God, I wanted that. No, that wasn’t entirely true. I wanted that with Alamo, but he wanted Parker. They always want Parker. Which was fine. I loved Parker too. She was perfect. Dark hair, model body, giant green eyes. Everything I wasn’t.
That didn’t mean I thought I was less than. We were just different. I was tall, about five-foot-eight, I had long, red hair, and I was a big girl...as my mother said, in body and personality. I owned that. I don’t think I could be a skinny girl even if I tried. I’d done the fad diets, worked out like a mad woman, and taken pills that offered rapid weight loss, but it didn’t stick. I was way more Ashley Graham (according to Sparky’s woman Poppy) than Kate Moss and that suited me just fine.
Don’t get me wrong, I did have days where I wished I was more of the “ideal” (like when Alamo was chatting up Parker...I wanted to be her. I wanted to be what he wanted), but the thought would come and then I’d shake it off and be back to my normal, confident self.
Which leads me to today. I’d woken up on the wrong side of the bed, after having sexy as hell dreams of Alamo going down on me, and I was back to feeling insecure. Probably because we’d just been at another get-together at the club and I’d spent the entire time watching Alamo...and Parker.
Damn it!
I forced my thoughts aside and gave myself another pep talk. I had a salon to run. I didn’t have time to moon over some sexy as fuck biker.
I gave my perfect, precious (and sometimes psycho) cat, Scruffy, a quick cuddle then grabbed my purse and headed to my car.
I had a few appointments today, but my schedule was light so that I could leave early to join Parker and Willow for dinner and a movie. I loved owning my own business. I’d worked hard to get here, having chosen a route unlike my brother and my sister.
My father was a prominent doctor in town and both my siblings had followed in his footsteps, but I’d always had a flair for the dramatic and a passion for beauty and fashion, so instead of going to medical school, I took business and cosmetology classes (along with sewing courses), then set about building an empire for myself. So far, I had a very successful salon and had just started looking at properties across town to open a second. I loved my life and was really proud of what I’d accomplished.
Walking into the salon, I disarmed the alarm and turned on all the lights before locking my purse up and unlocking the front door. I headed to the reception area and powered up the computer just as the bell rang indicating a customer.
Which was weird, considering I didn’t have a client this early.
I glanced up and stalled. Okay, my lungs stalled, but my girl bits reacted with a violence I’d never experienced before. Lordy, I needed relief. Immediately. “Hi,” I managed to squeak out.
“Hey, Firefly,” Alamo said with his southern Texas drawl that caused my womb to contract as I yearned for his baby to grow in my belly.
God.
Yum.
Firefly.
I didn’t know why he called me that, but I loved it. So did my vagina. I bit my lip. “What...um...what can I do for you?”
“Was wonderin’ if you had time for a haircut.”
My first appointment wasn’t for an hour. I absolutely had time for a haircut, but I was a little confused as to why he’d driven into downtown Savannah for a forty-two-dollar haircut...not that I would charge him that much money, but he could head to a local chain for less than twenty bucks.
“Ah, sure. I can do that,” I said, and stepped from behind the desk.
He nodded. “’Preciate it.”
I led him to my chair and he settled his big body into it. “Do you want the works?”
He grinned at me in the mirror. “I always want the works, baby.”
I shook my head, trying to bite back a smile. “I’ve heard that about you.”
He laughed and I led him over to one of the sinks. After washing his hair, I led him back to my chair and covered him with the cape. “How short?”
“Trim,” he said.
I found myself relaxing. He had glorious hair and the thought of cutting it off didn’t sit well with me.
“You comin’ on Saturday?” he asked as I worked.
“What’s Saturday?”
“Drinks and pool at Barney’s.”
“I actually have plans, but that sounds like fun. Give me more notice next time and I’ll try and make it.” I didn’t have plans, technically, but Barney’s wasn’t really my jam, so rather than insulting one of his favorite hang-outs (along with the entire club), I bent the truth a little. “Is Parker going?”
“How would I know if Parker was goin’?”
I shrugged, forcing a smile. “Figured you asked her already is all.”
He studied me, but I dropped my head and focused back on his hair, running my fingers through it one last time to check length. I met his eyes in the mirror again and smiled. “How does that look?”
“Looks great, babe.” I grabbed a hand-held mirror and showed him the back, but he just nodded and said, “You do good work, Firefly.”
“Thanks.” I moved to his beard, but he stayed my hand.
“No one touches the beard, babe.”
I smiled. “Well, you’re no fun.”
He chuckled and I removed the cape and shook it out, while Alamo slid out of the chair.
He pulled a fifty out of his wallet, but I pushed his hand away. “On the house, Mo.”
“Don’t work that way,” he said.
“I’m not taking your money, buddy,” I insisted.
He raised an eyebrow, dropping the cash on the reception desk. “Keep the change, baby.”
He walked out and I shook my head. “Stubborn, gorgeous...”
“Who are you talking to?”
I whipped my head up to see Parker walking in. She was my first appointment.
“No one.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Did I just see Alamo climb on his bike and ride off?”
I nodded.
“You okay?”
“I’m great.” I forced a smile. “I just have to sweep up and then I’ll be ready. Want some coffee?”
“I’ll get it,” she said.
“I just brewed a pot, so it’s fresh.”
Parker headed to the break room and I finished sweeping up Alamo’s hair. She returned with a cup for both of us and plopped herself into my chair.
“Are you going on Saturday?” I asked, sipping my coffee.
“What’s on Saturday?”
“Pool and beer at Barney’s.”
“Um, no.” She wrinkled her nose. “Are you?”
I chuckled. “No. Alamo asked if I was going...I figured he’d have asked you.”
“Why would he ask me?”
“Because he wants you.”
Parker raised an eyebrow. “Come again?”
“He’s always all over you at the get-togethers.”
Parker did a spit-take...like a bonafide spit take. “What?”
“What, what?” I asked, handing her some tissues.
She set her cup on the counter and laughed. “Ohmigod, you beautiful, beautiful woman. You are so, so pretty.”
I frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means, you’re very pretty...not so smart, but super pretty.”
I rolled my eyes. “He is all over you...every time we’re at the compound.”
“Yeah...asking about you.”
“What?” I squeaked.
“That man might be considered brooding, but he’s really good at grilling for information, and the only topic he’s ever interested in is you.”
“Shut up,” I rasped.
She swiveled her chair to face me. “You like him.”
“My vagina does, yes...jury’s still out on if it’s just lust or something else.”
Parker giggled. “Well, you’re both in the same place.”
“His vagina’s lusting after me?”
“Yes, yes, it is.”
“Weirdo?”
/> “That man is primed and ready for some Jazz...not to be confused with jizz—”
“Parker!” I admonished.
She shrugged. “Whatever. He’s primed and you won’t even have to work for it.”
I couldn’t stop a giggle as I shook my head. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Maybe so, but I’m not wrong.”
“Okay, change of subject,” I said, setting my coffee down. “What am I doing to you today?”
As Parker gave me in-depth instructions on how she wanted her hair cut and dried, I allowed part of my mind to imagine Alamo primed and ready for me. God, that would be amazing.
* * *
Alamo
Fuck me, this woman was gonna be a challenge. I was still tryin’ to figure out if the challenge would be worth it as I walked into her fancy-ass salon, but then I saw her and all those questions were forgotten. Jasmine Buckley was a fuckin’ knockout. She was tall and curvy, had big blue eyes, and the most glorious red hair I’d ever seen. All I wanted to do was wrap it around my hand as I fucked her ’til she screamed...this thought made it difficult to focus, but it was no less the truth.
I’d first noticed her at Willow’s dad’s funeral. I doubt she saw me, but I clocked her the second she walked in. She was playin’ referee with Willow’s ex-douche of a fiancé and she was takin’ her role seriously. She wouldn’t let him anywhere near Willow, and since Brad Aljets was a total asshole, I was ready to jump in if he got nasty with her, but it hadn’t been necessary. She “handled” him perfectly.
When she walked into a get-together with her friend, I knew I needed to get a little information about her...and endear myself to her friend...in order to figure out my next move.
Apparently, it didn’t work.
She’d cut my hair and refused my money, which pissed me off. I didn’t ask for shit I couldn’t afford, but then she’d called me ‘Mo,’ and I’d had to stop myself from kissing her stupid right then and there.
The shit truth was, Jasmine didn’t seem interested, even though I know Parker dug me (and Willow adored me), so now I planned to back off. If Jasmine wanted me, she’d have to give me some indication. I didn’t chase anyone I couldn’t catch.
* * *
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Piper Davenport writes from a place of passion and intrigue, combining elements of romance and suspense with strong modern-day heroes and heroines.
She currently resides in pseudonymia under the dutiful watch of the Writers Protection Agency.
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The Longing (Dogs of Fire: Wolfpack, #2) Page 20