by Diana Tobin
“Mom is making a delivery.” She couldn’t stop the grin thinking about who, and what, she was delivering to. “The girls are home.”
He nodded and drank his coffee. “Nettie says you cut hair.”
“I’ve been known to.” She eyed his dark shaggy locks. “Needing a trim?”
“Yeah,” he ran a hand over the back of his head. “Look, I know we didn’t get off to a good start yesterday—”
“I’m not set up for business, yet,” she said coldly. “And, the only business I’m in is the cutting and styling of hair.” Mike walked away to wait on a new customer.
Once the shop was quiet, Ethan tried again. “Look, I should apologize for yesterday.”
“Yes, you should,” she agreed as she wiped the counter.
“I was surprised to come downstairs and find…” He waved a hand toward her. “I wasn’t expecting someone to be undressed in Nettie’s coffee shop.”
“Do you normally have women undressing in front of you? You automatically expect them to jump into your bed because you snap your fingers?” She clicked hers together to demonstrate. “I believe I made my feelings clear on the subject.”
“Crystal clear. I only want a haircut not to fu—” He quickly shut his mouth.
Jamming her hands on her hips, Mike said, “Then go to a barber. I hope the bastard scalps you.”
Nettie chose that moment to return to the shop, her hair only slightly mussed and her lips bare. “Who is getting scalped?”
“Your tenant,” spit out Mike.
“Handsome, you are in need of a trim.” Nettie ran her fingers through Ethan’s locks. “Micki can have you fixed up in no time.”
“I was hoping she’d be agreeable to that, but she doesn’t seem interested.”
Nettie tilted her head a bit as she looked at her daughter. “You know, honey, this could help you.”
“Cutting his throat might be a help, not cutting his hair.”
“Micki! What a thing to say.” She narrowed her gaze. “Are you upset that Ethan saw you in your bra yesterday? People are dressed in less than that at the beach. Goodness, it’s not like you’re a teenager. You were a married woman.”
Mike folded her arms over her chest. No way would she admit this stranger had seen her in less clothes than her own husband.
“What if you trade haircuts for help getting your shop cleaned up?” Nettie suggested.
“You’ve got a shop?” asked Ethan.
“Next door,” Nettie said, jerking her thumb over her shoulder. “She signed the lease yesterday. But, it needs work.” She turned a thoughtful look on him. “Would some of your players volunteer to help with the grunt work in exchange for Micki’s services? Even if the boys don’t want a hair cut, their host family might.” Nettie turned to Mike. “You could be the exclusive hair stylist for the Wolves and save some money and time on getting your shop open.”
Mike pushed down her annoyance because her mother had a good idea. She had Denny’s insurance money, but wanted to save most of it as college funds for the girls. She needed to be able to support herself and her daughters, and using some of that money was a good way to get started. She would consider the start-up funds as a loan and pay it back as soon as possible.
“I can’t afford to give out free haircuts all season,” she hedged.
“Not all season. A one-time deal,” Nettie said. “We’ll figure it out based on the number of hours the boys help you.” She tapped a finger to her lips in thought. “Come up with a name for your business, honey. Web talked to me about advertising in his program. We could do the same for you.”
“Miz Nettie, you’re not just a pretty face, but got a good head for business.”
“Thanks, Handsome.” She kissed Ethan’s cheek. “When do you need your trim?”
“Now,” he answered. “Web has arranged a press conference for this afternoon.”
“Then you two better get going.”
“I haven’t agreed to any of this,” Mike protested. Nettie gave her a look only a mother could impart. Mike needed to learn how to do that so she could handle Dani as easily as her mother handled her. “Fine. It’s a good idea. But, I don’t have scissors or anything with me.” She gave Ethan an evil smile. “Unless I use a knife.”
“You’re not cutting hair in my store,” Nettie declared. “Take the boy home with you. Bring the girls back when you return. I’ll put Dani to work.”
Mike took off her apron, sighed, and headed for the door. “Come on, Shaggy.”
****
“Nettie lives out here?” Ethan was taking in the gently rolling landscape of green grass and trees.
“You didn’t know she has a farm?”
Ethan’s head swiveled to meet Michaela’s gaze. “She’s at that coffee shop all day. How does she manage to farm, too?”
“She doesn’t,” she said on a sigh. “She rents the pastures. The farm’s been in the family for generations. Mom had hoped my father would want to care for it, but he was more interested in getting his name on the deed.” She gave him a hard stare. “Something he never succeeded at. That’s when he cut his losses and left.” She shoved open the truck door, leaving him to follow or stay.
He met her at the front of the truck. “None of you kids wanted to help her?”
That stopped Michaela in her tracks and she turned another angry glare on him. “We all did what we could. If you want your hair cut, come in and keep your mouth shut. Another crack like that, and I’m liable to stab you in the throat with the scissors.” She gave him a smile that held no amusement.
“You wouldn’t cause bloodshed in your mother’s house,” he said confidently as he followed her.
“Don’t bet on it,” she muttered as she opened the front door, again leaving him to follow at his will.
“Hi, Mama. What’re we doing today?” Friendly and cheerful. Had to be the younger one, Charley.
Ethan stepped into the house, looking around, only half-hearing Michaela and her daughter. A dining room was at the left of the entryway, living room to the right. A staircase was right in front of him with a short hallway to one side leading to the back of the house. He was about to go down that hallway when Michaela came rushing back to where he stood, Charley hot on her heels.
“Danielle!” she shouted up the stairs making Ethan think she’d make a good cheerleader.
“I’ll go get her,” volunteered Charley.
“No.” Michaela stopped her with a hand curved around the small shoulder. She shouted again then, tapped her foot as if counting. “I’ll get her.” She drew in a deep breath. “I need to cut Mr. Reigh’s hair. Please, take him into the dining room. As soon as I get your sister moving I’ll be down with my things.”
Ethan and Charley watched as she climbed the steps, hands fisted at her sides. When her mother was out of sight Charley looked up at him. “Come on, Mr. Reigh. We’re gonna hear the yelling, anyway.”
“Ethan.” When she frowned at him, he said, “Call me Ethan. ‘Mr. Reigh’ is my father.” He followed her across the hardwood floor and pulled out a chair from the oval shaped table. Lowering himself on to the padded seat he asked, “Why is there going to be yelling?”
“Dani shouldn’t be upstairs. Our room is down here, and she was supposed to clean the kitchen.”
“She didn’t do it?”
“Nope.” She glanced at the entryway before turning back to him. “She’ll tell Mama her leg hurts, and she couldn’t do it, but I saw—”
“What did you see, Charley?” he asked softly. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know.
“I saw her dancing.”
Ethan chuckled. “Isn’t that something a lot of girls her age do?”
Charley shrugged her thin shoulders. “Maybe,” she murmured. After another glance at the entry and a slight wince at a yell from one of the females upstairs, she stepped closer to Ethan. “When Dani doesn’t want to do something she pulls the lame card. She pulls it a lot when it’s something Mama asks her
to do.”
“The lame card?”
“Yeah. Both of Dani’s legs were broken in the accident.” Charley spoke quietly as if sharing a secret with him. “It was really bad, and it took a long time for Dani to walk again. When she doesn’t want to do something or is mad at Mama, which is most of the time, she limps and says she can’t do whatever she’s supposed to.”
“That must’ve been some accident for Dani to have both legs broken.” Damnit! He had his own troubles, he didn’t need to worry about anyone else’s, but—
“I had a broken arm and—uh, it hurt, a lot, but I’m all better. Mike—I mean, Mama—was there to take care of us.”
“That’s what mothers are supposed to do,” he said. “Does your mom know about Dani dancing?”
Charley glanced over her shoulder. “I don’t think so. I don’t wanna be a tattle, but,” she lowered her voice even more. “I don’t like Dani being mean to Mama.”
Ethan gave her hand a little squeeze as they heard footsteps on the stairs. “Maybe I can help.”
Michaela entered with a black cape draped over one arm and a carry case in the other hand. “Sweetie, would you grab me a towel?”
“Don’t know where they are, honey,” Ethan said, making Charley giggle.
“Funny.” She gave Charley a look and the little girl scampered off to do as she was bid.
When she returned with the towel, Michaela spread it out on the table, set the case next to it, and began taking out things. She stepped next to Ethan, and with one hand, ran her fingers through his long locks. “We shaving it all off?” she asked sweetly.
“Only if you want to be as bald to match.”
Her lips twitched, but she didn’t respond. “Baby, will you run upstairs and get me a spray bottle? I’ll need you to fill it, too.” She held a finger in front of Ethan’s lips to keep him from answering.
“’Kay,” replied Charley as she dashed from the room.
“I could wet my hair in the sink,” he offered.
“And give Dani an excuse not to finish her chores? No, thanks.” She’d picked up a comb and was running it and her fingers through his hair. It felt so good, he was going to start purring like the cat that had just come into the room. “How much you want off?”
Since her words conjured a picture in his mind that had little to do with hair, it took Ethan a moment to come up with an answer other than all of it. “Uh, enough to be respectable.”
Michaela stepped back in front of him. “I’m not sure that’s possible.”
“To be taken seriously.” When she continued to study him, Ethan scowled and said, “As a businessman.”
“Thought you were a coach.”
“Okay, a serious coach,” he said, still scowling. “Once people realize I can do the job, I can let my hair grow down to my ass.”
“I wouldn’t advise it,” she said evenly. “You end up sitting on your hair, getting it caught in chair backs, your clothes, your belt. It gets to be a tangled mess, unless you keep it braided.”
“Voice of experience?” he asked, looking at her brown ponytail. He’d yet to see it flowing free and loose, but from the length of the tail knew it must reach past her shoulders.
“Never had it down to my ass, but half-way down my back was bad enough.”
“Here you go, Mama. You owe the swear jar a quarter.” Charley handed her the spray bottle of water.
“Thanks, honey.” She began spraying Ethan’s hair. “I wasn’t swearing. I was answering Mr. Reigh’s question in words he’d understand.”
Ethan winked at Charley. “I’ll give you double when your mom’s finished. I shouldn’t have used the word to start with.”
“I don’t need you to pay my debts.” She sprayed water in his eye. “Sorry,” she said, sounding not the least bit.
“Keep that up and Charley’s jar will be stuffed with bills,” he growled.
Ethan sat still while Michaela snipped away. Charley sat nearby, watching closely. Then, Michaela picked up a hand mirror and held in front of Ethan’s face.
“What do you think?” she asked. “Do you want more off?”
Ethan glanced in the mirror before looking over at Charley.
“More,” said the little girl.
He glanced up at Michaela. “You heard her.”
She set down the mirror, took up the scissors, and snipped some more. When she reached for the mirror again, he put out a hand to stop her and looked, again, to Charley.
“More,” she stated. “What if you part it on the side?”
Michaela moved closer. Ethan moved his left leg, spreading his thighs and she stepped between them as she followed her daughter’s directions with his hair. Under the cape, Ethan fisted his hands to keep from grabbing Michaela’s hips and pulling her closer. He stared straight ahead, and found her breasts swaying softly in front of his nose.
“What did you say?” She took a step back and looked down at him.
He hadn’t realized he’d made a noise. “Just, uh, a tickle in my throat.”
“You want a drink?” offered Charley.
He gave her a small grin. “No, thanks, honey. I’m okay.”
Michaela stepped back in and continued with his hair. He closed his eyes hoping he’d be less tempted if he couldn’t see the body in front of him. Part of him relaxed at her hands on his head, while another part ached for her touch.
“I’m done.”
Ethan blinked, then realized the voice had been Dani’s not her mother’s.
“Thank you,” said Michaela. “Now, put on some decent clothes. Grammie requested your help at the cafe.”
Ethan glanced over to see the teen wearing nothing but an over-sized tee shirt.
“Can’t. My leg hurts.”
Michaela continued combing and snipping Ethan’s hair. “Your leg wouldn’t hurt if you’d do your exercises. You have a choice. You can help your grandmother in the shop, as she requested. Or, you can help me clean up my shop and Charley can help Grammie.”
Without another word, the teenager stomped out of the room.
Michaela let out a breath that ruffled the hair hanging over Ethan’s brow. “Did anyone notice her leg didn’t hurt too much to stomp out of the room?” She moved around to the back of Ethan’s head.
“I bet she could even dance on that leg,” he said, giving Charley a wink.
“No doubt,” Michaela murmured. Resting her hands on his shoulders she looked at her youngest. “What about now?”
Charley tipped her head one way then the other. “Just a little more on the sides and this much from the back.” She held up her forefinger and thumb to indicate.
When Michaela stepped between his legs again, Ethan asked, “What’s the deal with Dani’s leg?”
She hesitated for a moment, then resumed her cutting. “About five years ago, the family was in a bad car accident. Both of Dani’s legs were broken. She was in a wheelchair for months, but with physical therapy, she’s walking again. She has a slight limp, which might improve if she’d keep up the exercises, but she’s made up her mind it’s a lost cause.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Charley had a broken arm, but she’s healed completely.”
“You weren’t hurt?”
She looked down to meet his gaze before concentrating on his hair and the scissors. “No. My, uh, their father was driving.” She stepped around behind him again. “I wasn’t with them,” she said quietly.
“Is that why Dani is so angry with you? Because you weren’t in the car with them?”
“Maybe.”
“What about your husband? Was he hurt?”
“Just a few bumps and bruises. He blamed himself for the accident.”
“He did?” piped up Charley.
“Yeah, he did, honey.” Michaela reached out one arm and Charley snuggled into her side. “It wasn’t his fault, baby. The roads were icy, and he lost control of the car.” She kissed the top of the child’s head. “He never would’ve hurt any of you.”
&
nbsp; “I know.” Charley looked up with tears in her eyes.
“Now,” said Michaela. “Think we have Mr. Reigh’s hair right?”
“Ethan,” he and Charley said at the same time.
“He said Mr. Reigh is his dad,” explained Charley. She reached out to turn his head one way then the other. “I think it’s good.” She picked up the hand mirror and gave it to him.
“I’ll take your word for it.”
“I’d rather you look,” said Michaela. “If you want it shorter, it’s easier to do now. If it’s too short, well, not much I can do now. You’ll have to let it grow.”
He took the mirror from Charley and checked out his new style. Michaela had parted his hair to one side. He reached up to run his fingers through it, letting the strands fall where they may. He nodded his head. “I like it.”
He was beginning to like the stylist more.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Sorry. We’re not open yet.” Mike said without looking up. She and Charley were filthy just from being in the building. She had hoped to make a dent in the cleaning, but the old counter and freezers needed to be removed first. They were going to need help getting the place cleared out before they could begin the actual cleaning.
“I know. Just wanted to let you know the boys, along with Web and myself, will be here first thing in the morning.”
“Ethan?” Mike stared at the perfectly groomed man before her, dressed in a charcoal suit, white shirt, red tie, and polished black shoes. She didn’t want to think what she looked like— streaked with dirt, cobwebs, and sweat.
“You look pretty.” Charley grinned up at him.
He bowed at the waist with a flourish. “Thank you, Miss Charlotte.”
“Don’t touch him,” Mike warned.
Ethan slid one arm around Charley’s small shoulders. “A little dirt never hurt.”
“Have you looked in here?” she waved a hand at their surroundings.
He scanned the room. “Guess I might go a bit easy on the day’s workout for the guys. They’ll earn their keep with this place.” He smiled at her. “You girls done for the day? Nettie said something about closing up and ordering pizza.”