that be a bad thing?”
Noelle was caught off guard by the fierce longing that rose inside her. She had to put her brain in control here, not her heart. “Yes,” she uttered, disappointment squeezing her in a tight hold. “I can’t go down that road again. I’m sorry.” She looked down at the floor.
“I know,” he said calmly.
She lifted her eyes, meeting his gaze in the mirror. The regret on his handsome face tore at her. Her first inclination, even after everything that happened, was to say something to put him at ease. But she couldn’t go there. She had to be strong.
“It’s okay,” he continued. She could feel his disappointment. It called to her, beckoning her down forbidden paths.
She couldn’t stop tears from rising in her eyes. “I wish things were different.” Oh, how she wished it were so!
“Me too.” The muscles in the corners of his jaw flicked. “I don’t suppose it would help if I pointed out that I’m a changed man.”
She took in a breath, trying to rein in her emotions. It wouldn’t do to fall apart here at the salon. “I guess we’ve both changed,” she said stiffly.
His voice took on a playful lilt. “Miss Georgia Royal. I never saw that one coming.”
Laughter gurgled in her throat. “Me neither. My college roommate talked me into entering the pageant. I never dreamt in a million years that I would win.”
He gave her an appraising look. “I wasn’t surprised in the least about that part, only that you’d entered.” A crooked grin tipped a corner of his lips. “See, like I always said—you’re a girly girl.”
A smile played on her lips. “There was a time when I would’ve popped you in the lip for that wisecrack.” She’d been a big tomboy when they were kids, priding herself on running faster than any boy and climbing any tree. Noelle was grateful that she and Holden had steered the conversation back to safer ground. She could talk to Holden all day long about their growing-up years. She just didn’t want to revisit the tragedy that had broken them apart. She resumed buzzing around the sides of his hair. She’d have to use scissors to get the straggler hairs close to his ear.
He grew speculative. “Didn’t you come close to winning The Miss America Royal Pageant?”
She nodded. “Yep, I was first runner up.” She grimaced. “I botched the final question.” She caught a look at Holden’s cheeky expression and realized that he already knew. She rolled her eyes, repeating her faux pas. “We need to make education even more better for all women. Gah! I still can’t believe I said more better.” She grunted. “People probably thought I needed educating.”
His eyes sparkled. “I thought you were kinda cute. You certainly looked good in the swimsuit,” he murmured. “Didn’t you win that part?”
Her cheeks were flaming red. “Yep, I did.”
She put down the trimmer and reached for the scissors. “Okay, almost finished,” she said mostly to herself. She needed all the positive affirmation she could get. The haircut was almost over. Thank goodness! Maybe her heart could get out of the tailspin that being so close to Holden had put her in. She snipped the stragglers away, giving him a smooth hairline above his right ear. After checking her work to make sure it was adequate, she moved to the other ear. She crouched down slightly, getting at a good angle to trim the hair.
“What do you think you’re doing?” a female voice demanded.
Noelle’s hand jerked. She felt the scissors cut flesh and realized that she’d nicked Holden’s ear. He yelped as a slash of blood appeared across his skin.
“Oh, no! I’m so sorry.” Noelle dropped the scissors onto the counter before grabbing a nearby towel and pressing it to Holden’s ear.
“You cut his ear!” Meredith exclaimed incredulously. She was standing with her hand perched on her bony hip, glaring at Noelle, her long dark hair flying out behind her like a battle flag.
“I—I wouldn’t have, but you startled me,” Noelle said, her defense falling lamely from her lips.
“It’s no big deal,” Holden said easily. “It’s just a scratch.”
“It is a big deal,” Meredith countered. Her eyes narrowed as she raised her voice loud enough for the entire salon to hear. “First, you turn Mrs. Smalley’s hair purple, and now you cut someone’s ear? This is unacceptable.” A hard smile curled her lips. “I don’t know how they do things over in Georgia, but it’s not how we operate here.”
Noelle felt