"You're being stubborn again." He doesn't move away from my lips.
"You don't want a kiss?"
His lips twitch.
"Two words, and my lips are yours."
He stays silent.
"Okay, country boy. I'll see you inside." I turn to leave, but he spins me back to him.
He possessively grips my head. His lips merge with mine, creating an inferno so hot my toes curl and knees weaken. He mumbles, "I'm sorry," and glides his tongue back in my mouth.
I don't know how much time passes. It could be minutes or hours. I'm so wrapped up in him I don't hear Axel clear his throat and only come back to reality when Dirk pulls back to respond to him. "I'm not sure if we're going to wait it out here or attempt Mexico. But you two go to, Nicaragua."
"Thanks." Axel goes inside.
"How do you feel about redheads?" I ask Dirk.
He grins. "Any hair color on you, I'm down with."
"What about green eyes?"
"You'll be sexy like always, but nothing will ever be better than your real eyes."
I pat his cheeks. "Aww. Aren't you sweet?"
"For the record, I kissed you, so you still owe me a kiss."
"Well then, I guess I'll save it for a rainy day." I slip under his shirt and trace over the arrows on his V.
He raises his eyebrows.
"You still haven't told me what you think when you stare at your arrows in the mirror."
He shakes his head and laughs. "Go dye your hair."
We go inside, and Penelope and I step into the bathroom.
"Zoe, I feel horrible putting you in any danger."
"Don't apologize. Your daughter is the most important thing."
She sniffles. "Thank you. I know—"
"Stop. Let's not discuss it anymore." I shake the dye box. "Now, have you done this before?"
"Yes."
"Good because I haven't."
We spend the next hour coloring my hair, and when she washes it off, she mutters, "Oh."
"What's wrong?"
"It's umm...umm..."
"What?"
"Cheerful?"
"Why do I get the feeling that isn't good?"
"Umm...everything looks great on you so..."
I spin and check out my reflection in the mirror. "Oh..."
And it's wet, so it's only going to get lighter.
"Tinker sure did pick a red one," I say, holding a few strands out and seeing it glow in the light. "My hair is more orange, wouldn't you say?"
"I swear I did exactly as the box said," Penelope mumbles.
"It's not your fault. I'm blaming Tinker on this one."
"Maybe it'll be better after I blow it dry," she offers while cringing.
I hand her the dryer. Fifteen minutes later, and it's official. My hair is neon orange.
"Well. Guess it's a good thing I don't want to draw any attention to me or anything like that."
Penelope puts her hand over her mouth and tries not to laugh.
"I did have green and even yellow hair once. I guess it's only fair orange gets a turn."
That only makes Penelope close her eyes.
"What do you think went through Tinker's mind when he chose this one?"
She busts out laughing so hard tears drip. "I'm sorry."
I shrug and open the door. "Let's go see what our host thinks."
She attempts to compose herself, and we go into the kitchen. As soon as we step through the door, the guys turn.
I try to keep a straight face and sit on Dirk's lap. "How do you like my hair?"
His eyes widen. "It looks..."
"Go on."
"You're sexy with any color hair. I already told you that."
"Right. But what about this hair?" I hold a fistful out.
"You look beautiful as always."
Axel grunts, and I turn.
"What do you think?"
"It's great, Zoe."
I tilt my head.
"What?" He holds his hands in the air.
"I think you were meant to be a redhead," Tinker says with a huge smile as if he genuinely believes that.
Penelope clears her throat. "Tinker, what color do you think Zoe's hair is?"
"Red."
"No. It's not."
"Sure it is."
"It's orange. Neon orange."
"Is it?"
"Yes."
"Huh. Maybe I am color blind like they told me in boot camp."
"Tinker, how many years ago were you in boot camp?" I ask.
"I'm forty-five. Joined when I was eighteen so...twenty seven years ago."
"Twenty-seven years! And you just realize they were correct now?" I shriek.
He shrugs. "You look like a hot redhead to me."
I turn to Dirk. "You can laugh. It's okay."
He holds a strand of my hair. "I told you, you're one of the only people on Earth who can pull any hair color off."
"The eighties are over."
"Retro is always in?" he offers.
"Ha. Funny."
Axel starts laughing so hard he cries, and Penelope joins him.