Jenna turned back, considering hiding in the store room until he was safely in a chair and wouldn’t see her. She knew she was blushing just thinking how she’d lusted after him in school. Drool had almost slid from her mouth every day as she’d sat two desks away from him in both English and history. But he hadn’t noticed her, ever.
Someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned, thinking for one crazy minute that it was actually Rob and he’d recognized her too.
“Your ten a.m. appointment is here,” said Alice.
“I’ll be right there.”
He’s the guy with the niece with the gum.
She had to get her act together. Maybe he wouldn’t even recognize her, and if that were the case she wouldn’t bring up the subject. Although he hadn’t paid her any notice at school, she was pretty sure he knew she had a crush on him. Everyone else did, and she was sure they told him just to make her feel more like an idiot. Jenna turned and headed out to the reception area with a smile on her face, hoping for the best.
“Hi, little lady, and what’s your name?” She crouched down so she could look at the girl and not the man with her. But that lasted all of two seconds. She took a quick peek up at Rob and her hands began shaking. Time hadn’t altered the effect he had on her.
“It’s Mollie, and I have gum in my hair,” said the girl.
“So I heard. But I’m here to help.”
She tried not to, but she looked up again and this time their eyes met.
“Jenna Pearson, is it really you?”
Wow, he remembered me and my name.
Jenna stood. “Yes. I thought I recognized you too, but I wasn’t sure.”
That’s it. Play it cool, like you’re so over your crush.
He held out his hand. She’d never touched it before. Well, that was if you didn’t count the time she’d accidentally on purpose brushed palms with him, when she’d accidentally on purpose dropped her history textbook by him as she made her way to her desk one day.
She slipped her hand into his. He had a tight, firm grip and she felt like she was back in high school all over again: Wanting him so badly, but knowing she would never have him.
Jenna didn’t move her hand … or was it Rob letting it linger? His once-curly hair was now shorter, but still had a cute wave to it. And those gorgeous, deep green eyes still made her knees wobble.
“Let’s go back to my chair and we’ll see what we can do,” Jenna said as she got hold of the girl’s hand.
Somehow, Jenna felt Rob’s eyes on her as she made her way to her station.
I should have worn my other pants and not my tatty t-shirt.
Jenna grabbed a booster seat and put it on the chair, and Rob lifted Mollie up and placed her on it.
“So how did the gum get into your hair?” she asked Mollie as she grabbed a robe.
“You want to tell Jenna?” asked Rob.
Mollie shook her head.
“She chewed a whole package after being told not to touch one piece,” said Rob.
He leaned against the counter by her station and crossed his right leg over his left at the ankles. He’d grown taller, bulkier, and the muscles in his biceps peeked out from under the short sleeves of his t-shirt.
She was blushing again, thinking about how she’d dreamed of him kissing her and more.
“Let’s take a look and see what we can do,” said Jenna, deciding it was best to just focus on work.
“I tried peanut butter but I think I made it worse,” he said.
“It’s not as easy as they’d have you believe, and this is a large wad of gum,” said Jenna, trying to gently free some strands of hair. “I think I can ease some of this out with conditioner, but I might have to cut some too.”
With that Mollie screamed and banged her feet against the edge of the booster.
“Hey, behave yourself in public,” said Rob.
“I don’t want my hair cut. I want my mommy.”
“Could I have a word with you for a second?” asked Rob, putting his hand on her arm. Jenna looked down at it resting on her skin. She’d longed to have him touch her, and who would have thought that this many years later, he’d wander into her salon and do just that.
“Mollie, I have this magazine I keep for children. Why don’t you read it while I chat with your uncle.”
Mollie took it and began flipping through the pages. Jenna and Rob walked over to the wash basins.
“Sorry about that but she’s, well, I don’t know how to explain it but she’s going through a range of emotions. My brother Paul, you might remember him, her dad, died three months ago.”
“Sure, I remember him … I’m so sorry.”
It was her turn to put her hand on his arm.
“Her mom’s had to go away on business. I’m looking after her, and it’s been tough.”
Jenna nodded. She knew what it was like to suddenly lose a parent. “How about I try something?”
“Anything would help me.”
They walked back to the station.
“Mollie, I’m going to do my very best to snip only a few pieces of hair.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise.”
“Promise double.”
“I promise you double.”
“Double, triple.”
“Mollie, that’s enough,” said Rob.
“It’s okay,” said Jenna, patting Mollie on the head. “Double, triple promise.”
“And you have to kiss Uncle Rob or it doesn’t count.”
Jenna’s nieces and nephews played the same double-triple nonsense, but never with the kissing thrown into the deal.
Rob had turned red and by the burn in her cheeks, she was pretty sure she had too.
“Do it,” said Mollie, pointing her index finger at them.
Jenna was thinking of a way out of it when Rob leaned over and kissed her, not on the cheek, but on the lips. It wasn’t a long one, just a quick peck, but Jenna felt herself floating. A feet-lifting-off-the-ground sort of feeling. Just how would her body react if it was a long kiss, a real one?
Yeah, like that’s ever going to happen.
“And today all my clients get a certificate for a free manicure and pedicure.”
“You don’t need to do that,” whispered Rob. He had his hand on her arm again. His breath had been warm, and his cologne, spicy.
“No problem. I want to,” she said, turning to face him.
He hadn’t moved an inch. She hadn’t expected him to be standing in the exact same position he’d been just a few seconds ago, but he was still right beside her and now they were looking into one another’s eyes.
“I’m hungry.” Mollie’s outburst drew them out of the gaze.
“Then how about I get on with this and you can go and eat.”
“Eddie Meal, Eddie Meal.”
“You like those too?” asked Jenna, picking up the scissors. “One of my nephews has collected all ten of the badges from the boxes.”
Jenna glanced at Rob and he winked at her.
****
Rob sat in the chair in the next station and watched as Jenna finished blow drying Mollie’s hair. She, as she’d double-triple promised, hadn’t cut much of Mollie’s hair and the pieces she had cut, she’d matched on the opposite side. His niece looked so cute. And Jenna looked so pretty.
He hoped she hadn’t realized that he’d taken his eyes off her the whole time she’d worked on Mollie’s hair. And not because he was interested in her skill as a hairdresser, but he couldn’t believe the once rake-thin girl with the awful homemade Bohemian clothes had turned into this curvy, sexy young woman. She leaned over to get the mirror to show Mollie the back of her hair, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her cute butt in the black jeans.
The guys at school would have fought over her, not made fun of her like they once had. And yes, he’d been a coward and not paid her any attention even though she’d seemed like a nice girl. Peer pressure had made him ignore her. How stupid could fri
ends be? He hoped Mollie never gave in to that.
And speaking of which, what a great sport Jenna had been about the whole silly double, triple thing.
But the kiss…
He hoped she hadn’t minded him planting it on her lips. And what would a real kiss be like? He’d love to find out.
He glanced at her left hand as she unbuttoned the robe from Mollie’s neck. He hadn’t checked for a wedding band, engagement ring…there wasn’t one.
Rob stood.
“So what do you think, Mollie?” asked Jenna.
“It’s pretty.”
She’d done a great job. Jenna had been studious, a good student, and he somehow thought she’d end up doing something academic, rather than become a hairdresser. Guess he’d been completely wrong about her.
She lifted Mollie down from the chair.
“Would you like to book your free manicure and pedicure while you’re here?” asked Jenna.
“Her mom’s back on Saturday, so I could bring her by on Friday?” asked Rob.
“Sounds perfect. Shall we say 2 p.m.?”
“I want an Eddie Meal.”
She tugged on Rob’s hand as he dug in his back pocket for his wallet.
“Nope. We are going straight home.”
He paid the receptionist and then handed Jenna ten dollars, making sure his fingers brushed her palm as he did so.
“Rob, this is too much for a tip.”
He shook his head. “I insist, because you saved the day and getting that gum out of her hair looked like a pain in the butt.”
“Then thank you, and I’ll see you again on Friday.”
He was looking forward to it, probably more than Mollie.
Chapter Three
“I want Petey.” Mollie dragged a chicken tender through the ketchup.
With the incident of the gummed hair, he’d forgotten all about the stuffed toy and his promise. Nope, he’d be honest…it wasn’t the gum that had made him forget. It was seeing Jenna again. Since they’d been to the hairdresser and returned home, he’d thought of nothing else.
“Petey. You promised.”
Mollie’s voice brought him out of the dreamlike state he’d been in since running into his former classmate.
“I know, but he’s in the hospital right now.”
Shit, he’d said the wrong thing. She squinted at him and pouted. Her daddy had also been taken to the hospital, and he had not come home.
“It’s a special one for teddy bears. It’s where they go to get well.”
She put her fork down and looked at him. “So how come daddies don’t go there?”
Digging another hole, here.
“Bears are different.”
“How?”
He could feel his hair turning white. Being a parent was taxing, and he wasn’t sure he’d be up to the task when his turn came.
“They have special fur. Now, how about some ice cream?”
She nodded. “But I want the peanut butter and chocolate kind.”
He didn’t think he could stand seeing or smelling any more peanut butter. But then he remembered the ice cream parlor was two blocks from the hair salon. He looked at his watch, wondering what time Jenna finished work. And if she was still around, would she like to have an ice cream with them? Would it seem a little pushy?
If his brother’s sudden death had taught him anything, it was that he shouldn’t second-guess anything, because sometimes you only get one chance.
“Hey, Mollie, you want to go out to the ice cream parlor for dessert?”
“Yeeeeesss,” she said, beaming.
Guess he had his answer.
****
Jenna rounded up all the dirty towels and was about to load them in the two laundry baskets when she heard a tapping on the front door. She’d turned the ‘Closed’ sign around to face the street five minutes ago, but sometimes people thought you’d reopen just to cut their hair before you dragged yourself home for the evening.
She tried to ignore it, hoping the obnoxious client would give up, but the tapping continued. Throwing down the towels, she marched out to the front of the salon, but then stopped in her tracks when she saw Rob’s gorgeous face pressed up against the glass. And it was Mollie who was doing the tapping.
She took a deep breath, wondering if there’d been another gum incident.
Jenna stepped toward the door, slid the latch to the left and then opened it.
“We wondered if you’d like to get some ice cream with us. My treat, as a thank-you for Mollie’s haircut?” asked Rob.
That had taken her by surprise. “Well, I was just heading to the laundry with the towels.”
“You can do that after.”
He smiled at her, and that pretty much convinced her she needed ice cream, and she needed it now.
“Okay. Just let me get my purse and lock up for the night.”
Jenna hurried back inside, glancing at herself in the mirror as she went by the first station. She wouldn’t have time to tidy up her hair, put on some blush, or add some lipstick. She looked back outside and saw Rob and Mollie waiting on the sidewalk. Nope, no time at all.
She got her purse and headed back out front, securing both bolts on the door as she exited.
“Does the owner make you lock up every night?” asked Rob.
“I am the owner.”
There was a look of surprise on his face, and she couldn’t quite tell if it was one of shock that she actually owned a business, or what.
“Wait a minute. Weren’t you going to be an attorney?”
He’d remembered.
“I was, but after my dad died, money was tight and I had to get a job. I thought I’d one day go to college, but instead I went to beauty school and saved up to buy this place.”
“Good for you. It’s impressive. I thought we’d go to Brown’s down the road for the ice cream. You feel like walking? Or, we can take my car.”
“Walking sounds perfect. I could do with some fresh air and exercise.”
Mollie skipped ahead as they began heading down the sidewalk.
“So, did you ever become a chemical engineer?” she asked him.
“No, I’m a graphic designer for an ad agency.”
“That sounds like fun.”
“Hurry, I’m hungry,” shouted Mollie, running ahead.
“Stop when you get to the intersection. No crossing the street without us, okay?” shouted Rob.
“She’s so much like my nieces and nephews.”
“That’s right. You had, what was it, six brothers?”
Wow, she was impressed. She’d never thought he’d paid any attention to her, who she was, or her family, but she’d been wrong.
“Yep, and they all have kids.”
“But not you…? I mean, you’re not married?”
“Been too busy.”
“Me too.”
How some woman hadn’t snared him was incredible. But he had been kind of shy at school.
“You didn’t attend the class reunion last year.”
“No. I was out of town at a conference,” said Rob. “Not that I would have gone, but you obviously did.”
“My mother convinced me everyone should go to at least one. I ended up staying for thirty minutes and that was about all I could stand.”
Rob laughed.
“So do you ever see anyone from school?” asked Jenna.
“I’ve run into a couple of guys, like Mark Hornchurch and Gary Allsop.”
“And now me.”
Mollie was waiting by the crossing as Rob got hold of her hand and checked for traffic.
They walked across the street and Mollie skipped ahead and held the door open to the ice cream shop. “I want a triple scoop,” she said when they got inside.
“You’ll never eat all that,” said Rob.
“Can too.”
They walked up to the counter. “So, what do you like?” Rob asked Jenna.
“I think Rocky Road.”
“T
hat’s what I’m ordering, too,” he said.
They found a table near the window. She and Rob sat down while Mollie looked at all the tubs of ice cream in the display. Their knees bumped, and Jenna didn’t move. Neither did Rob, and she could feel the warmth of his body creeping into her own.
“What’s that one?” Mollie asked the assistant.
“Banana Pie,” he said.
“And that one?”
“Raspberry Ripple.”
“That one?”
“Mollie, enough,” said Rob.
She turned and gave her uncle a cheeky grin.
“Look, our ice creams are here,” said Rob, pulling out a chair for her. She scooted up onto it and dived in.
“Is business good?” asked Rob.
“Yes, I got lucky and survived the recession, although a few of my regular clients eased back on how often they get services.”
“Yeah, it’s tough for lots of folks these days. I survived a major layoff at the agency.”“Uncle Rob murdered Petey,” Mollie said, completely out of the blue.
Jenna looked at Rob.
“It’s a stuffed toy,” whispered Rob.
“Is not. Petey is real, because he talks to me. Can I go and play on that machine over there?”
“I guess so.” Rob dug out some money from his pocket and handed it to her.
“So in my yearbook and under your photo, can I write Most Likely to Kill Stuffed Toys?”
Rob laughed and shook his head. “I washed him and didn’t realize her pink t-shirt was in there too. He lost an eye and leg, and I did something really stupid.”
“You mean more than that?”
“Okay, gang up on me. I promised her I’d put him back to his pristine condition. Know anything about bears?”
Jenna ran the plastic spoon around the bowl. “I can take a look at it for you.”
He put his hand on top of hers. “You’re a lifesaver. First the gum, and now you’re going to resurrect Petey.”
“I’ll try my best.”
He hadn’t taken his hand away. Not that she wanted him to.
Chapter Four
Dreaming (Romance on the Go) Page 2