Page 23 of Falling for You

“Oh! Right.” My feet come unglued and I take a step forward.

“Is that okay?”

“That you have an appointment to get your hair cut? Of course! Why wouldn’t it be?”

He rubs the back of his neck, looking adorably sheepish when he shrugs his broad shoulders.

“He’s your ten o’clock,” Jana says, looking like she’s ready to pop some popcorn. Her grin is wide and when his back is to her she mouths,so hot!while fanning herself. I do my best not to acknowledge her, even though she’s absolutely right.

When we met a week ago, he was wearing a shirt that covered his tattoos. Now they’re on display and I can’t stop my gaze from focusing on them. The black ink is peeking out from under the sleeves of his midnight blue t-shirt, that’s obviously been manufactured for him and him alone. It molds to his arms so delectably that I can see the bulge of his muscles, yet, it’s not fitted around the abdomen, not clinging uncomfortably to his stomach. I’m sure those abs have a lot of packs to them, too.

Rex’s shimmering bright green eyes are full of humor as he leans an elbow on the counter of the desk Jana’s sitting behind. “That’s right. I’m yours,” he drawls.

“Oh my,” Jana whispers loud enough for me to hear.

Rex chuckles, looks down at his boot-covered feet and when he raises his head again, he winks at me behind those sexy freaking glasses and my stomach flutters.

In an effort to gain control again, I do my best to ignore the tingles I’m feeling just simply from being in his presence. “Come on over, then, before Jana melts into a puddle.”

“Now why would she do that?” he teases as he walks toward me.

“Oh please. Like you don’t know that you ooze charm.”

“It’s not my fault. It just comes naturally.”

“Mm hmm. I bet.”

“So you think I’m charming?”

“I didn’texactlysay that. But I knowyouthink you have charm.”

“So it’s like that, huh?” he nudges me with his elbow when he stands right next to me. He smells really good. Holy crap.

“Have a seat,” I tell him, ignoring his question entirely. Instead, I pull up my big girl panties and pretend he’s just any other client and pat the back of the leather chair in front of my station.

Shaking out a black cape, I flip it in front of him and secure it around his neck.

My fingers trail along the back of his neck and I can feel his eyes on me as I smooth out the cape over his shoulders. His very, very, strong shoulders that flex under my fingers even through the silky covering.

“What are you looking for today?” I ask him, grateful that my voice comes out normal.

“Just a trim, nothing much.”

I play with his soft hair a little bit, realizing that there’s very little that really needs cut. In fact, it looks like he recently had it cut.

“Do you want it washed first?”

He thinks for a moment then grins. “You’re offering to wash my hair?”

“Yes, that’s what I do.”

Rather than answer, he stands from his seat and says “Point me to the shampoo bowl. Is that what it’s called?”

I giggle and nod, pointing around the corner to where we have three stations set up to wash and condition. Once he’s settled into the seat, he removes his glasses and holds them in his hand on his chest. I lean over him, adjusting the water to make sure the temperature is right. I pause when I realize that as I’m washing his hair, my breasts will basically be shoved in his face.

I can do this.

He’s nothing more than a client.