Page 2 of Craved By You
“Good morning, ladies.” His voice was deep and gravelly. I couldn’t help but make eye contact with Haileigh while I gathered my composure before walking away from the counter so that she could assist him. Though right now, I’d like to be the one to assist him… in any way other than the reason he was here.
??What the fuck Astrid? Get a hold of yourself!
I glanced up and met the eyes of mister tall, dark, and oh yes, please. I bit my lip without even thinking as soon as he smiled at me. I wanted to melt into the salon chair until my first client arrived. Instead, I kept an eye on him through the mirror while I pretended to be fluffing up my hair, picking stray hairs from my outfit, and setting up for my first color of the day.
“Have a good day, now,” the man said, turning around and walking out the door.
Haileigh just stood there looking like she had melted into a puddle before she replied with a delayed, “You too.”
Haileigh took no time at all as she scurried over to me. “Astrid!” She let out a high pitched squeal as soon as we were at arms length.
“Oh damn, did he propose or something?” I giggled as she took deep breaths, sneaking a peek behind her to see if I could still catch a glimpse of him out the window. “You must have said no, because he’s gone.”
Haileigh scrunched her face and waved my comment off. “No. No, I think Braden would have something to say about that.” We both continued to giggle uncontrollably. Braden and Haileigh had been married for eight years, he was her much-deserved golden retriever hubby who practically worshiped the ground that she walked on. I hoped that one day I would be equally as lucky in finding my person.
“So, where did he go?”
“He left, duh.” She couldn’t help her smart-ass comments when the opportunity presented itself. “He’ll be back though. He said he was new-ish to the area and wanted to find a stylist that he meshed well with.”
“So, when is your appointment with him?” I was sure that she had jumped on the opportunity to run her hands through his silky black hair. She may be married, but she wasn’t dead.
She let out a loud cackle that made me look around to see if anyone else had caught the joke. “His appointment is tomorrow.” She smiled.
“Oh awes-”
“With you.”
“Excuse me, what?” I couldn’t hide my shock. “Babe, there’s no way! I’m going to be too nervous. I mean, didyousee him?”
The front bell rang. “I did, and you’ll be fine.” It was the client I had been waiting for. How was I going to make it through the day with the thoughts of this man running through my mind? “He specifically requested you.”
“Wait. What?!”
Haileigh winked at me. “I think someone likes you.”
It took a moment before I gathered my composure, but it was too late, Haileigh was already at the desk, getting my client checked in. I took a mental note to revisit this conversation later as I went to the back and got the supplies I needed.
“Jackie,” I called out when I came back to the floor and met my client halfway between my booth and the front desk. “You ready?”
Chapter 2
Colt
The jolt of electricity that went through my body the moment our eyes met was unlike anything I had ever felt before. At first, I was worried that she was going to recognize me. She was wearing my half-masked face and semi-naked body on the band shirt she was rocking, after all.
I had been watching her for several months, casually, from the bistro next door. So far, I knew that she had a full clientele list, but I also knew that her boss would figure out a way to get yet another person on the books; she needed to keep her best stylist happy. Astrid was also off every Wednesday to be able to take care of her own appointments and grocery shopping and Sundays when the salon was closed. This worked out well for me since I had band practice on Wednesdays, and Sundays were for recovering from a night of after parties.
“If anyone has any information of Kyle’s whereabouts, please call-”I snapped the television off. All of these missing reports were getting out of hand. I knew where most of these missing persons had ended up, however, I was not willing to call andoffer up that information. They’d be found soon enough, and for those who weren’t… Well, with their extracurricular activities, it wouldn’t surprise anyone when they never returned.
The truth is, if most of these families knew half of what their beloved relatives were up to, they wouldn’t be this desperate to try and find them. They’d probably throw a party and set a statue up in my honor, or maybe dedicate a highway in my name.
I walked over to my fridge and pulled out leftovers from the night before. I tossed some oil into a skillet letting it heat up before tossing the patty on to cook.
Kyle seemed sweet enough, like those unforgettable nights just before autumn’s chill set in. The air held that bittersweet quality; the last desperate plunges into the pool, the crisp evenings perfect for crackling bonfires and shared beers. I savored his company, the taste of him lingering on my tongue. I knew this was our last night together, though, and a bittersweet ache lingered. I had almost pushed the boundaries of our time, relishing every moment without remorse.
That was the only way that he was sweet though, Kyle had a dark side, much like all of the others who had met their demise.
Each one of these people had committed various crimes: pedophilia, sex trafficking, murder, and anything else people thought they had gotten away with. I took pride in watching their every move, paying attention to their daily routines, and damn if they didn’t all move like clockwork. It was all very Dexter Morgan of me, I’d have to remember to send my regards to the person who started it all, anonymously of course.
