and chatted with a few of the staff. Of the four salons, the Canal

Street location was the largest, complete with six tanning beds,

eight stylists, and four massage therapists. Things had changed

a lot from the day when my mom first put out her shingle as a

beautician in the sixties.

I applauded my decision to walk the two and a half miles

back to my apartment. I could’ve driven, but for a January day, it

wasn’t all that cold. I’d used the walk to the salon to build up my

courage; it sure beat getting back on the treadmill.

I smiled at the strides I’d made in one day. I’d gotten a new

haircut and found a new employee. Though the situation was

thrust upon me, I’d handled a tense situation without throwing

up. Yes, Pitifully Ugly was making headway.

2

Pitifully Ugly

Chapter 4

Play with your own toys.

When I arrived back at the apartment, Hailey and Fuzzy were

on their way out again. Maybe my confidence was bolstered by

the day’s events, but I actually looked forward to attempting small

talk. “Hi,” I said with a smile as they descended the steps.

“Um, hey,” Hailey said with something akin to a smile. Her

brow wrinkled as she looked at my hair again. “We’re just heading

out. I promised Fuzzy chicken on a stick.”

She seemed sort of nervous and was edging past me. “Okay,

enjoy then.”

She nodded and headed briskly toward the gate. “Good to see

you,” she called over her shoulder.

The past two times we ran into each other, she seemed like

she wanted to talk, and I was the one running away. Maybe that’s

what she expected of me. Then again, maybe she was just really

hungry.

When I got into my apartment, I booted up my computer,

hoping that Newbie had written. While I waited, I gave Marvin

a call.

“Oh, my God! Are you kidding me? Canal Street?” he

whispered excitedly into the phone. “I’ll give my notice today

before I leave. Oh, Ms. Brycen, you won’t be disappointed. I’ll do

right by you. Thank you so much.”

“It’s Shannon, please, and you’re welcome.”

As I laid out the salary and benefits, I logged into my account

2

Robin Alexander

with the Rainbow Room and was disappointed to see that there

were no new messages from Newbie. Perhaps that was why I did

what I did next.

Marvin explained that he was going to meet a few people for

drinks later at a bar that was only two blocks from my place. “Oh,

come on, please. My friends are stylists, too, but I won’t tell them

who you are.”

I accepted his invitation, but as I ended the call, I pondered

my sanity. Kalen would not be pleased that I would be “getting

too familiar” with a future staff member. I reasoned that it was

only a couple of drinks. It was a work thing, really. Besides, I was

feeling a bit spunky.

I arrived at the bar promptly at seven and was greeted by

Marvin, who was flat out giddy. He took me by the hand and

introduced me to two of his friends who I assumed were a couple.

“Ike and Ben, meet my new friend, Shannon.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Shannon.” Ike pulled out a chair

for me. “Marvin’s been all a-twitter about meeting you. He’s a

matchmaker, you know.”

I shook Ike and Ben’s hands and felt like a celebrity. They

fawned over my hair and argued about who would look best in my

jacket. My vote went to Ben. The soft brown suede leather looked

good with his dark eyes and hair when he tried it on.

“Frankly, I think the blazer looks better on her.”

I turned and looked into the dark eyes of the stylist who had

given me her card at the salon. I smiled back up at her, trying to

remember her name.

“Alicia, join us,” Marvin pulled another chair from the

adjoining table and shoved it close to mine. “She has a boot

fetish.” Marvin gave me a nudge. “I’ll bet before the night is over,

she’ll be trying to get yours off your feet.”

I hid my blush by looking down at the black leather boots

that Alicia was wearing. “Those are nice,” I managed to say. Her

proximity made me nervous, and she seemed to sense it. On some

level, I think that pleased her.

“What are you drinking?” she asked as her gaze met mine.

2

Pitifully Ugly

There was a hunger there, and I didn’t think it had anything to do

with my boots.

“Another round of cosmos,” Marvin called out.

“Thank you, but that one will have to be my last,” I said to

jeers. “I have to work tomorrow. I assume y’all do, too.” All four

of them shook their heads.

Three drinks later, I was as giddy as Marvin. The more Alicia

pressed closer, the more I drank. I couldn’t deny that a part of me

was enjoying the attention.

“Do you like to dance?” she asked against my ear.

“I do, but gravity is a bitch right now.”

“Come on, it’s a slow song. I’ll hold you up.”

I let her take my hand and lead me to the dance floor. She

pulled me snugly against her, and the warmth of her body pressed

close to mine made me shiver.

“I don’t think you’re as bad off as you claim to be. You’re

moving pretty well,” Alicia said.

“I just don’t like falling on my face.”

She laughed, and I felt it down to my toes. “Do you do that

often?”

“No, but I don’t want to start tonight.”

Alicia’s lips moved from my cheek to my mouth, and she

kissed me, nibbling on my lip as she did. “I can think of better

things to do with this evening.”

And this is where my brain and body went to war.

You don’t know this woman, my brain said loudly. I stepped

back a little.

Well, we could get to know her if you’d shut up, the lower half

of my body countered.

Kalen is going to have a fit, my brain said.

We are well north of twenty-one, and we don’t need Kalen’s

blessing.

I was inclined to agree with the lower region.

Well, hell, do it. I’m pickled anyway. Brain was on board.

“Marvin and the boys are on the dance floor. They’ll never

see us leave,” Alicia whispered against my ear.

Apparently, my body was speaking directly to hers, so I didn’t

2

Robin Alexander

try to intervene. I nodded, and we were on the way out the door

before I could blink.

“My place is a few blocks over,” Alicia said as the cold air hit

me full in the face. I sobered slightly but found myself nodding.

With my hand clutched in hers, we walked briskly toward her

place. Even though my brain was impaired, it did its job and tried

one last time to dissuade me, but when we walked through her

front door and she shoved me against it, I didn’t listen to anything

else but the sound of Alicia’s breathing.

“Where’s your bedroom?” I asked as I pushed her away from

me. She gave me a toothy grin and tugged me down the hall.

I’m shy and introverted. Conversation is difficult, and this

was my first one-night stand. Maybe it was the alcohol, then

again, maybe it was just wanton desire. Probably both, but my

body didn’t have any problem doing the talking.

I pushed her down onto the bed and pulled off my jacket. She

smiled seductively back at me as she pulled off her boots. I helped

pull off her pants, then removed her shirt and bra. I shoved her

hands away when she reached for my clothes.

“You like being in control?” she asked.

I nodded as she pulled off my boots.

She rolled over onto her hands and knees and reached into

a drawer at her bedside, giving me a great view of her backside.

“Think you can handle being in control of this?” Alicia held up

a harness.

I’d had some experience with a strap-on, but it wasn’t

pleasant. We never could get it tight enough, and the base of the

dildo shifted, causing a painful sensation when it hit all the wrong

spots. But I was willing to take one for the team.

After I stripped off the rest of my clothes, Alicia pulled me

by the hips until I was standing directly in front of her. I watched

as she strapped me into the contraption expertly. It fit tight and

didn’t slide when she gave it a tug.

“You’re really going to enjoy this.” Alicia pushed the button

on the first of two well-positioned bullet vibrators. My right leg

shot out like I was being electrocuted.

0

Pitifully Ugly

“Shit,” I blurted out. I’d not spoken a word since we’d entered

her bedroom, and that was all I could mutter when the vibration

met with the most sensitive part of my body.

Romantic and very smooth, my brain said in disapproval.

“Fuck me now,” Alicia demanded.

I was willing to oblige but not on her command. I went at

her mouth hungrily, and she ground against me, trying to come

in contact with the dildo. Her nails raked up my back as I moved