Free RECKLESS AND WILD: MOTORCYCLE CLUB ROMANCE BOX SET by Honey Palomino Page B
Authors: Honey Palomino
him get back under my skin, and if I needed to remind myself of that fact every single time I ran into him, then so be it.
Hopefully, my interactions with him would be nothing more than what had just happened. A friendly wave and nothing more.
I couldn't believe I was asking for that, considering it was a far cry from the feelings I was tormented by just last week, but here I was. I was better off without him, no matter how excruciatingly handsome he was. It didn't matter that I had never felt more alive than I did when I was him. It didn't matter that I was plagued by images of him in my dreams. Nobody needed to know how many times I woke up in the dead of the night with sweat-drenched sheets and my heart pounding with heartache and yearning with tears running down my face.
Some things were better left in the dark.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The grand opening turned out to be fairly successful. I threw the doors open, turned on some jazz music and offered free drinks to anyone who showed up. Being alone, I was a little worried that I might get backed up if a lot of people showed up at the same time, but most people seemed interested in just looking around and making appointments for later, which was exactly what I was hoping for. I did do a few cuts and shaves, and I was walking on a cloud all day from all the praise that the customers heaped upon my new idea and the new look of the place. Overall, it was extremely well-received. Even if it was mostly men seventy and older from the senior citizens center down the block. I can't count how many times I had heard the phrase, 'I haven't had a good, close shave in twenty years.'!
Ease settled over me as the sky outside my window turned a dusky orange. I cleaned up from the busy day, and the events of the last few weeks trailed through my head. I was thankful to be on the other side of the mess with River. I had decided to just chalk it up to an experience to remember forever, but not to be relived. Sure, it might take me a while to get over him. It might take a little effort to come to terms with the fact that I would never see my reflection in his mirror again.
But I knew I'd get there.
In the meantime, I had a promising business to attend to.
I sighed with relief, enjoying the feeling of accomplishment. Finally, I might have some financial stability. All I had to do was keep my shit together and not get distracted by the hunky man across the street.
The front door opened with the jingle of the bells I had placed on the doorknob. I turned and came face to face with Colby.
“Hi, there.” I said, giving him my best business-like polite smile.
“Hey, Dix.” He stood awkwardly just inside the door, his head turning as he took in the place. “Nice couches.”
“Thank you. Are you here for a cut?” I was surprised to see him but I would be even more surprised if he told me he wanted to cut off those fantastic black curls.
“Huh? No, no way, ma'am. Have you seen these locks?” His eyes twinkled mischievously as he gave me his most charming smile.
“But you know what? I will take a shave. Am I too late? Are you closing up?”
“I am. But I think I have time for one more. If you're sure I can't give you a trim...” I winked at him, and taking note of my newly found confidence around him, I loved the fact that I hadn't stuttered once.
“Well, alright. Sounds good.”
“Come with me.” I walked into the back of the store, leading him into one of two of the black leather barber chairs I had splurged on at the last minute. He sat down, his large frame making the small chair look tiny.
I had to admit he was exceptionally handsome. As rugged and rough around the edges he might be, the lines and scars on his face illuminated his street smarts and one look in his dark eyes told you he had seen some things in his life.
I tore my eyes away from his, and turned to fetch my
Hopefully, my interactions with him would be nothing more than what had just happened. A friendly wave and nothing more.
I couldn't believe I was asking for that, considering it was a far cry from the feelings I was tormented by just last week, but here I was. I was better off without him, no matter how excruciatingly handsome he was. It didn't matter that I had never felt more alive than I did when I was him. It didn't matter that I was plagued by images of him in my dreams. Nobody needed to know how many times I woke up in the dead of the night with sweat-drenched sheets and my heart pounding with heartache and yearning with tears running down my face.
Some things were better left in the dark.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The grand opening turned out to be fairly successful. I threw the doors open, turned on some jazz music and offered free drinks to anyone who showed up. Being alone, I was a little worried that I might get backed up if a lot of people showed up at the same time, but most people seemed interested in just looking around and making appointments for later, which was exactly what I was hoping for. I did do a few cuts and shaves, and I was walking on a cloud all day from all the praise that the customers heaped upon my new idea and the new look of the place. Overall, it was extremely well-received. Even if it was mostly men seventy and older from the senior citizens center down the block. I can't count how many times I had heard the phrase, 'I haven't had a good, close shave in twenty years.'!
Ease settled over me as the sky outside my window turned a dusky orange. I cleaned up from the busy day, and the events of the last few weeks trailed through my head. I was thankful to be on the other side of the mess with River. I had decided to just chalk it up to an experience to remember forever, but not to be relived. Sure, it might take me a while to get over him. It might take a little effort to come to terms with the fact that I would never see my reflection in his mirror again.
But I knew I'd get there.
In the meantime, I had a promising business to attend to.
I sighed with relief, enjoying the feeling of accomplishment. Finally, I might have some financial stability. All I had to do was keep my shit together and not get distracted by the hunky man across the street.
The front door opened with the jingle of the bells I had placed on the doorknob. I turned and came face to face with Colby.
“Hi, there.” I said, giving him my best business-like polite smile.
“Hey, Dix.” He stood awkwardly just inside the door, his head turning as he took in the place. “Nice couches.”
“Thank you. Are you here for a cut?” I was surprised to see him but I would be even more surprised if he told me he wanted to cut off those fantastic black curls.
“Huh? No, no way, ma'am. Have you seen these locks?” His eyes twinkled mischievously as he gave me his most charming smile.
“But you know what? I will take a shave. Am I too late? Are you closing up?”
“I am. But I think I have time for one more. If you're sure I can't give you a trim...” I winked at him, and taking note of my newly found confidence around him, I loved the fact that I hadn't stuttered once.
“Well, alright. Sounds good.”
“Come with me.” I walked into the back of the store, leading him into one of two of the black leather barber chairs I had splurged on at the last minute. He sat down, his large frame making the small chair look tiny.
I had to admit he was exceptionally handsome. As rugged and rough around the edges he might be, the lines and scars on his face illuminated his street smarts and one look in his dark eyes told you he had seen some things in his life.
I tore my eyes away from his, and turned to fetch my
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