check on the alleged nose hair, she stalked out into the front of the salon to find Lex.
“Aunt Grace, your hair looks amazing,” Lex said, rising from one of the massaging recliners. “And look at those eyelashes. They’re so long. The tinting was a great choice.”
Grace took a step forward and pointed to her nose. “Do I have a black hair growing out of this thing?”
“What?” Lex stared at her aunt as if she’d lost her mind.
“On my nose. Is there a gnarly hair that needs to be removed?”
Lex frowned as she studied Grace’s face. “No. I’d have told you earlier if there was.”
Grace raised one eyebrow. “You didn’t say anything about my mustache.”
“What mustache?” She peered harder at her aunt. “Looks like you got half your face waxed.”
“Yeah, because according to the esthetician, I had a mustache, caterpillar eyebrows, and chin whiskers.” Grace squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. “I know I’m being dramatic, but that’s what happens when you run into your replacement.”
“Shondra’s here? And you ran into her?” Lex asked in a hushed tone.
Grace grimaced and nodded. “Then she said I’d turned into a hag.”
“She said that?”
“She may as well have. She’s the one who said I had a black hair growing out of my nose.”
“It’s okay, sweetie,” Lance said, sliding up behind her and draping an arm around her shoulders. “It’s not like you looked like a wookie or anything. It’s Carrie’s job to address these things. Trust me. You look fabulous. Now who is this Shondra person? She sounds like a nightmare.”
“She is. She’s the one who had an affair with my ex and was the catalyst for the divorce,” Grace explained.
“She worked with Grace, too,” Lex whispered to Lance.
“Oh, that bitch,” Lance said. “What a hag. Don’t you dare give her one more thought. She doesn’t deserve your energy.” He squeezed, giving her a slight hug. “Now take that fine ass home and turn yourself into the sexy goddess that lives inside of you. That will be the best revenge you could serve to the likes of Shondra. While she’s stuck living your old life with Bill and washing his underwear, you’ll be out living life on your terms, answering to no one. Sounds to me like you got the better end of the bargain.”
“Hell yeah!” Lex pumped her fist in the air. “You’re livin’ the dream.”
But was she? Sure, it looked great on the outside. She had her own beach cottage, a new job, and a hot date. But the house was on the small side, her job was precarious at best, and her date would more than likely move on to someone Shondra’s age as soon as he saw her naked.
Wait? Was she really thinking they were going to get naked together? Was she really going to show him her middle-aged body? Grace groaned and wondered how she could get out of dinner with Owen.
“Oh no you don’t.” Lex grabbed her by the shoulders and started to steer her toward the exit. “Don’t you dare let those doubts creep in. You’re going to live a little tonight even if I have to drive you to the restaurant myself.”
“But, Lex—”
“No, I mean it. Now come on. I’m not taking no for an answer.”
Grace chuckled. She knew her niece meant it, and if she actually did try to cancel with Owen, Lex would never shut up about it. “Okay. Fine. Let’s go. But I have to pay my bill first.”
“We have your credit card on file,” Lance called from behind them. “I’ll handle it.”
“Make sure I tip you and Carrie,” Grace called just before Lex ushered her out of the door.
Chapter Seven
Grace pulled her sweater wrap around herself, covering the lowcut dress Lex had picked out for her date. It was what Hope had called her divorce dress. The one that she bought just because it made her feel good. And it had in the store. But now that she was wearing it as she walked into the office to have a meeting with her boss, she was second guessing all of the decisions she’d made in the last few days.
“Wow.” Owen let out a low whistle as he looked up from his desk. “Look at you. Hot date?” he asked with a knowing smile.
“Just dinner with a friend,” she countered.
“He’s one lucky bastard.” Owen stood and moved to her side, placing a hand on the small of her back.
“Who said my dinner date was a he?”
“So you admit that it is