“Hey, CeCe, are you still here?” Cat asked as she opened the door.
Alexis pulled back and watched as CeCe rubbed her lips together and sighed. “Yeah, I’m still here.”
“Oh, hey. Hi Alexis,” Cat said, walking over towards them. “I don’t mean to be interrupting anything.”
“We were just enjoying a glass of wine,” CeCe said with a slight edge to her voice.
“Would you join us?” Alexis asked. She quickly glanced at CeCe and smiled.
“Nah, I’m headed home. I just wanted to remind CeCe about Cory’s birthday,” Cat said. “We’re going out for drinks on Friday.”
“You should come with us,” CeCe said to Alexis. “It’s just a few of us from work. Very low key.”
“Yeah, it’s Friday. We’d love for you to come,” Cat added.
“Thanks, I’d like that,” Alexis replied.
“I’ll text you the address,” CeCe said.
Alexis finished her wine knowing the moment between her and CeCe had passed. They were so close to kissing and Alexis was pretty sure she’d be using her new toy later tonight. “I’d better get going.”
“Me too,” CeCe said, draining her glass.
They all walked through the salon together.
“It was nice to see you again, Alexis. See you tomorrow, sis,” Cat said, walking out the front door.
“I’m glad you stopped by tonight,” CeCe said, turning off the lights.
Alexis walked out the front door and waited while CeCe locked it.
“I hope you’ll be thinking of me when you get that cute little toy out tonight,” CeCe said, turning to Alexis.
“Aren’t you sure of yourself.” Alexis smirked.
CeCe raised her eyebrows. “Am I wrong?”
Alexis grinned and ran her fingers along CeCe’s cheek. “Dangerous,” she murmured.
CeCe reached up and held Alexis's hand to her cheek for a moment. “See you Friday, Lex.”
Alexis narrowed her gaze and chuckled.
On the short drive to her house Alexis couldn’t keep from smiling. She meant it when she said CeCe was dangerous. There were times over the last few months when they’d exchanged a look or held each other’s gaze in the mirror when CeCe was doing her hair. Nothing came of it, but now there was the possibility of seeing each other more often and not as stylist and client.
Alexis had to admit she was disappointed when Cat walked in this evening. She could almost feel CeCe’s lips on hers and now she couldn’t get the thought out of her head. This newfound flirting between them had lit a fire inside Alexis. A fire that she thought had gone out long ago and honestly she hadn’t had the time or inclination to try and relight it.
But when she’d stepped into the new salon that day and CeCe had given her such a grateful smile, something warmed in Alexis's heart. As they toured the shop and her sisters' stores, their playful banter became flirty and Alexis loved it.
Tonight it had started again and even though Alexis hadn’t planned on ending up in CeCe’s back room, there they were, about to kiss. Who knows what could have happened after that.
“And I get to see you again Friday, CeCe. Whatever will we get up to,” Alexis said, smiling into the mirror as she removed her makeup and got ready for bed.
* * *
CeCe pulled into her garage, gathered her purse and appointment book, then walked into her house. She dropped everything on her table and went directly to the refrigerator. Peering inside, she grabbed a bottle of water and plopped down on her living room couch.
She turned the bottle up and took a long drink. “Whew,” she sighed. “What are you doing?” she murmured.