Cut & Blow: Book 1

by Giannoccaro, Ashleigh

  Her hand is resting on my chest, right where she poked me so hard the other night. My heart thumps against it. I want her to be happy.

  “Are you crazy? You bought me the salon? You never even bought me flowers. That’s insane, Rain.” She looks shocked.

  “A thank you Rain will do.”

  I plant another soft kiss on her and she smiles against my lips, and says, “Thank you,” without pulling away.

  I hold her close to me and we just sit like this, her arms around my neck. I know I would do anything for her. I’ve already killed for her, this seems so much less significant.

  “Let’s go get breakfast, you can celebrate your new business, and we can talk about it,” I say, lifting her up in my arms as I stand.

  I can’t be too late for work and neither can she, not today.

  * * *

  At the diner we sit in her usual spot and the waitress comes along with a big smile. “We missed you on Sunday,” she greets with a friendly tone. “Shall I bring your regular?” She speaks to Ailee first, “and for your friend?” looking at me now.

  “Yes please, umm he’s my husband.” She smiles like it’s a secret she just told her best friend.

  “Oh, well congratulations. He’s not vegan like that other bloke is he?” she asks, winking at me.

  “No, I’m not vegan. I’ll have the same as Ailee. Thank you.”

  As soon as she leaves I focus on my wife, the smile she can’t wipe off her face is contagious. Smoothing a hand over my beard I lean back in the bench seat and just look at her.

  This is what I have been missing for five years. I know I did the right thing, but I can’t help regret that it ended this way. I should have got to know her.

  “So what are your plans for the salon? It’s yours now, well it will be by lunchtime.” I want to know. I can see she is happy and I want to share that with her.

  “I have no idea. I’d like to renovate the place and bring it into this decade. Maybe expand our services a little? I have too many ideas in my head right now that I can’t tell you all of them. When I took the job with Gina I told myself it was a stepping stone, and I’d have my own place one day. Now you come along and give it to me. I need a day to process it all.”

  She talks fast, bubbling with excitement and ideas. I will support her whatever she decides to do with it, since it’s my money invested in the place I have an interest.

  “You know my family use the salon for business too, you understand that Ailee?” I need her to know, and accept that, because it isn’t going to change.

  “Yes, I know you shampoo your dirty money through the books. Gina had to tell me when she promoted me.” Our coffee is placed on the table and she stops talking until the waitress is out of earshot. “It won’t be a problem, Rain. I know that is probably one of the reasons you bought it. I’m not going to be a problem, I promise.”

  She’s got a better understanding of family matters than I gave her credit for. The plates of hot, greasy breakfast food, arrive before I can say anything else, and she tucks in without giving it a second thought.

  “Rain.” She looks at me. The way she says my name makes me feel warm inside. It’s like when my mother would say it. Something that was missing is finally back. “I want to be with you. I’m staying because I want to. Not because I have to.”

  It’s like music playing in my ears. I knew she wouldn’t leave, but deep down I wanted her to want me as much as I want her. She thought I didn’t want her, she thought I left her because I wasn’t interested. I left her so that she could choose me when she was ready. I know that I went about things wrong, and forced her hand a little. We both needed that push over the edge to land where we are meant to be.

  “I always wanted you, Ailee.” I reach over and take her hand in mine, fidgeting with her wedding ring. “I just didn’t know how to tell you. I’m not good with people, this doesn’t come naturally to me.” It doesn’t. I have no idea how to deal with people, I somehow always come across as crazy or scary. “I’m very happy that you want to stay with me. I didn’t buy the salon to bribe you though. I just wanted to do something for you, something nice.”

  That naughty twinkle is back in her eye when she says, “Next time try flowers, or lingerie.”

  I squeeze her hand and pick it up, placing a soft kiss on her knuckles. “Let’s go to work, Ailee.”

  Twenty-Seven

  Extensions

  AILEE

  Rain walks me into the salon and waits for Gina to come out of the office, like he’s had this all planned since last night.

  She looks more ragged than normal this morning, and the death glare he gets makes me wonder if this was a hostile takeover. Shuffling to where we are standing, she claps her wrinkled hands together and whistles like she does when she wants everyone’s attention. This is why he wanted me to be early.

  “Get in here, you bunch of idiots.”

  She shouts to those still in the back. They come through chatting, and carrying on like nothing is wrong at all. Chelsey’s eyes get bigger when she sees Rain and I standing with Gina.

  “Listen up,” she says, her hoarse, old voice making it sound like a bark. “I have decided it’s my time to retire. Today is my last day with you kids. Rain and Ailee have very graciously bought the salon from me and will be taking over with immediate effect.”

  There is a mixed reaction of smiles, confused faces and even a few tears, as she walks through them and back to her office. I look at Rain, not sure what I am supposed to do. I’m bursting with excitement, but I feel sad for Gina. She’s always cared for me. He nods his head for me to follow her.

  Closing the office door behind me, I see her wiping her tears pulling out a hip flask from the drawer of her desk.

  “I didn’t know, Gina,” I say.

  I don’t want her to hate me, or be angry with me. I didn’t ask him for this at all.

  “I know Ailee, and if I’m honest I wouldn’t want anyone else to have it. I like you, and you understand them. The family, you know that part of this. I couldn’t see it go to anyone else, I’ve hung on to it for too long already.” She sits down at the desk, drinking more. “Go out there, greet your staff and make a good first impression. They are your family and I’m sure you will be more successful than I have been,. Especially with Rain backing you. I never had that, I was alone in this.”

  She’s always been so bitter and angry. I never bothered to see why. “You better still come in here to get your hair done, woman.” I try to make light of the heavy moment.

  She smiles and drains the small flask down her throat.

  “I wouldn’t dare go anywhere else.” Putting it back in the drawer, she tosses the bunch of keys at me, and says, “Go. I’m just packing a few things, then I’ll be out of here.”

  I didn’t expect her to just go right away, but I can tell she doesn’t want to stay. There is a knock before I can open the door, and Rain pokes his head inside.

  “I have to go, Ailee.” He smiles when he says it, and steps inside, closing the door behind him. He hugs me, and I feel Gina watching. “Have a good day. Albert will fetch you later and help you close up.” He kisses my cheeks and leaves us again.

  “Go Ailee. I need a minute.”

  Gina sniffs back more tears and I leave, open the door to deer eyes from everyone. They are waiting for me to say something and I don’t know what to say.

  “This all happened so fast, so I have nothing profound to say except for now it’s business as usual. So you can all get to work.” Chelsey laughs, shaking her head, and Romi looks worried. “No one will be jobless, I’m not closing the salon. So you can all wipe the worried looks off your faces. We are a team, we stay a team.”

  I leave them and go to the front to check my appointments with Alistair.

  “So you’re the boss now,” he says, while I page through his precious book.

  “Yes, and the first thing I’m doing is getting you a computer for this.” I smile and he gets overexcited.


  He’s been asking for over a year to change to an electronic booking system, but Gina thought computers were the devil.

  “Are you serious?” he asks, his voice higher than it normally is.

  “Yes. Find out what’s available.” I leave him scrambling to find his phone to start looking, and I go to the staffroom.

  I have an hour to kill before my first client. Chelsey comes in and sits down next to me.

  “This is a bit crazy,” she says. “I’m not calling you boss – ever.” We both laugh a little.

  “I was always afraid of him, Chelsey, but I understand him now. He had to cut me loose so he could come back and blow me away. And he has blown me away with this.” I still don’t really believe it. “How does manager sound to you? I can’t do this on my own, not the way I want to do it.”

  “It sounds like I’d be all important and shit. And like I’d not get into trouble either.”

  I smack her on the thigh and she gives me the eyeball. “I like your enthusiasm, but you’ll still get in trouble.” I break it to her gently. “Let’s have a smoke, I’m dying for one.”

  She crinkles her nose and shakes her head. “I’ll come with, but I’m still feeling a bit fragile. And I had a late night.” She winks.

  “You tart, you never went home did you?” I roll my eyes at her.

  “I went home,” she says as we get outside, “At about three this morning.”

  “Do old men stay up that late?”

  I like pushing her buttons. Inhaling the smoke I’ve been dying for since I woke up this morning, I laugh with my best friend about her bad taste in men. She looks pale and isn’t herself.

  “Why don’t you go home until whatever plague you’ve caught is gone?” I say. “I’ll get your clients moved around, we will cover it. But home, not to screw the granddad.”

  “I am actually going to take you up on that, I feel like death.”

  We go back inside. The smell of stale coffee and bleach hangs in the air. I look around. Rain would get a nervous twitch just being in here, it’s so messy. They can clean it up today, God, they! I don’t have to clean it. I can just tell someone else to do it.

  I smile at that idea while Chelsey grabs her bags and dashes out the back door.

  THE END OF BOOK ONE

  We will see more of Rain and Ailee as we continue to get to know the stylists working at Cut & Blow. Staring with Chelsey and Sal in BOOK TWO.

  You can pre-order it here -

  Acknowledgments

  This project was all for fun, from the cover to the story and the characters. Each book takes a team, this one had a special team.

  My husband Rick, who supports me through it all — the tears, the joy, the frustration, he is always there with love. Thank you for understanding how much my writing means and being by my side all the way.

  Poppet, this one is for you. I have grown, learned and loved every moment working with you. Your understanding, wisdom and support are treasures to me.

  Jamie Johnson, what would would I do without you? You keep me together, pick up the slack when I’m falling apart and most of all you are my friend through it all. Thank you for being the adult, so that I can just write.

  My Beta’s for this book, we went on a learning journey, doing things a new way and what fun it was! Thank you Michelle, Charlie, Vanessa, Sian, Misty, Culine and Karen. I can’t what to do it all over again #OliveOil #CockTagging will always make me laugh.

  To my special book friends who are there when I want to quit, who kick my butt, and encourage me to follow this crazy heart of mine, Di Covey and Karen Mandeville-Steer I know I wouldn’t be here without you two. Thank you, for being the best friends a writer could ask for.

  My Assassins, Thank you for coffee on Tuesdays and all the support you guys show me with every release. I hope that you all enjoy the new style ;)

  To the people at home, Monique and Winnie and everyone in our little household that tolerates my crazy, reminds me to eat and helps make sure I have the time and space to write, thank you. I’d be dead or dehydrated without you <3

  To the bloggers, PR teams and book-pimpers all over the interwebz thank you for supporting and sharing my books with the world. You guys rock!

  My readers, old and new. Without you my stories would have no home, you are the reason I keep going. Thank you, each and every one of you.

  About the Author

  Bestselling Author Ashleigh Giannoccaro writes edgy dark romance and erotic horror, self published by choice she writes the stories others don’t dare. Currently residing in Johannesburg South Africa with her husband and two daughters Ashleigh enjoys writing stories that make you fall in love with the unlovable and leave you asking questions. When not writing she can be found with her kindle in a sunny spot reading, or traveling with her family.

  You can stalk her here -

  @colourmyugly

  Ashleigh Giannoccaro

  mrsgiannoccaro.wix.com/ashleigh-giannoccaro

  agiannoccaropa@gmail.com