Page 88 of On The Rocks

My brain began to work overtime. “Maybe I will go over there. Do you think he can fit me in? Our party is the hottest ticket in town. He’ll already have back-to-back appointments.”

Ash laughed gently. “He’ll jump at the chance to do the hair of the wife of the owner, who’s also one of the people who’ll make the night a huge success. Plus, he called and told me how much he loves you.”

“He did?” I exclaimed. “That’s so sweet.”

Ash paused briefly before I heard her clear her throat. “What’s this aversion you have to hair and beauty? There’s nothing wrong with wanting to feel good. If you can achieve that by going to the salon, I don’t see the problem.”

That hit hard. “You think I have an aversion to it?”

“Maybe,” she suggested. “Sometimes you seem to look down on it. Like, if you’re attractive and wear makeup, you must be shallow or stupid. I know plenty of women who take time overtheir appearance but are still intelligent and care about other people.”

“Maybe I do,” I admitted, biting my lip nervously. “Orla, Shannon, and Erin are shallow, and all they care about is how they look. It started with them.”

“That’s understandable,” Aislynn murmured. “But give yourself a break. You’re pretty, and there’s nothing wrong with enhancing your looks. You can still be who you are inside and wear some mascara if it helps boost your confidence. There’s no right or wrong answer here, Maeve. It’s all about personal choice.”

Ash was right. I had been judging others by my own negative experiences with the women of my so-called family. I could’ve kicked myself, especially as I made it a point not to behave in the same way as my adoptive mother and sisters.

“I’ll go over to see the hair genius now,” I told her decisively.

Ash squealed. “That’s my girl. He’ll look after you, so don’t stress, and Maeve...”

I paused. “Yeah?”

“Enjoy yourself. Have fun with it.”

As the line went dead, I smiled and checked the time on my phone screen.

It was two P.M. There was plenty of time to chat with Tristan. I could even ask him to go online with me and help pick a new dress for opening night.

With a newfound sense of lightness to my step, I almost skipped to the door and through the courtyard toward the bar, thinking about my conversation with Ash.

A few things were clicking into place. I definitely equated shallowness with women who cared a lot about their appearance, but that was wrong of me. Aislynn hit the nail on the head when she said it was all about doing what boosts your confidence.

I was so deep in thought that I didn’t initially sense anything was amiss. It was only when I was about to walk through to the back of the bar that I heard the loud giggle.

My head swiveled in the direction of Callum’s office just as another tinkling laugh floated toward me, followed by a shushing sound and Callum grumbling, “Shut the fuck up, Saskia. Someone will hear you.”

My heart exploding made my chest burn so hot and so painfully I could almost feel flames raging inside.

I sucked in a breath.

What is going on?

Slowly, I crept toward my husband’s office. The door was open a crack, and I peered through, my heart contracting painfully at the sight before me.

My husband was sitting in his chair, which had been pushed back slightly to allow the buxom, dark-haired woman to perch on his desk directly in front of him with her jean-clad thighs opened invitingly. Callum rested a hand on each thigh as he looked up at her, his beautiful mouth set in a thin, angry line.

“I told you not to come in here like this,” he bit out. “How long were you lying in wait for me, woman? Now’s not the time or the place.”

“Why?”she spat. “Worried yourwifemight see us?”

His hand went to his temple, and he rubbed it with a wry grin. “Well, yeah.”

My heart twisted.

“I still can’tbelieveyou went off and married somebody else. All that time we were together, and you just discarded me for some plain Jane nerdy?—”

“Shut the fuck up,” he barked. “I don’t wanna hear it.”

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