“Thank you, thank you both. You’re doing me a huge favor and I

won’t forget it.”

“Your boss is headed over here,” I said, glancing over Angela’s

shoulder.

He smiled as Angela turned to look at him. “Mr. Mays, I’d like

to introduce you to Shannon Brycen. She owns Brycen Sisters in

New Orleans with her sister, Kalen.”

“It’s a pleasure.” He took my hand limply into his own. I tried

not to stiffen as he continued to hold it.

“I was just asking Shannon where her partner was,” Angela

said. “Forgive me, what was her name again?” Angela looked me

in the eyes.

I was taken aback by the odd change in topics but recovered

when Marvin shifted his stance and bumped into me slightly.

“Hailey, and she couldn’t make it this time.” Mr. Mays released

my hand. “This is Marvin Henderson. He’s one of our most

talented stylists.” I stepped back as Marvin moved in and shook

his hand.

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“We were just telling Angela how proud we are to be here

representing Natural Beauty,” Marvin said. “I especially love

your hair-coloring products. I use them on all my clients.”

“Thank you,” Mr. Mays said with a slight nod.

To me, he looked as though he hadn’t a clue about their

products. I imagined he had a staff that worried about product

lines while he looked at the numbers generated by sales. I felt for

Angela, who was dependent on his favor, and made the effort to

speak on her behalf. “I’m sure you have many clients much larger

than we are, but Angela treats us like a major player. Your products

are excellent, but her service is what demands our loyalty.”

Thad’s gaze moved through the crowd as I spoke, probably

looking for someone far more prestigious to mingle with before

he looked back at me and Angela. “I’m very pleased to know

that,” he said with another slight nod. “If you’ll excuse me.” He

didn’t say more as he walked off.

“He’s an asshole,” Angela said quietly. “And a womanizer.

That’s why I made that comment about your partner. I hope

you don’t mind, but I wanted to make it clear that you weren’t

interested before you had to.”

“Wel , thank you for that.” I smiled at Angela. “I owe you now.”

Angela stayed with us as long as she could, then went to

visit with some of her other clients. Marvin and I spoke with a

few other salon owners, and thankfully, Marvin did most of the

talking. I stood there trying to look interested in the conversation,

though like Thad Mays, my time was spent looking at figures on

a spreadsheet.

It’s not that I didn’t like people, I just lacked the social graces

that came so naturally to Marvin and Kalen. I smiled and nodded

when it seemed appropriate and paid close attention to all the

conversations, learning more about our business than I ever really

had.“You’re doing really well,” Marvin said when we were alone.

“I’m afraid I don’t know much about the latest styles or

product lines. I really can’t add much to the conversations.”

“You’re not like Angela’s boss.” Marvin accepted a glass

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of champagne from a server. “You’re listening, it’s obvious.”

Marvin grinned at me wickedly. “I think the whole aloof thing

is actually working in your favor. A few women we’ve talked to

were looking you over pretty good.”

“Are my boobs hanging out?” I readjusted my shirt.

“No, Shannon, they’re looking at the total package.” He

elbowed me. “You’re hot.”

“That’s all because of you.” I couldn’t help but smile at him.

“Thanks again.”

“All my pleasure. Now let’s get out of here.”

After I removed my makeup, Marvin and I stood in the

mirror of my bathroom, rubbing moisturizer into our faces like

two schoolgirls. “I think I look like Howdy Doody without facial

hair. What do you think?” Marvin glanced at me.

I looked at his reflection in the mirror as he opened his eyes

wide and snapped his jaw open and shut. “No, no, you don’t…

okay, yes, you do.”

“That’s it,” he said with a hand on his hip. “I’m growing the

goatee back. Join me for a nightcap? I think I’m in the mood for

a White Russian. Hell, honey, I’d settle for a Tom Collins if he’d

treat me right.” Marvin gave me a playful shove. “Get it?” he

asked as he laughed at his own joke.

“Romance blows.” I followed him out of the bathroom.

Marvin wrapped an arm around my waist and led me to the bar

where I took a seat on one of the stools.

He moved behind the bar and started mixing our drinks.

“Pretend I’m a bartender, a very dashing bartender, and tell me

all your problems.”

Once again, I found myself telling about Hailey, but unlike

when I talked to my mom, I spared no detail right down to the last

text message I got from her. By the time I finished, we’d polished

off our drinks and Marvin mixed a couple more.

“Still no word from her?” He leaned against the bar.

“No, I guess whatever we had is over.”

Marvin shook his head. “She seemed so enamored with you

when she came to the salon and the night she joined us for drinks.

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Granted she didn’t come right out and say that, but she steered the

conversation in your direction every chance she got.”

“It’s like a game of tennis with her, you know?” I said, staring

into my glass. “It’s like I’m up against the net trying to keep the

ball going, and she backs farther away. Every now and then, she’ll

make a move that makes me think she’s interested, then she’ll

back off. Although this time, she just quit the game.”

“I dated a guy like that once,” Marvin said. “He came from

a very well-to-do family that put a lot of pressure on him to

marry the right woman. He did right out of college and spent

five miserable years hiding who he really was.” Marvin smiled

ruefully. “I didn’t know he was married when we started going

out. I was too young and eager to notice all the warning signs.

Anyway, I saw him having dinner with his wife one night, and

this time, he was wearing a wedding band.”

I winced at the mental image. “Did you make a scene?”

“No.” Marvin shook his head. “I just stopped returning his

calls until he tracked me down. He swore that he was going to

leave her and he did. Everyone in his family turned their backs

on him. I was all he had.”

“So what happened?”

“I messed it up,” Marvin said before taking a drink. “I was

so young, and he was so clingy. When I look back on it now, he

must’ve been terrified that I’d leave him, too. I felt like I was

being smothered, so I broke it off.”

“Whatever happened to him?”

Marvin sighed. “I have no idea. I never saw him again after

that.” Marvin drained his glass and set it on the bar. “I have no

idea what Hailey’s situation is, but I imagine that she’s just as

scared as he was. She left not one, but two relationships and

moved away. I’d be a mite apprehensive, too.”

I hadn’t given any thought to the woman Hailey had admitted

having the affair with. Too focused on the husband, I never asked

what happened to her. A queasy feeling washed over me as I

wondered if that was where Hailey was taking refuge.

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Chapter 19

Beware the Stanky Leg.

We repeated the dressing process over again the next morning

sans the Bloody Mary. Marvin picked out a gray suit and a soft

pink blouse to wear with it. After he’d done my hair and makeup,

I looked in the mirror pleased with the results.

“You are stunning,” he said with pride.

He bolstered my self-esteem and made me feel comfortable

in a world that I didn’t belong. “I wish you were a woman,” I said

with a laugh.

“Me too, baby,” Marvin said as he sauntered off to dress.

We had breakfast with Angela, who yawned repeatedly, and

still managed to look fresh. She wore her hair down, and against

the green blouse, her eyes sparkled like emeralds. I was reminded

of Hailey as I looked at her. I thought back on the conversation

I had with Marvin and felt myself sinking lower into gloom. If I

had only accepted her dinner invitation, things might’ve turned

out differently.

Natural Beauty’s booth was impressive. Large pictures of our

models were hanging on the back wall where they could easily be

seen. Our name and logo figured prominently with some major

salons in New York and Los Angeles. It made me proud.

We hadn’t been there long when a woman approached Angela.

I watched out of the corner of my eye as the statuesque brunette

looked my way a few times. I moved closer to Marvin as she

caught my eye and smiled.

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“That’s Zoe Martinez,” Marvin said in a whisper. “She owns