Page 54 of Counting On You

Chapter Twelve

Kaiden

“How much longer is thisgoing to take?” I ask.

I don’t know how much time has passed, but it sure feels like my hair’s been at Vicky’s mercy for hours. The sound of scissors cutting is making me nervous. And it’s not helping that Vicky keeps making those tiny noises—half irritation, half delight.

Either she’s having a hell of a time, or she’s on the verge of giving up.

Several times, I tried to steal a peek at the mirror, but she caught me and covered it with my jacket.

Vicky insisted that I don’t look.

She wants my new haircut to be a surprise. I’m not sure how I should feel about that, but I like the touch of her hands on my skin. It’s soft and feminine, the strokes determined, as if she’s used to touching people.

I don’t want to tell her, but she really has wonderful hands. Some hands are rough, others are harried. Hers are like heaven. They seem to know how to send a tingle down my spine and make me want to peel her clothes off her body.

The fact that I’m glued to this chair, able to do none of the things I want to do to her because I can’t afford to scare her away, amplifies my anxiety.

“How much longer?” I ask for the umpteenth time.

“You got somewhere to go? Places to see?”

“No, I’m just concerned we’ll be starving if we don’t get going soon.”

She lets out a laugh at my half-ass attempt at a comeback. “I’m about to create art here. You can’t hurry it. Trust me, you’ll like it.”

Why the hell does she keep saying that?

“I’m sure I’d like everything at this point,” I mumble.

“You’ll have to because there’s no going back now.” She runs her hands through my hair again. The motion travels through my body, straight to my groin, and I’m barely able to stifle the groan in my throat. “Besides, this is trendy.”

My brows shoot up at the covert insult. “And my previous cut wasn’t?”

She lets out another tinkling laugh. “Let’s put it this way…this was long overdue.”

Eventually, the scissors drop on the table and Vicky removes my jacket from the mirror, revealing my reflection.

My heart gives a jolt.

That’s a hell of a cut.

I’m almost unrecognizable.

My hair is still long enough to fall into my face, bringing out my strong features, but the back is shorter. I never figured such a cut would suit me.

“What do you think?” she asks and bites her lip, as though nervous.

“I think it’s bearable.” I reach for the pair of scissors. “Now you’ve got to let me cut your hair.”

“Hell, no. Not before you watch a few instructional videos on YouTube.” Her eyes twinkle.

“Don’t need to. I can assure you I’m quite the expert myself,” I say. “Just tie your hair in a ponytail and I’ll take it from there.”

“Oh, my God.” She snatches the scissors from my hand, keeping it at a safe distance.

For a moment, I’m tempted to try to snatch it back just to get a little closer to her, but then decide this isn’t the time.

---