Page 25 of Fierce-Dane

“I think it’s a nice mix. I don’t like to take away from Kaitlyn and Tessa, but they are both pretty busy with all sorts of treatments and I had the openings. I’ve always told the girls at the front to fill the slots if I don’t have them marked off.”

The busier she was, the better for her business. She knew that.

“Can we order lunch today?” Natalie asked, rushing in the door. One of her part-time receptionists. “I totally ran out the door before packing something and you know I hate to order just one thing and have it delivered.”

“I’ll get something,” Heather said.

“Sure,” Sloane said. “Just let me know when you’re ordering and from where. I’ll eat when I find time.”

Like she did most days. She didn’t often bring a lunch but rather kept food here in her office. If she left it in the fridge in the breakroom she often forgot about it and it’d go bad.

One thing she hated to do was be wasteful of anything.

She had memories of dumpster diving as a child and never wanted to do it again. But she also hated the waste she’d seen.

Everyone got to work and went about their day. Her pockets were flush with tips by six and she was just waiting for Dane to show up.

At 6:10, her phone buzzed and it was Natalie letting her know that Dane had arrived. Natalie would be leaving at six thirty when the last of the appointments for the day arrived. Whoever was left working would cash the clients out and lock up.

Sloane almost always stayed until closing to lock up. It was her business and she rarely took a day off. Even if she didn’t actually see clients for a day, she was still on site.

She got the room ready for him and then moved to the front of the building where he’d be waiting.

“Hello,” she said. Dane stood up when she walked in. He was in pants and a dress shirt again, no tie this time, but she was positive he’d come from work.

“Hi,” he said. “Can I tell you I’ve been looking forward to this since the last time I was here?”

She let out a little laugh and was glad it didn’t come off as a giggle. That would be too much.

“I’m thrilled to hear that,” she said. “How were you the next day? Any soreness?”

“None,” he said. “I fully expected it and didn’t feelanything different other than I slept so well and had a ton of energy the next day.”

“Great to hear,” she said. “You know the routine, right?”

“I do,” he said when she walked out of the room and closed the door softly.

He was just as handsome as she remembered.

She’d never felt this way about a client before. She wanted to say it wasn’t professional, but they were her feelings and it’s not like she was sharing it with anyone.

She waited five minutes and then knocked on the door and heard his reply to come in.

“I’m glad you were here early,” she said. “We can get right to it.”

“I didn’t realize when I made the appointment that it would bring me right to when you close.”

“It’s fine,” she said. “It doesn’t always happen but can. There are often gaps between appointments and that helps for breaks.”

“Owning the business, I’m sure you’ve got a ton to do in those gaps.”

“I do,” she said. He was on his back like last time. “Do you want to use vanilla again or something else?”

“That’s fine,” he said. “No reason to change anything.”

“Any particular area you want me to work on more than another? You had a lot of knots and tension in your shoulders and back, but it’s not as bad right now.”

She’d already slipped her hands under his shoulders and was moving her fingers up and down. The knots were there but not as horrible.

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