Page 23 of Single All the Way

“The odds of getting spit on are tiny. Llamas spit when they’re threatened. We’re their friends, the people who feed them.”

“And give them cookies.”

“Exactly.”

“So I can’t just stay out of the barn for the next month?” she asked, a lightness in her tone suggesting she wasn’t serious.

I shook my head. “In fact, the best thing to do would be to put on some old clothes and help me feed them in the morning. Once you get to know Betty and Esmerelda, I think you’ll like them.”

“I’d rather cook breakfast for everyone.”

“We can cook together. It’ll go fast.”

“I’ll…think about it.”

“It would help your daughter,” I said.

“You don’t play fair.”

“Never claimed to.” I grinned as we reached the house. “Getting your daughter used to the animals will help her settle in overall, don’t you think?”

“You’re right.”

“First step is you. We got this,” I told her. “Everything’ll be okay.”

ChapterSeven

Emerson

“That man would forget his balls if they weren’t attached,” Kona Powers said, making me laugh as I fastened a cape around her.

“Men,” I said sympathetically. “They have their strengths, but sometimes remembering things isn’t on the list.”

I’d been cutting Kona’s hair since I opened my salon just over three years ago. Her husband, Abraham, was the sweetest man, but he’d apparently forgotten to buy a fresh turkey when he’d picked up groceries the other day.

“Bless his damn heart,” she said with a grin and a shake of her head.

She was my last client of the day, as we were closing early because of the holiday tomorrow. Kids didn’t have school today, and two of my five stylists had already left town to visit relatives. Everyone was in a festive mood, and Gustie had insisted on playing Christmas music throughout the salon. I knew that’s how it would be for the next four weeks, so I basically braced myself for the crazy ride and the repetitive music. When you ran a business in a small town, the last thing you could be was a Christmas Scrooge.

“What are we doing to your gorgeous locks today?” I asked her as I pointed her at the mirror.

Before she could answer, my cell phone rang. I didn’t get many calls, especially while I was at work, because everyone knew not to bother me. Text messages were different. I could catch up on those later.

I took my phone out and saw Ben’s name as Kona explained the change in hairstyle she was hoping for.

Odd. Ben usually texted me instead of calling, usually about kids or logistics. I’d call him back as soon as I finished with Kona.

The call went to voicemail, but before I could put my phone back in my pocket, it rang again, and my heart lurched with the thought that something must be wrong.

“You need to answer that, hon?” Kona asked just as I was about to excuse myself.

“I’ll be right back,” I told her.

I connected the call as I headed into the back room. “Hey, Ben.”

“Emerson, you need to come home. We can’t find Skyler.”

My blood froze in my veins, and my heart stopped. “She l-likes to hide,” I stuttered out as I stepped out of the back and waved frantically at Willow, one of my stylists. “Did you look in the closets? Under her bed?”

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