Page 45 of Unexpectedly Falling
“I worked in a salon growing up that my friend’s mom owned. It was mostly cleaning and reception-type stuff, but Ilearned a couple of things too. Then in college I was dating one of the guys on the soccer team, and he needed a haircut for something and didn’t have time to go out, so I just did it.” She chuckles. “By the time I graduated, I was cutting the hair of half the guys across all the teams.”
“I’m sure they were genuinely interested in your haircutting.”
She laughs softly. “Initially, you’d be right. But by the time I graduated, most of them were pretty devastated they had to find someone else to do it.”
“All right then.”
“My credentials passed the test?” she says playfully, and I take a step back, shoving my hands in the front pockets of my jeans.
“Probably would have let you if you said you’ve never done it before.” I have no idea why I say it, even if it’s true. And I don’t dare meet her gaze for fear of ruining the momentary truce we’ve come to. “I’ll just grab the scissors and whatever?—”
Motioning over my shoulder toward the cabinet, I take one step to the side and she mirrors my movement, blocking my path.
“Oh, sorry, I’ll just,” she murmurs as we both step to the other side, my body buzzing at her proximity. The smell of her honeysuckle bodywash mixed with the light perfume she wears has me unable to draw a full breath.
“Ness…” Her eyes, previously glued to my chest, snap up to meet mine, her perfect bow lips falling open at my plea. I want to slam my mouth to hers and strip her bare right here in the kitchen, and I want to feast on the heaven I imagine is hidden beneath those damn athletic shorts she wears that barely cover the globes of her ass.
I want to.
I want to so damn bad.
But I can’t be another mistake she regrets.
Dragging my palms over my face, I take a step back. The space brings absolutely zero clarity, and her sharp intake of breath means she knows how hard I am—how desperate and aching I am for her and how I can’t hide it.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…” I whisper.
“I’m flattered.” Her words are light even if they are a little breathy, and I chuckle even though it’s pained. “Go get the stuff and I’ll heat up the plate and meet you on the porch, okay?”
“Sure,” I agree as she finally makes it past me, ending our impromptu dance and letting me escape down the hall.
I countto ten and then back down from ten to one as I wait on the porch for Nessa. Being so close to her, inhaling her, made me a certain sort of crazy. It’s not her fault I’m damn near out of my mind for her.
But I need to get my shit under control.
She doesn’t want to muddy the waters, and I need to respect that.
It shouldn’t be a problem, and the fact that it is just fucks with me. I didn’t get to be the sheriff by chasing girls around with my friends. I didn’t get into fights or start trouble. I kept my head down, got promoted, and then eventually stepped into the role as the county sheriff when Pete Brannon had to retire after his hip surgery.
“Are you all right?” she asks, her voice smooth as honey as she steps out behind me and closes the sliding door.
“Just a long day is all.”
She hums, her fingers threading through my hair as a moan rumbles in my throat. She sucks in a sharp breath but doesn’t stop touching me, dragging her nails along my scalp.
“I’ll take some off the top, clean up the sides, okay?”
“Uh-huh,” I say with my eyes closed. She could shave my head and I probably wouldn’t notice until it’s too late.
Nessa taps her phone before setting it down again. “Bulletproof” by Nate Smith echoes off the porch rafters as I relax into the chair.
“Tell me about growing up with Scarlett,” I ask quietly as she works.
“We lived near each other growing up. My father wanted to give my sister and me a normal childhood even though he’d retired from playing football and could afford to move us somewhere more extravagant.” Little wisps of hair fall around us as she continues, “It was a kind of balance, I guess. Dad had the right connections to help make our dreams a reality. I think I told you my sister plays professional tennis.”
“It’s impressive—having a family with three professional athletes.”
She shrugs. “It’s really all we’ve ever known, and like I said, my father knew the right people to talk to.”
