Chapter 24
Dove
Slater pulls up his Range Rover in a spot on the main street and kills the engine.
When River said the two of us were heading into town, he insisted on coming with us.
Apparently the two of them had work to do anyway, and I could tag along.
Love how he made it all about him. Not. So now I have not one but two oversized babysitters.
Fun for me. And impossible for me to do the snooping round town I want to do with them looking over my shoulder.
“Where to first, baby?” River drapes his arm over my shoulders like it’s supposed to be there. It feels way too natural and that in itself gives me the ick. I will not let myself fall into their trap.
I shrug him off and keep wandering up the street.
Everything is so different, why would I have any idea where we should go?
The shops and cafes are all located under high-rise buildings with flashing neon signs, and the most modern-looking fit-outs.
Most of the businesses are chains, when in the past, they were all one-story family-owned by people I knew on a first-name basis.
My hunt for information is going to be harder than I thought.
How could an entire town have changed so much in just ten years? I want to run into the streets and scream at the top of my lungs, what’s wrong with you people? But that would be futile. I know what happened. They all fell under the spell of the charming Thrones and their promises of a better life.
I stare through the window of a cupcake shop painted in pastel colors.
Even I have to admit it looks enticing, with all the cute cakes lined up in their categories.
I glance back to the boys, wondering if they would let me go crazy in there and buy whatever I wanted.
Slater gives me a knowing look. I’m sure he remembers how much of a sweet tooth I have, but I didn’t bring my stash of cash.
It’s still in the combi, and I’m not asking them for shit, so I guess that’s a no, even though my stomach protests.
The cookies-and-cream cake is especially calling my name.
Slater gives a not-so-subtle nod to River, and he wraps his arm around my waist and guides me into a hair salon just next door, smiling at me all warm and charming.
He’s so damn flirty, I catch myself grinning back at him before I quickly scowl.
He is not your friend, girl, get your shit together.
Yeah, he might kiss better than I ever imagined he would, but it’s just not worth it.
River walks right up to the front counter, greeting the middle-aged lady with bright red hair with a flirtatious smile. “Linda.” He purrs her name like the two of them are familiar.
She glances up at him, an uneasiness in her features.
“Is it that time of the month again, Riv?” she asks, popping open the till.
She tries to subtly hand him a wad of cash, but it’s obvious to anyone with half a brain what’s going on.
When her attention comes to me and Bodhi, I turn away, pretending I’m looking at the products on the far wall instead.
It’s expensive shit, the same type I have in my bathroom, and I wonder if this is where Kasen shops.
I pick up a few bottles, reading the descriptions just to distract myself.
I don’t want to be caught up in any of the boys’ business.
“Want to get your hair done, sunshine?” Bodhi asks, his fingers tangling into my long hair. He studies it, running the silky strands through them.
I glare at him. “Stop calling me that,” I snap, snatching my hair out of his grip, and move further down the line of products.
He moves with me, leering at me in that intimidating way he does. “Why? You worried people might think we’re a couple?”
“Yes,” I answer through clenched teeth.
His hand moves down to my waist, and he tugs me closer to him, his eyes darkening.
It’s a carnal look that I know means only one thing.
The movement is so sudden it nearly knocks the air out of my lungs, or has he just stollen my breath by the dominating way he’s holding me?
Fuck, that can’t be it, can it? Slater doesn’t really want me, he just likes toying with me for sport.
He must be bored because he’s kept his distance since the first day I got back here.
“What are you doing?” I whisper, not liking the intention in his eyes.
Actually, that’s a lie, the desire is a massive turn-on.
But not here, not with him. I take a shaky step back, but that only makes him grip me tighter and sends my heart into overdrive.
His other hand wraps around my hair, holding me so I’m forced to gape up at him.
“We’re in public,” I protest under my breath.
His sly smile grows wider. This is fun for him.
Fuck, why am I on his radar today? “Holly, you got a free time slot this morning? I think our girl needs a little pampering.” He tugs my hair harder so I’m forced closer to him.
He doesn’t care who sees him holding me like this.
Right now, he reminds me of his buddy Kasen, and that’s not a good thing—for him.
Even still, my heart flutters. Oh, dear God, why does it feel so damn good for him to be manhandling me like this? And in public. His grip is so tight, all I can do is glare right into his eyes. “Slater,” I growl in warning because I have nothing else.
“I’ve just checked, sir, and I have availability now if you like. One of the other girls can take my ten-thirty,” comes a voice from beside us. I can’t see her, but I can hear the amusement in her voice. It makes me want to slap his smug face.
Then like nothing happened between us, he releases me. “You can put it on Kasen’s account.” He huffs out a laugh, and I’m sure that part was for me.
I suck in the first full breath in like five minutes and look anywhere but at the girl who just joined us.
That is until she squeals. “Oh my God. It can’t be.
” Her hands are on my shoulders before I know what’s happening.
“Little Dove Dawson. Man, the last time I saw you, you were just a kid. Now look at you.” She waves a hand over my body. “You’re all grown up and so beautiful.”
I smile awkwardly, recognizing her as well and hating Bodhi even more for the show he just put on. “Hey, Holly. Yeah, it’s been a while.”
“Too long. Your mum was my best customer when I got this place started. We were all devastated when we heard what happened.”
I smile because I don’t know what to say. I’m not ready for the questions that I know are about to come. “She loved you and her monthly visits,” I offer instead.
“Well, I’m not surprised. I’m so sorry, Dove, over the years I have wanted to get in touch with you so many times, but no one knew where you went.”
I stare at her blankly, tears so damn close to tumbling down my cheeks I’m not sure I can stop them. The emotion catches me off guard. I normally have this shit so well in check.
River’s hand glides down my back gently, and he moves me over to a black leather chair.
When his eyes lock with mine in the mirror, I know he sees it.
This is his way of saving me. “Why don’t you take a seat so Holly can get started?
Dawn, can you get my girl a mimosa,” he calls to someone else behind us.
The women in the salon all scurry around, following his instructions.
I take a seat on auto pilot as Holly comes to stand behind me.
“I’m not sure I need anything done,” I tell her, glaring at the boys for trying to bully me into it.
Is this part of their plan to butter me up?
Buy her breakfast and take her to get her hair done, then she will do whatever we want?
Not happening, is what my eyes tell them.
Besides, it’s only been a couple of weeks since I touched up my color. Right before I took off.
Holly plays with my hair, watching me in the mirror. “Nonsense. If Kasen’s paying, get the works, girl. I would. It looks like you haven’t seen the inside of a salon in a while.”
I shrug. “Been a few years.” When you can’t afford food, you don’t get luxuries like a hair stylist, and honestly, I have never been high-maintenance like my mum, she thrived on the attention of being the best-looking woman in a room. I couldn’t care less if anyone even notices I exist.
She grins. “Then you need a deep treatment. You could also do with a trim.”
A tall champagne glass filled with orange liquid is placed in my hand, and I catch sight of Slater watching me, his lips turned up at the sides until he finds me glancing his way, then the scowl he likes to save just for me falls firmly back in place.
“We only have a couple of hours, sunshine. K wants you at the office by midday.”
My eyes meet back with Holly’s. “Do whatever your longest treatment is.” I smirk at her in the mirror, and she gives me a nod, a cheeky smile on her face.
I’m not sure why Kasen wants to see me at his office, but fuck that shit.
Besides, this was Slater’s big idea in the first place, he can wait for me now.
I lie back and close my eyes, letting her work her magic.
It’s been so long since anyone has done my hair.
The last few years, since I started coloring the blonde to silver, I’ve been doing the cheap bottle option, and I haven’t bothered cutting it.
That’s why it’s so out of control and long.
But her massaging my scalp is heaven, and since Kasen is paying and he wants to continue acting like he’s the boss of me, I’m going to make the most of it.