Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 167257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 558(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 558(@300wpm)
“Thanks, but no thanks. I’d rather gouge out my own eyes with Rick Ross’s toenails. I can take care of myself, Owen.”
“You think after last night I don’t know that?” She didn’t respond, so I kissed her again, this time hard enough to force a startled moan from her, then pretended I didn’t see her mouth chasing after mine when I pulled away and headed into the workshop to get some work done.
Today was my appointment with Demi, so I headed straight over after the shop closed. I walked into the shop with a smile on my face that slowly fell when I found none other than Golden sitting in her chair.
Demi was animatedly talking as she re-twisted his locs, and to my utter shock and jealousy, Golden was actually speaking in low tones back to her. Of course, his sudden bout of chattiness ended as soon as I walked through the door. They were alone in the salon, and I suspected that might have been by design.
“Hey, girl,” Demi greeted when she noticed me. “Take a seat at the bowl. I will be with you in just a sec.”
“Cool.” On my way to the sink, I stopped and smiled down at Golden, who was silently assessing me as he often did. I didn’t think he was interested in me or anything, but I absolutely believed he didn’t trust me for a second. “What’s on your mind today, G?”
He raised his brow as if to say, that’s the best you got?
I grinned and took a seat in the styling chair next to him. Challenge accepted, my silent friend.
“You know, I was thinking about our conversation the other day, and I decided you’re right…you do look a little like J. Cole.”
His expression dulled.
“Hey, don’t get mad at me, dude.” I raised my hands in mock surrender. “You’re the one who said it.” Golden took a sip of his drink a little too late to hide the subtle lift of his lips. “Anyway, bet you fifty bucks I can crush you in the quiet game.”
He rolled his eyes.
“All right, I’ll tell you a secret…but you have to promise not to tell anyone.”
Golden gave a quiet snort, but seeing the triumph on my face, he rocked his hand in a so-so gesture that said I’d still have to do better than that.
I faked a sigh and stood. “Fine. Have it your way, boss.”
“If you really want to get him talking,” Demi cut in, “ask him if LeBron is better than Kobe. You won’t be able to turn him off then.”
I stared at Demi. “Kobe is obviously better than LeBron.”
Demi tossed her head back and groaned, so I let my attention fall to Golden, who was watching me now with newfound appreciation in his gaze. “I should ban you both from my shop,” Demi grumbled.
She finished with Golden, and they both walked to the front of the salon, where Golden whispered something to her, making her smile softly and blush a little before paying and leaving.
I watched through the window as he prowled to the same orange Camaro I’d seen him working on the day I’d arrived on their doorstep. He dropped into the driver’s seat, and the engine roared to life before he slowly pulled away from the curb and disappeared from sight.
“Don’t tell me you’ve got the hots for the Golden boy too.”
I was alarmed when I looked up and realized Demi had caught me watching my silent boss leave. She was standing over me with her hands on her generous hips, waiting for an answer from me.
I barked an incredulous laugh. “No. You don’t have to worry about that.” I was too busy catching feelings for a man that would have sent my father to an early grave if he wasn’t already dead. Grief punched a volleyball-sized hole in my chest without warning so I said, “I’m pretty sure Golden hates me.”
“Because he won’t talk to you? I wouldn’t take that personally. It took him two years before he would even say hi to me and then another two years before I got full sentences from him. We all have our ways of keeping the world at bay. ”
Great.
Except I didn’t have two years. I needed answers now, and whoever had sent me those letters had gone silent.
“So Golden’s is selective mutism?”
“I guess.” She grabbed a clean black cape from the cabinet near the sink and secured it around my neck before arranging it to protect my clothes. “So, how’s it going over there in the lion’s den?” she asked as she checked my scalp.
I snickered at her name for the shop. “I took off my training wheels today, so that was…new.”
“And the party last night? How was that?”
“It was okay,” I said as she leaned me back and began to wash my hair. “You should have come.”