He was silent while Madison said something to him. A pained look crossed his face and then he said, “Fine, I’ll see you at home tonight and we’ll talk about this then.” He ended the call and shoved his phone back in his pocket.
“Good, that’s sorted,” I said, my hands on my hips, waiting for him to leave.
His angry glare didn’t leave my face and he replied, “If you think that’s Madison done, you don’t know her very well. As far as I’m concerned we’re done, but when my wife gets an idea in her head she doesn’t let it go till she has her way. And unfortunately for me, and you too, if she doesn’t end up getting what she wants, she has ways of making me come to the party, so I doubt this is the fucking end of it, babe.”
“Trust me when I say that I’m not a pushover either, J. I won’t be pushed into something I don’t want,” I assured him.
“Well it looks like we’re in for fun, fucking times then, doesn’t it,” he grumbled as he strode out the front door. He left without a backwards glance and I slammed the door behind him. Men!
***
Six hours later, I was elbow deep in hair colours, cuts and shitty customers. To say my day wasn’t going that well was an understatement. As soon as five o’clock hit, I was locking the front door, heading down to the pub on the corner and drowning my sorrows.
“Roxie!”
I turned at the sound of my name. Bobby, one of my hairdressers, was motioning for me to come over to the front counter. I lifted a finger in the air to indicate I’d be with him in one minute. Shifting my attention back to my client, I decided not to rush. Bobby could be the biggest drama queen sometimes. I loved him to death but boy, he did my head in some days.
“Roxie, if you don’t get that padded ass over here right this minute -”
I whipped my head around and glared at him. “Did you just say that my ass is padded?”
He fixed a smile on his face and nodded. “Yes doll, that’s exactly what I said. Now get over here so I can show you something.”
I stalked over to where he was, ready to punch him. He knew me well though, and raised his hands in a defensive gesture.
“I work this ass hard and you fucking know that -” I began to say before he cut me off.
“Settle petal, I didn’t mean it. I just needed to get your bloody attention.” He pointed outside. “Look at that beautiful specimen of man meat.” He ended his statement on a sigh and I turned my gaze in the direction he’d pointed.
“Holy shit,” I murmured; he was right. Walking towards us was a tall, well built guy who was covered in tats; he looked like sex on legs.
“Oh good Lord in man heaven, I think he’s coming in here!” Bobby exclaimed. He narrowed his eyes on me. “He’s mine sweet cheeks, and don’t you fucking argue. You got to talk to that sinfully sexy biker dude this morning so it’s only fair that this one is for me.”
I rolled my eyes. “That biker dude from this morning might look hot, but he’s an asshole. If he ever comes back in here, he’s all yours.”
“Thanks, but first I’m having this one.” He shoved me out of the way as he fell over himself to get to the guy the moment he pushed through the door. “Why hello, gorgeous. To what do we owe the pleasure?” His voice practically purred the words and I stifled a laugh. I realised now that I’d actually met this man before; at Madison’s wedding a few weeks ago. I couldn’t remember his name though.
The guy flashed Bobby a huge smile and then blessed me with one as well. He reached out to shake Bobby’s hand and said, “Hi, man.”
Bobby just about melted on the spot. Goodness, this was too funny. The guy was obviously not gay but Bobby was so over the top confident that he always thought he had a shot with every man he met. “Lovely to meet you. I’m Bobby, and your name is?”
“Nash,” he answered, and then looked at me, “And you must be Roxie.”
That’s right; Nash. “Yes, I’m Roxie. Let me guess, Madison sent you?”
His chuckle filtered through the room drawing my clients’ attention, and they ogled him and all his gorgeous muscles. “Pretty obvious, huh?”
“Yeah, and the answer is still no.”
“Sweet thing, it should be a no brainer for you. You’ve got a problem that we can help you with. You obviously need some help figuring out who keeps breaking in and that kind of work is my specialty.”
I sighed. “You guys just don’t get it. I don’t want any help with this; I’m quite capable of handling my own shit.”
He considered that for a moment. “Why are you resisting this? You and Madison have become good friends over the past few months; she just wants to help out a friend. There’s no hidden agenda here, babe.”
“I know. But let’s just say that I have my reasons, and leave it at that.”
Bobby decided to wade into the conversation at that point. “I vote we let Nash help you on this one, sweetie.”
I scowled at him. “Shut it, Bobby. You just want an excuse to perv on Nash.”
“You know me too well. Please tell him yes,” he pleaded.