to her toes. She seldom indulged in pedicures, but did love them, and if it was on the house … why not? “Okay, thanks.”
As Savannah bent down to unbuckle the straps on her sandals, Gabi Romano’s cell phone rang. She checked the number, then said, “Excuse me, Savannah. I should get this. Family.” Then, “Hey, big brother. What’s up?”
As she listened to her call, Gabi wiggled her toes in the bubbling water of the salon chair’s tub. When she abruptly froze, Savannah eyed her with concern. Something was wrong.
“He did what?” Gabi asked, her tone hard and flat. After a good thirty seconds, she made an angry splash at the water with one of her feet. “He said that to Captain Kosarek? That son of a bitch. I swear, Max, next time I see him I’m going to kick those balls he’s so proud of up under his eyebrows.”
The woman talked tough, but Savannah didn’t miss the tears pooling in her eyes as she listened to her big brother’s side of the conversation, though she blinked them away before they fell.
Gabi sighed heavily then sat up straight. “No, don’t do that, Max. It doesn’t matter. Honestly. If my new boss won’t judge me for what I do rather than what someone else said I did, then I don’t need to be working for him anyway. Really.”
Savannah found the massage chair control and switched it on. Pressure against muscles stiff from bending over her workbench for too long felt wonderful. She slid her bare feet into the warm scented water swirling in the bowl. Lavender, Savannah recognized. Nice, but ordinary. Nothing like the heavenly scent for footbaths nestled in her tote.
“I love you, too, Max,” Gabi said, relaxing against her own chair. “Thanks for the heads-up, and don’t worry about me. I’m so done with letting that man dim my shine. So, have you heard anything from Mother?”
As Gabi’s conversation moved into family matters, Savannah turned her attention to the display of nail polish hanging on the wall and debated which color she should choose. Moments later, the woman next to her ended her phone call, saying to Savannah, “I apologize for subjecting you to my personal family business. I needed to take the call and I didn’t want to get up and track oily water across the floor for Erin to slip in when she returns.”
“Not a problem,” Savannah replied, offering a friendly smile that shifted to concerned when she spied a pair of big fat tears spill from Gabi Romano’s eyes. “Are you okay? Can I do something to help you?”
“Oh, just ignore me. I’m fine.” Gabi angrily swiped the tears off her cheeks. “Just an old boyfriend who won’t take no for an answer. My brothers are worried and acting watchdog for me.… You’re not wearing a ring. Are you married?”
“No.”
“Then let me give you a piece of advice. Never date a fireman or a cop.”
The laugh burst out of Savannah unintended. When Gabi drew back in surprise, she explained. “Like the saying goes, Been there, done that. Have the knife-through-my-heart scar to prove it.”
“Really.” Gabi’s smile warmed, and her blue eyes gleamed with friendly curiosity. “Do tell.”
In that moment, Gabi reminded Savannah of someone, though she couldn’t place just who. “You know, not to be cranky, but I’d rather not talk about it.”
“Not a problem. I understand.” Gabi dipped her right-hand fingers into the manicure bowl. “Ordinarily I’m discreet, too, but when I’m angry like this, everything spews out. It’s like I hear his name, so I want to vomit. Better to spew words than bile, I guess. My ex is bile. Vile bile. I think the worst part of it is that he had me totally snowed. I believed the lying bastard. Men don’t fool me. Not often. I grew up surrounded by jockstraps in a house full of brothers. I know men. I understand their tricks. With him …” She shook her head sadly. “I never saw it coming.”
“What did he do?”
“He destroyed me. He’s the lowest form of life on earth.”
We’re kindred spirits. I think I found a sister, Savannah thought. “And he’s a cop?”
“A firefighter. Swaggering slime.”
A teenager entered the room carrying a pitcher filled with ice. She smiled at Savannah. “Hi, Ms. Moore. I’m Erin Stewart. I’m glad to see that you decided to take Celeste up on her offer. She’s really sorry that she’s been delayed.”
“Not a problem.”
“Let me finish up with Gabi and I’ll get to you.” She filled two