True-Blue Cowboy - Vicki Lewis Thompson
Chapter One
Nick La Grande settled in the upholstered salon chair, propped his boots on the metal footrest and glanced in the mirror. Meeting the gaze of the smiling woman standing behind him filled his chest with warmth.
He didn’t permit that warmth to travel south, though. Eva Kilpatrick had never shown the slightest interest in him, so he’d keep his reaction under control and his fantasies to himself.
She’d never know he’d pictured her lying beneath him, her green eyes smoldering with desire. Her hair, which she’d colored a rich peacock blue, would be even more amazing spread out on a snowy white pillow.
Maintaining eye contact in the mirror, she tunneled her fingers through his somewhat ordinary brown hair. “We need to make you look really hot for the bachelor auction.”
“I like the sound of that.” And he loved when she fooled with his hair.
“What do you think of adding some blond highlights?”
He tensed. “So I’ll look like CJ?” He’d give his life for CJ Andrews. But Eva was not coloring his hair to match the golden locks of her former crush now that CJ was off the market.
She blinked. “You don’t look anything like CJ.”
So true, and unfortunately, that cowboy, a member of the Buckskin Brotherhood and one of Nick’s closest friends, was her gold standard. He caught his own reflection in the mirror. Envy didn’t look good on him. He flashed her a smile. “You’re right. I’m prettier.”
In the chair next to him, Rafe snorted. “And a huge pain in the patoot.” He laid back for his shampoo and his horizontal six-six frame brought his boots within inches of a magazine rack on the far wall. “Can’t believe I let you talk me into this auction thing.”
“Calme-toi, Rafe.” Josette rubbed shampoo into his hair. “Raptors Rise is a good cause.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He took a breath. “I’m happy to do my part.”
Nick grinned. Nothing like a mild rebuke from a woman Rafe thought of as a beloved auntie to adjust his attitude.
“So.” Eva rested her hands on Nick’s shoulders, her gaze amused. “Blond highlights?”
She was a toucher. During appointments, she’d often stand this way, her hands on the client’s shoulders, creating a temporary bond. She treated her customers as friends, and if that was all he ever became, he’d learn to live with it.
The lilt in her voice told him she’d enjoy coloring his hair. Because of that, he was tempted to agree. Maybe she wasn’t trying to make him look like CJ. But, damn it, he’d wince every time he glanced in the mirror.
He maintained his smile. “I appreciate the suggestion, but it wouldn’t work for me.” Too bad if she preferred blond hair to brown. Dying his hair to spark her interest didn’t sit well with him.
“Okay.” She squeezed his shoulders. “I’ll get you a cape.”
He kept track of her in the mirror as she walked to a cupboard at the far end of the shop. Moving with graceful efficiency, she pulled out folded towels and a black polyester cape. She’d lived here as many years as he had, but they hadn’t met until he’d walked into Tres Beau six months ago.
If she’d always had blue hair, he would have noticed her on the street. Hard to miss something like that. But the color change had happened at the beginning of this year, a Christmas present from Josette.
He’d never run into her at the Choosy Moose, either. He’d asked her once why he hadn’t seen her there. Turned out she’d used any spare cash to chip away at the business loan she’d taken out when she and Josette had opened the shop.
A few weeks ago, she’d proudly announced she’d paid off that debt. Her good credit had made her a shoo-in when she’d applied for a home loan last month. Hard-working, disciplined and beautiful—she ticked all the boxes.
She returned, laid the towels on the counter and began tucking his collar under. “I like this shirt.”
“Thanks.” He preferred T-shirts in the summer, but after he’d experienced Eva’s collar-tucking routine back in March, he’d worn a collared shirt to every appointment.
“It brings out the blue in your eyes.”
“That’s what Sheri said.”
“Sheri over at Jeans Junction?”
“Yes, ma’am.” They’d gone on a date once to see if friendship could turn into something else. It hadn’t, but they’d remained friends.
“She has excellent taste.” Eva wrapped a towel around his neck. “Looks new. Did you just buy it?” After snapping the cape in place, she swiveled his chair so he faced away from the mirror.
“Um, yesterday.”