Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Zemia
“Your business card?! You gave him your business card?” Alana snorted laughter, nearly choking on her wine.
“What’s wrong with that?” I picked up my sister’s silly gingerbread man pillow, ready to throw it at her.
“If I spill my wine on this brand-new couch, you’re going to get it.” Alana glared at me from across her couch. Sisterly love, got to love it.
“Fine. Whatever. I thought it was a good way to break the ice. Maybe he’ll call. Why can’t the woman make the first move?”
“You can. By asking him out on a date. Not offering to do his daughter’s hair.”
“I didn’t offer to do his daughter’s hair.”
“You kind of did when you gave him your business card.”
“What are you two up to?” Marc, my sister’s husband, walked in the living room and sat down beside his wife, wrapping his arm around her. She nuzzled against him. They were so cute together. He ran a hand over her stomach, the way he used to when she was pregnant with Jilly and oh my God…
“Alana, are you pregnant?” I blurted out, the wine having loosened my tongue.
Marc moved his hand away quickly, but Alana shot him a dirty look and sat up straight. “What are you talking about? Honestly, I should be offended by that question.”
I gave her a look. We sisters could speak in code and still understand each other. At least she and I could.
She rolled her eyes and shot Marc another dirty look who sheepishly mouthed, I’m sorry.
I chuckled to myself. That guy had it bad for my sister. Always did. Kind of what I wanted.
Foster popped into my head, and I pushed it away. He obviously had his hands full with two little girls. My sister had her hands full with Jilly, never mind two, which circled my mind right back to- Alana. Pregnant. Oh my God.
“Okay, fine. But shhh. It’s too early to say anything.” Alana revealed.
I quickly put my wine down on the table while kicking my feet. I jumped up and clapped. “Ahh! You’re pregnant! I’m going to be an auntie again!” I grabbed her hands and pulled her to a stand, wrapping her in a tight hug. “I’m so excited!”
“Thanks, sis. Me too.”
“And me!” Marc echoed back with laughter in his voice.
“Jilly will be such an amazing big sister. I can’t wait. I hope you get a little girl so they can be best friends like me and you.”
Alana snorted again, and I tapped her arm playfully. “More like we’re supposed to be pregnant together. Remember that?”
I rolled my eyes jokingly. “I know, I know I’m working on it, okay?”
“Maybe I’ll slip a little note in Livvie’s backpack.” Alana mused.
“You wouldn’t!”
Marc laughed. “I don’t want to know what you two are up to.”
But later that night, as I tried to fall asleep, I wondered how long it would take him to call.
Or if he would at all.
The next couple of days I spent booked with clients from Christmas photo shoots to holiday gatherings. Everyone wanted their hair done.
As I closed up shop on Friday evening, thankful for the early night, a knock sounded on the salon door. I groaned under my breath. I hated turning someone away. Couldn’t they see the sign?
But when I opened the door, it wasn’t a client standing there.
It was Foster McKay. And he had a huge bouquet of wildflowers in his hands. “Surprise.” He grinned and I couldn’t help bursting into laughter.
“Foster? What are you doing here?” I said through giggles. “Come in. It’s freezing out there.” I waved him in and closed the door behind him, blocking out the frigid air.
“I wanted to come by and say thank you. You helped Livvie out and I appreciate it a lot.” Foster handed me the bunch and I immediately smelled them. “The girls and I picked them from our indoor flowering pots. We like to garden all year and keep some inside during the colder months.”
He grows flowers inside with his girls? Swoon.
“Thank you. They smell so good.”
“Of course. Livvie picked them especially for you.”
Double swoon. This guy is killing me.
“Aw she’s so sweet.”
“Thank you. She is. I also wanted to ask you if you could do her hair for our Christmas family photos? Usually, I’d do my best at pigtails, but now that Livvie is older, she doesn’t care for them. Says they are for babies.” Foster chuckled.
“Sounds like my niece. She can’t stand the pig tails anymore. It’s sad when they grow up too quickly. But of course, I’d love to help. Did you want to book an appointment?”
“Sure. The photo appointment is next Wednesday. Do you have any openings before then?”
I walked over to my desk and set the flowers down gently next to my laptop. I clicked open my schedule and scanned the appointments. “I can do Monday afternoon? How’s four?”
“Perfect. One last question. Are you free tonight?”
“Tonight? For hair?”
“No, for dinner with me.”
I blinked once. Twice. Three times. He stood waiting patiently, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. I pinched the back of my hand. A sharp pain ran up my arm. Ouch. Okay, so this wasn’t a dream.
The hot single dad mountain man was asking me out.
Tonight.
“I know it’s crazy, but I can’t stop thinking about you, Zemia.
Since the moment I laid eyes on you, you’ve lived in my head rent free.
And you’ve made quite the impression on my daughter.
I used the flowers and my daughter’s hair as an excuse to show up here, but really, all I want is to kiss you.
” Foster strode over to where I stood frozen in place with all the confidence in the world.
Damn, he was hot.
I looked up at him. Shit, I could I fall in love with this man so easily. He made it so easy.
“The hottest bachelor in town wants to kiss me?” I teased, echoing my sister’s statement from the night I met him.
“Ha. I wouldn’t say hottest.” Foster grinned. “Okay, maybe I would.”
“I’ve heard you’re pretty hard to get.” I fibbed.
“Only because I’ve been waiting for the right woman. Looks like I’ve found her.”
My breath hitched in my throat. Blood roared through my ears.
And then I did something I never expected I would do.
I grabbed the back of his head and kissed him.