and face the fact that my brother showed me a side of himself that may not have been entirely genuine. I feel betrayed by him concealing the reality of his life. He could have come to me; I would have helped find him a rehab placement, helped him get his life back on track. The truth was, he didn’t trust me enough.
Nate calling! My screen flashes at just after six, the following morning.
I had stumbled out of bed an hour ago concluding that nothing was being achieved by me laying in the bed tossing and turning. I had gone for a run to try to clear my mind, it hadn’t worked, but it felt good to have a workout.
‘Hey!’ I call, softly.
‘Hey babe,’ my stomach somersaults at the endearment.
‘Everything okay?’ I test.
‘Just going to ask you the same. Ellie called, said you were upset yesterday,’ he confides, ‘I didn’t know you were in the dark about Ollie and Simon,’ he confesses.
‘It’s pretty poor that I know zero about my brother, right?’ I sigh.
‘London,’ he hums.
‘No, it’s okay,’ I swallow the lump in my throat. ‘I don’t know what I’m doing here, Nate,’ I admit.
‘You are doing the right thing by your brother, Sophie,’ he notifies me.
‘That’s what I intended to do when I came here but now, I’m not so sure. Maybe it’s time to give up and go home.’
‘Don’t you want to know why what happened, happened?’ He asked, his voice tight. Why the hell was he pissed?
‘It looks as if my brother living beyond his means was a prize contributor,’ I scoff, ‘Oh, and his heavy drug habit.’ I answer, sardonically.
I hear Nate exhale a deep breath, ‘don’t make any knee-jerk decisions, Sophie,’ he warns.
‘I’m not,’ I contend. The line remains silent for a beat, something unpleasant seemingly hanging between us.
‘I take it you’ll be there when I get back tonight?’ he finally asks, offhand.
‘Why are you pissed at me?’ I ask, bewildered by his attitude.
‘Will you be there, Sophie?’ He ignores me.
‘Yes!’ I snap, emotion filling my chest.
‘Gotta go,’ and he disconnects the call leaving me stunned by his coldness.
********
I am in Ellie’s, enjoying my dinner when he arrives. As cliché as it sounds, I sense his entrance, my body tingling in recognition. I am wearing a short, floral jumpsuit and my customary wedge heels, my legs swinging against the stool under the counter as I chat to Ellie.
I watch her face light in greeting as his warmth hits my back.
‘Hey Nate,’ Ellie greets her brother.
‘Hey sis, could do with some food,’ my body tightens as he brushes past me to the stool beside me.
‘Sure, meatloaf?’ she tempts.
‘Great!’ He nods. I turn to face him, my eyes guarded.
‘Hi,’ I mutter, my eyes connecting to his gloriously blue pools of deliciousness.
I watch his eyes warm in front of me. ‘Hey, still here then?’ He murmurs for my ears only. I nod, is that what he’s pissed about? ‘Is that what you wear to work?’ He glances down to my bare thighs before returning his gaze to my face.
‘Yep!’ I stiffen my spine.
‘No wonder the salon is full,’ he mumbles, under his breath.
‘Exactly what is your problem?’ I snap over to him.
He runs a hand through his hair, ‘nothing, forget it.’
‘Forget what, Nate?’ I hold my palms up in a defensive gesture. ‘You think one night of fucking gives you the authority to tell me what to wear to work, or how long I get to stay?’ I question, just as Ellie approaches the counter with her brother’s meal.
She freezes mid-pace, the plate raised in the air, her eyes flickering from one to the other of us.
‘Err, I’ll just leave that here,’ she positions the plate in front of Nate and scurries off into the kitchen.
Nate turns his dark gaze to mine.
‘What?’ I almost growl. ‘Bloody hell, Nate, use your words,’ I scold him.
His lips twitch.
‘You are the most frustrating man on the planet,’ I drop my fork and grab my purse, determined to end this exasperating conversation.
‘London!’ He calls.
I slip off of the stool and turn towards the door. A pair of strong hands prevent me from taking another step as they grasp my hips and I am propelled back against a hard chest.
‘Easy tiger,’ he murmurs, softly, before turning me in between his legs until I am face to face with him as he sits on the stool, his arms tight around my middle.
‘Let go,’ I hiss, ‘people will see,’ I remind him.
‘Yeah, I’ve rethought that plan, it doesn’t work for me,’ he remarks, casually.
‘What plan?’ I try to distract from the burning sensations of his body against mine.
‘To keep things low key, I’ve decided I need to stake my claim,’ his arms pull me closer until his mouth is almost at my neck.
I glance down, ‘stake your claim?’
‘Yep!’ His eyes are soft and playful.
‘I’m not a possession, Nate,’ I remind him.
‘Yeah, see we disagree there, do you know how many of the guys in the station want to fuck you?’ He asks, seriously.
I push against his shoulders for him to release me, but he doesn’t budge.
‘I heard them talking about how they want those long, lean legs of yours wrapped around their shoulders while they taste you,’ he whispers, huskily. My body immediately responds to his smooth, seductive tone. I glance down at his lips, aching for them to touch mine. ‘I want to pummel their faces for talking about my woman in that manner, but with the former plan, that isn’t possible. I am changing the plan; everyone needs to know you belong to me, Sophie.’
‘Nate,’ I whisper.
‘Kiss me,’ he demands.
‘Not here,’ I breathe.
‘Here,’ he commands me, his palm moving over my backside and down until it reaches bare skin. His thumb strokes gently on the outside of my thigh, my sex clenches and my breathing hitches. That’s all it takes, one stroke and I am putty in his hands.
‘Now, Sophie,’ he whispers.
I cup his jaw, my thumb brushing the stubble on his chin, ‘I want this on my thighs,’ I mumble, as my lips touch his. I don’t know whether there is anyone that is the least bit interested in Nate or me, but I do know right then I would have fucked him on the counter top with them watching. I dart my tongue out to trace a line across his bottom lip before nibbling gently. I feel a hiss of his breath exhale from his lips as he opens up and accepts everything I have to offer. Our tongues tangle, my hand forks his hair and brings him deeper into me.
How long the kiss lasts, I haven’t a clue? All I do know is that is wasn’t me that slowed it down to a soft butterfly kiss on my lips.
‘Jesus fuck,’ Nate growls against my lips.
‘You two gonna eat this, or each other?’ Ellie calls, from the other side of the counter.
I glance up, disorientated by the depth of desire in that one kiss, into the amused expression of Nate’s sister.
‘Err,’ I mumble.
‘Heat it up please, El,’ Nate responds. ‘Sit down, Sophie,’ he instructs.
Ellie swoops both of our plates away to reheat, while I self-consciously glance around at the watching patrons. ‘Oh my god,’ I whisper as I take a seat and sip on my Diet Pepsi and hear Nate chuckle.
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