by Casey Peeler
Her hands go in the air and she starts to turn to walk out of the room but I grab her arm. “Let go of me, Drake.”
“No, hear me out.” Pressing her lips together, she nods and it’s fucking cute as hell. “You want your own shop, there’s a private entrance and it’s a place to start. I’m sick of watching you work your ass off over there. Hell, do you know how many walk-ins you’d get? All the old men in town would line up to get shit for their farm and a cute girl to cut their hair at the same time.”
“Did you just call me cute?”
“Don’t go getting too excited. I’m only stating the obvious. So, what do you think?”
Dixie
Who the hell does he think he is? Why would he even think I’d consider this? Wait, I am actually considering it. I’ve lost my damn mind or either Aunt Tootie is driving me to it.
“Fine.” His eyes go big and doesn’t say a word. “Don’t get too excited. I need out of that salon, but I will get this salon to my standard all by myself. You got that? Don’t come in here trying to be all macho man and coming to my rescue because I don’t need saving.”
“Got it. So, when you think you want to make the move?” he questions.
“I want it to be ready by Monday.”
“You’ve got to be crazy.”
“Maybe, but that gives me the weekend. Looks like you’ve already done the hard work by getting the equipment. The biggest thing will be getting it state certified.” Pulling out my phone, I put a call in and pray that they can come Monday morning.
Walking around the little cracker jack box, and my soon to be salon, my mind starts to spin at what I could do to this place. “Let’s pick out some paint,” I say to him as we walk back in the store. I guess the biggest plus is that I don’t have to go anywhere to get what I need. It’s all in the adjacent room.
Colby rounds the counter, pulls out the paint swatches and walks back toward the room. “What color are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking something kind of rustic. I’d love to have barn wood on one wall and maybe a blueish color?”
“So are you planning on making this your permanent location?”
“Hell no! Why would you even ask that?”
“Because barn wood is easy to come by, but also harder than it looks. What about this?” he says as he walks out the back door and pulls a piece of worn aluminum. I hate to even admit it, but he’s a genius.
“How much do you have?”
“Between what’s here and what we’ve got laying around the farm, you should be good to go. You can have it. It’s just sitting around rusting anyways.”
“I don’t want a hand out. I’ll pay for it and everything you’ve already got back here. So, let’s go with this and then the blue on the other walls, or maybe a sand color with the blue accents?”
“Sounds good to me. What else are you thinking?”
“I need a welcome counter and I have an idea. It’s something I saw at an antique shop. Do you have an old wooden door around?”
He walks around the building to a bunch of doors. “Take your pick.” Glancing, I see it quickly. It’s a corn crib door.
“This one.” I say and then I look at him. “Why are you doing this for real, Drake? Don’t give me any shit.”
“Look, I was serious when I said I’m tired of you playing Miss Fix It. You deserve better than that. I know you gave up a lot moving here for Stella.”
“Yeah, about that. I kinda didn’t have a choice.”
“What? That’s what she’s been saying since before you showed up.”
“I might have gotten into a throw down at my old salon.” He pauses and looks at me with shock. “Y’all Drakes aren’t the only ones that like to have a good fight every now and then,” I say with a wink, and I swear I think he quits breathing.
Chapter 5
Colby
Holy fuck. The moment she uses the words throw down and a good fight, I am a goner. “Now, I knew you were feisty, but damn, that’s fucking hot. I wish I had been there to watch.”
“Only in your dreams,” she says, glancing down at her watch. “Looks like I’ve got my work cut out for me. Would you mind running me home so I can get my car and get started?”
“Yeah, I can do that, but I’ve got to go by Barger’s first.”
“Seriously, you can drop me off then go up there to drink yourself silly.”
“How ‘bout this? Let’s go grab a bite to eat then we can come back and get to work.”
She takes in a deep breath. “No, I told you I’m doing this on my own. I’ll go eat, grab a beer, run home to change, and come back to get started.”
Knowing there’s no changing her mind, he says, “Fine, but I’ll have to come back and mix the paint for you. I don’t mind helping.”
“You’ve done enough.” Without another word, we walk out the store and walk down to Barger’s.
As the wooden door is opened, I see Everett and Stella behind the bar. I swear, I never thought Everett would fall so hard and so fast, but I’m happy for him.
Walking in, we take a seat at the bar and Everett gives me a nod. “Y’all both want the new one?” he asks. I look to Dixie because I’m sure as fuck not answering for her.
“I do. Dixie?”
“Why not?” she says as Stella walks over to her.
“Y’all want your usuals?”
“Yeah,” we both say in unison.
After we order, Dixie excuses herself to go to the restroom and it takes Everett all of two seconds to get all up in my fucking business.
“Dude, how is she not going bat shit crazy on your ass right now?”
“What can I say? I worked my magic.”
“Shut up, fucker. I know you are all talk and no bite.”
Looking over, I see that she’s nowhere in earshot. “I think she’s had it at Aunt Tootie’s. She wants an out and I gave her one.”
“So what’s the catch?”
“She wants it ready by Monday and refuses to let anyone help.”
“And there we have it. I knew that it wasn’t all gravy. You better get ready to stay out of her way. I heard she ain’t afraid to throw down.” He starts to laugh as Stella walks up.
“What so funny?” she questions.
“Let Colby here tell ya,” Everett says as Dixie takes her seat.
“Tell them what?” she says as she cuts her eyes to me.
“Nothing.”
“Um hum. Colby here is trying to play fucking innocent. He has taken it upon himself to play beauty parlor at the hardware store.”
“Hardware store?!” Stella almost yells.
“Yeah, it actually is kind of genius. Anyways, I’ve got a lot to do by Monday,” Dixie says and I look at her. She just called me genius.
“Monday?!” Stella says in surprise.
“Shhhh,” Dixie says. “I’ve got a ton to get done, so can we get this to go? And no, no one is to help me. I’ve got this.”
Stella’s eyes go wide, “Oh my goodness! We could have a paint party!” Dixie shakes her head no. “Come on. Painting and free beer?”
“How about I paint and y’all provide the beer?”
Stella looks to Everett, “I think we can do that, but on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“You let Colby help, or at least hang out in case you need something.” I choke on my beer because there’s no way she’s going to go for that.
“Hell no. I said I’m doing this on my own.”
“Look, I get that, but just think about it this way. You’ll have your own personal handyman that can get you anything you need out of the store.”
“Nah, she’s made it clear. I don’t mind stopping by every now and then, but I’m staying out of her way.” Dixie smiles my direction. “All right. So you want to run and get your car while we wait on the food?”
“Sounds good.”
Dixie
Taking a long pull on the beer, I stand and look to Colby. “Well, y
ou coming or what?” I say with attitude as I tell Stella we’ll be back in a few, but she says just to call and she’ll run it down to the store. Man, I love her. She truly is the best friend a girl could ever have.
As we walk back to his truck, I close the door and debate on if I should even say it. After a few seconds of silence, I bite the bullet.
“Thanks for that back there.”
“No problem,” he says as he heads toward my house. As Kane Brown comes on the radio, I turn the volume up. “Hey, who said you could mess with my shit?”
“Me,” I say with a smile and then start to giggle thinking about Beckett for some stupid reason.
“What’s so funny?”
“Just thinking.”
“About what?”
“The fact that Kane Brown is totally Beckett ten years ago.”
“Huh?”
“If he would have decided to be a country music star, that would totally be him. Bad ass and h-o-t!” Oh my goodness, Colby’s face is priceless. I love fucking with him.
“You think Beckett’s hot?”
“No, Kane Brown is hot. Beckett is Beckett and can’t carry a tune in a bucket.” Pulling into the driveway, I let myself out of the truck. “I’m going to change clothes and I’ll meet you there. Whatever you do, do not start painting anything. You got that?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he says as he puts the truck in reverse and I walk into the house. Holy shit. I’m going to have my own salon even if it’s in the back of a hardware store.
Quickly, I change and hurry back to the store. Colby is there waiting and Stella is walking down the street. I walk toward her to help her out.
“Girl, we’ve got to talk. This is not like you, and you didn’t even buck him on this? Everett was sure as shit there was going to be a hissy fit thrown.”
Taking a deep breath, I grab the food from her as she walks with me to the shop. “Oh, I was pissed, but for some reason, I couldn’t say no. This gives me an out and I can make it how I want. Do I want this to be my permanent location? Hell no, but it will work for now.”
“Oh shit. You like him.”
“What?”
“Colby. You freaking like him.”
“I never said that.”
“You don’t have to, but here’s my words of advice. Drake men are different. They go after what they want, won't take no for an answer, but will always stand beside you. So take my warning, don’t go lukewarm because that’s looking for disaster. I’m living proof. Go all or nothing, but Colby? Really?”
“Stella, is he hot? Yes, but I don’t need a man right now. I’ve got a lot to accomplish.”
“Yeah, I thought the same thing,” she says with a smile as we open the door to the store.
“Thanks, Stella,” he says and I walk her back to show her what’s going down.
Chapter 6
Colby
The moment she walks in with Stella, I do a double-take. Dixie is pretty, like I do hair for a living and always have to look made up, but right now, she’s fucking gorgeous. Her fiery hair is pulled through a ball cap, wearing a pair of worn out cut-offs and a tight as fuck tank top. Damn, her tits are perfect.
“I got the paint ready,” I say to her and she smiles, walking Stella to the back. I don’t follow them. Instead, I go through the store and get anything and everything she might need. I know that once we eat, I’m out of here. I will not get in her way. She’s made that perfectly clear.
Once they finish, Stella walks back out and heads toward the bar. Dixie grabs her food and takes a seat at the counter with me.
“So, I got a few things ready for ya. Once I eat, I’ll head back to Barger’s to get out of your way.”
She stops mid-bite. “Why the hell didn’t you just eat down there?” she questions.
I shrug my shoulders, “Figured it would be easier this way. Plus, I didn’t want you be all alone in here getting started.”
“I’m a big girl. I can handle myself.”
“I know, but…”
“No buts, you dip shit. What’s really going on with you? You are never this nice to me, and here you are trying to make my dreams come true. I’m going to go ahead and tell you that I don’t need a fucking prince and life is no fairy tale.”
“Point taken. There’s no way in fuck I’m ever going to be a prince, but I like you.”
“Like?”
“I’m going to shoot straight. The moment you walked into Barger’s, I knew you were different.”
“What the hell are you trying to say?”
Taking my ball cap off, I run my hand through my hair. “Different in a good way. You shoot straight, work your ass off, aren’t afraid to get dirty, and hell, the way you don’t take shit from anyone is sexy as fuck.” Holy shit, I just said that out loud, didn’t I?
Her mouth falls wide open and she doesn’t say a word. Instead, she takes a long pull of her beer, finishes her food, and walks straight into the back room to get to work.
Finishing my food, I toss it in the trash and leave her alone to work. I’ve said enough.
Dixie
The moment that he calls me sexy is the moment I’ve got to get the fuck away from him. I’m no game to be played, but the way it popped out, I know that he didn’t mean for it to be voiced. Walking into the back room, I realize what he’s done while I was gone. Anything and everything I might need is here. He’s placed it all in the middle of the floor, laid the drop cloth and even started to line the baseboards with painter's tape. Something about the gesture makes me smile even though I really don’t need the help.
Popping another beer, I begin to work and soon realize that I need music. It’s too damn quiet in here. Walking back into the store, I yell for Colby, but there’s no answer. He must have left already. Going around behind the counter, I find an old radio. I take it to the back and turn it on to my favorite country music station.
I have no clue how long I’ve been working but I’m exhausted. Taking a seat, I take a break and look around to see that I’ve put a large dent in the three walls. Looking at the one where the aluminum will go, I ponder on how I’m going to make that work.
“It’s not hard. I can help you real quick,” his voice startles me as I jump.
“Nah, I can figure it out,” I say to Colby who’s propped up against the door frame. “You might want to watch out. There’s wet paint everywhere.” He shrugs his shoulder and takes a step in.
“You’ve done a shit ton, but aren’t you ready to call it a night? It’s well past midnight.”
“Midnight?” I question.
“Yeah, Barger’s is closed and when I saw your car was still here, I figured I’d check on you.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know. Come on, let me help you?” Letting out a yawn, I know I need to go to bed, but I want to keep working. I can sleep later. “Or call it a night and I can help tomorrow when there aren’t any customers.” Sleep does sound good, but so does finishing in here.
“Fine, let’s hang the back wall,” I say as a smile escapes his lips and damn, there’s that dimple again.
Taking the pieces, he walks to the wall and measures to see what will work and which ones need to be cut. Without a word, he takes them out back and cuts them as I finish painting the last wall. When he walks back in, he places it against the wall and it slides down onto the floor, making a loud crash.
“Damn, can you be any louder?” I say over my shoulder then turn back to painting.
“You could help me, you know?” he says with attitude and it pisses me off. I didn’t ask him to stay.
Putting my paint brush down, I stand and walk toward him. “I didn’t ask you to stay. You fucking volunteered. So, feel free to go on home. I’ve got this.”
Laughter escapes his lips and it drives me fucking crazy in a good way. Oh hell no, I think to myself as I channel my inner self to stay the hell away from Colby Drake. He places the piece of metal against the wall and it stays this time. He
walks toward the box of beer, pulls one out, pops the top and turns it up. Holy fuck. Yeah, the thought of staying away from him has gone out of the window.
Taking a step toward him, I walk over, grab the beer from his hands, and turn it up. “What the hell?” he questions. I down the entire thing then toss it on the ground as I look up to him. He doesn’t say a word; instead, his eyes meet mine and they are thinking the same thing I am. “Let’s see how loud you can be.”
Chapter 7
Colby
I know like hell I didn’t hear her correctly. “What did you say?” I ask, looking into those emerald eyes.
“You heard me correctly. Let’s see how loud you can be.”
He smiles and that dimple shines. “Dixie, I don’t think you want to do this.”
“Why’s that? The big tiger scared of what might happen?” she says, teasing me and it’s cute as fuck.
“It’s not me I’m worried about.”
“I’m a big girl, I can handle it,” she says with a smile and bites the corner of her lip. I’m so fucked. Looking down, I don’t give her an option as I slide my hand behind her neck through her auburn hair and bring my lips to hers. As they meet, I swear I hear her moan and my dick goes to attention. She wastes no time wrapping her arms around my neck and I pick her up and walk toward the work bench. Placing her perfect ass on it, I pull back and she looks at me.
“Why’d you stop, Drake?” she says.
“For starters, don’t call me Drake.” She nods and then pulls me back to her lips. Her hands quickly go to the hem of my shirt and I pause so she can pull it over my head.
“Fuck,” she whispers as her eyes meet my chest and I can’t help but smile. She wants a good fuck, I can handle that. Quickly, I take her tank and pull it over her head in one swift motion and then her hands go my jeans. As they fall to the ground, I quickly unclasp her bra and am met by the most perfect tits I’ve ever seen in my life. Taking them in my hand, her head falls back and another moan escapes. Fuck me. Taking her from the bench, I slide her down and she shimmies out of her shorts and panties. Her eyes meet mine, and as she slides her hand behind my neck and her lips find mine, she uses her other hand to free my dick from my boxer briefs. Lining up at her entrance, I can feel how much she wants me, and damn it, I know there’s going to be consequences tomorrow…then it hits me. I need a fucking condom.