Page 9 of Power Plays & Proposals

"What would you think about getting a trim?" I asked Penelope. "Just taking off the split ends."

"That's okay."

I shut off the water and used a towel to squeeze out the excess water. Back at the chair, I hit the lever to raise it up and started combing her hair into different sections. I went through the motions of giving a trim, all while hoping her dad would come to his daughter's rescue.

We talked about school and art while I snipped away. Bonding over the awkwardness of teenage boys trying to impress girls. Penelope had a smile on her face by the time I finished blow-drying her hair.

Penelope's mom looked up from her phone as soon as the hair dryer stopped.

"Why is her hair still long?" She got off the couch and strode over to where I stood. "Are you completely incompetent?"

"If you'd just listen to your daughter."

Erin's nostrils flared. "She's twelve. You're supposed to listen to me you dumb shrew!"

"Ma'am —."

Her voice rose in volume with each word until she was yelling. "I want to see the manager now!"

I heard the door to Priscilla's office door open, and my shoulders dropped.

"What is going on out here?" My boss asked.

"Are you in charge?" Erin asked. "I paid for a simple cut, and she's wasting my time with a trim instead."

Priscilla looked at me with a mixture of disbelief and annoyance. "Cut her hair."

"But—"

"Oh for the love." Erin picked up a pair of clippers from another station and walked towards Penelope. "I'll cut it myself."

I jumped between Penelope and her.

The door to the salon opened, and a cold gust of wind blew in.

Erin paused to look at the door, and dropped the clippers when she saw him. The most gorgeous man I'd ever laid my eyes on stood just inside the door. His blond hair was windswept, and an icy tempest raged in his furious blue eyes. He was the embodiment of a storm waiting to be released. The loose fitting Glacier Bay hockey jersey and jeans did nothing to disguise the pure strength in his build. The pictures in the magazines did not do Mr. Hockey justice.

When he spotted Penelope he made an immediate beeline straight for her. He cradled her face with one hand and ran the other over her hair. Penelope visibly relaxed now that he was here and I could see why. He'd stormed in like a superhero ready to save the day.

"Are you okay?" He asked Penelope.

I recognized that voice, and on second look I recognized the scruff on that jawline too. Super Dad indeed.

"I'm fine Dad. Can I have a brownie sundae from Charlie's?"

He softened for a moment as he smiled at her, then pulled the drape off her and lifted her off the chair to stand by his side. "Anything you want Sweet Pea, we can eat lunch there tomorrow."

Erin stomped her foot. "She can't have that much sugar. It's not in her diet plan."

His gaze found Erin and the fury that had been banked while he was talking with his daughter roared back to life. "What were you thinking?" he demanded of her.

Erin took a step back. "I don't need to consult you on something as simple as cutting hair. And a salon in New York never would have given me this much trouble."

His entire body stiffened, and he seemed to grow another six inches as his spine straightened. "No, you just made a decision for her that she was against, and took away her phone so she couldn’t call me."

Erin crossed her arms. "It's not my fault she lost it. She’s a dumb kid."

His jaw clenched, and I had a feeling that he was biting back words. "I'm taking her home."

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