Page 19 of Purrfectly Naughty

Chapter 11

“Cut It Out, can I help you?” Pamela answered the phone.

It seemed to be ringing off the hook. But that was the holidays for you, she thought and took the message before checking the schedule.

“Gretchen, your four o’clock cancelled.”

“Really? Good, I need to get off my feet,” her pregnant boss rubbed her swollen tummy and she and Marion exchanged concerned looks.

The other stylist was worried about her, and to be honest, so was Pamela. She needed to rest more. Carrying a Shifter cub was not at all easy. Especially since Gretchen was new to the whole Tigre Shifter thing, having undergone the Puspa only months ago. All those physical and physiological changes were bound to catch up with her at some point.

“Say, why don’t you go home and put your feet up? Marion and I will stay and take care of things till closing,” Pamela said and Marion nodded.

“Boss lady, for real, it’s only an hour till closing and me and girlfriend here got this,” he added and winked at Pamela, “get your ass home and tell your man you need a foot rub.”

“Word,” Gretchen smiled, “you sure?”

“Yes,” Pamela said practically shoving her happily mated and very pregnant boss outside just in time to see Reg drive up to scoop her up and take her home.

Pamela waved the couple off and looked up at the pinkish white sky. Looked like they were in for more snow, but that was okay with her. She was a sucker for everything Christmasy and besides, Paulie loved to play in the fluffy white stuff.

“Okay, Mrs. Jones, let’s go rinse you out,” Marion said in a sing-song voice to his client and Pamela giggled.

He was so much fun to work with and had proven a truly gifted instructor, taking it upon himself to show her the ins and outs of cutting hair. She still had to take the final test to be licensed in the state of New Jersey, but she was almost ready.

Pamela turned to greet the next customer with a wide smile at the sound of the old-fashioned bells that jingled whenever the front door opened.

“Welcome to-”

The words died on her lips as she took in the one man she didn’t expect to run in to. True, Gerri did say to expect them today, but Pamela didn’t know she meant it.

Good gods, what was she going to do? Javier’s eyes smoldered as he took in her appearance and she wished she’d done more with her appearance. She’d slept later than usual and barely had time to throw her hair in a ponytail and put on some leggings and an ugly Christmas sweater that portrayed a cat in hair curlers before walking Paulie to meet the school bus.

“Hello Pamela,” he said in that same, deep, husky voice that had whispered the most deliciously naughty things in her ears just the night before.

“Um, hi,” she said, “What are you doing here? Where is Gerri?”

“Aunt Gerri had an appointment, besides, I think we should talk alone, don’t you?” he asked and his black eyes twinkled mischievously.

“I can’t. I’m working and I have an appointment with a new client who should be here any minute-”

“Yes,” he smiled, “your appointment is with me.”

“You’re J.A.?”

“Yes. Javier Auberon. It is nice to formally meet you, Pamela Brown,” he read her name tag and she found herself blushing furiously.

“Okay, Mrs. Jones, almost dry,” Marion said to his client while taking covert glances at Javier and giving Pam a big thumbs up to which she could only groan.

“Fine, sit down,” she said and pointed to one of the luxury pedicure-chairs.

“Uh, I thought maybe a trim?” he eyed the chair doubtfully and Pamela raised an eyebrow, seizing her chance to rid herself of him.

“I am not a full stylist yet, but if you don’t want me to give you a pedicure, then I am afraid it is nothing. Bye-bye, see you never,” she crossed her arms.

“On second thought, I could use a little TLC in the foot department. Thank you, kitten,” he winked.

Pamela huffed out a breath in annoyance. She had to admit, it shocked her that he was just going with this. Most men did not want to have their nails done, but Javier merely nodded and shrugged out of his stylish wool coat.

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