Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 57908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
I was happy for the kid. He deserved it.
I was brought out of my musings by a voice murmuring my name. I glanced up, surprised to see Hannah Gallagher. Chase’s girl. She was dressed in her uniform, her bright-red hair pulled back from her face, but she was smiling.
“Hannah,” I greeted her, standing and dropping a kiss to her cheek. “How is my favorite officer this morning?”
She laughed. “Good, Dom. You?”
“Never better.”
Donna slid my bagel on the counter. “Morning, Hannah. Coffee?”
I grabbed the chance. “Sit with me for a few minutes.”
Hannah looked pleased. “Sure. I’m on my break. Coffee and a bagel too, Donna.”
“Coming right up.”
We moved to a booth, and she slid in across from me. “Not working today?”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Maxx is making me take a day off.”
She sipped her coffee. “Chase says you’re the hardest worker he knows.”
I lifted a shoulder. “I like to stay busy. Still finding my place here, so being at the garage fills the time.”
Donna appeared with Hannah’s bagel, and we added cream cheese and ate for a moment.
“How, ah, is your mom?” I asked.
Hannah grinned. “Good. Busy at the salon. I spoke with her last night.”
“She must miss you.”
“Yes. I miss her too.”
I cleared my throat. “She’s not seeing anyone?” I let the question hang in the air.
“No.” Hannah bit into her bagel, chewing as she regarded me thoughtfully. “She doesn’t date much.”
“A beautiful woman like her should.”
She grinned again. “You think my mom is beautiful?”
“Absolutely.” I paused. “In fact, I’d like to take her out, Hannah. Would you be okay with that?”
“Not my decision, but I’d have no problem with it,” she responded. “Mom is really independent, Dom. Stubborn.”
“I figured that much. I liked that about her.”
“She’s never been into casual relationships.”
I met her gaze, seeing the questions in her eyes.
“Neither am I.”
“You live an hour away.”
“So did Rosa and Mack. They made it work.”
She studied me as she finished her bagel, wiping her fingers. “She is…” She trailed off, looking for the right word.
“Skittish,” I finished for her. I had a feeling there was a story there, but I wasn’t going to ask Hannah. I wanted to hear it from Cherry.
“Yes.” She paused. “She thinks you’re a love-them-and-leave-them type.”
I chuckled. “In my youth, maybe—a long time ago. People change. I want to get to know her.”
“To what end?” she asked.
“That will be a decision for the two of us.” I took a sip of coffee. “If I can convince her to go on a date first.” I lifted my eyebrows. “But I need to get her number.”
Hannah finished her breakfast, wiping her mouth. She stood, placing her hat back on her head. “Mom works at the Right Angle on Kingston. She takes walk-ins.” She eyed me with a grin. “You look a little scruffy, Dom. Maybe a trim would help. You have the day off after all.”
Then with a grin, she bent and kissed my cheek. “She might give you her number herself.”
I watched her leave with a smile, finishing my coffee.
My day suddenly had a purpose.
And its name was Cherry Gallagher.
CHERRY
I was folding towels when I heard the giggles. I rolled my eyes, picking up another towel. I was getting too old for this. The staff got younger and younger. I felt more ancient every day. It was a lovely little salon, and I had a steady clientele I had brought with me from my old place. The owner had her regulars, but the new staff was building their own customer bases.
The salon was steady for a Wednesday. Not crazy, but okay. There had been a few walk-ins, and the girls had been eyeing up some of the younger clients. Listening to their comments at times made me wish I had earplugs.
“Oh my gawd…” Janey stage-whispered as they came to the back. “So haaaawt for an old guy.”
“I’d do him,” Lana responded. “He could be my daddy anytime.”
“Girls,” I hissed. “Stop it.”
They looked at me, not caring. “You have a walk-in. I put him at your station,” Lana said.
I frowned. “I’m not taking walk-ins today. They’re for you girls.”
“He asked for you.” She leaned close. “He is so intense.”
Janey fanned herself. “Those eyes. So dark and dreamy.”
I frowned, a small tremor starting in my stomach. I hadn’t given my card out lately. Why would a walk-in ask for me directly?
Unless it was someone I knew.
Intense. Dark eyes.
It couldn’t be.
I fluffed my hair and peeked in the mirror to make sure my apron was on properly and I had no lipstick on my teeth. I straightened my shoulders and headed out front.
I met those dark, intense eyes in the mirror as I approached. The way he watched me sent shivers down my spine. It was as if I was the only person in the room. The world.
“Mr. Salvatore.”
He grinned, his white teeth flashing in amusement. “Cherry G.”