Page 79 of Love Without Demands

Damn, she’s cute when she’s jealous.

Putting her out of her misery, I kissed her palm and then rubbed it over my dark blond beard. “Cecily is the hairdresser who did this to me.” Lehra tried to hide her relief, but I felt it in the loosening of her body. “I was supposed to go back for an appointment today to get un-blonded, and now she’s canceled.”

Her eyes rounded. “And you can’t exactly go to work like this on Monday.”

“Right. I’ve driven Gianna a few times to the salon where Cecily works, so that’s how I knew about it, but I don’t really know where to find someone else. I usually go to a barber.”

She tilted her head in thought. “I’m sure the barber could fix this.” Her fingers stroked through my hair, and I leaned into the sweet touch.

“He doesn’t work on Saturdays. When I need a trim, I go after I drop off Auburn in the morning and don’t have anything else to do for a couple hours.”

“We’ll just find another salon,” she reasoned. I totally could have done that myself, but I wanted an excuse to spend more time with Lehra. “I’m sure someone could work you in today.”

An hour and a half later, Lehra sighed and dropped her phone on the counter as I walked back into her kitchen. “That one was a no, as well. Apparently there’s a huge hair convention in town, and every stylist in New York is attending, and the ones who aren’t going are booked. I even checked salons and barber shops in Jersey.”

“Shit,” I said, handing her the coffee I’d just bought at the local shop. “It should be cool enough for you. By the way, the barista looked at me all weird.”

Lehra giggled. “She’s probably wondering what the hell happened to your hair.” She looked at me over the rim of her cup. “We could shave your facial hair, and that would take care of that, but we have to do something… Hmmm. Do you trust me?”

“Sure.”

“Okay, let’s go.” She took my hand and led me out of the kitchen and toward the front door, obviously on a mission.

“Where are we going?”

“The beauty supply store. I’m going to color your hair myself.”

Good lord, I hope she does hair better than she bakes.

“Damn, Tink. That looks really good,” I told her, turning my head side to side to survey her work.

“It does,” she said proudly before tugging lightly at my beard. “Just have to get rid of this now, though I might kinda miss it.”

“I can grow it back anytime you want,” I assured her. “This one only took me a few days.”

Digging through a drawer, she came out with a slim, pink razor and I scoffed. “Going to need something a little more sturdy to get rid of this.” My hand massaged my jaw.

“Ohhh, pardon me for insulting your very manly beard.”

“Damn straight this beard is manly.” I tugged on her curly ponytail. “Let’s go to my place to finish this mission.”

While we walked down the hallway to my apartment, she asked, “How is the investigation at work going? After the shooting during the Cappitani raid?”

“It’s over now, and I’m being reinstated as of next weekend.” One of my shoulders lifted into a shrug as I unlocked my door. “I mean, I had no doubt about it, but I’m glad it’s over.”

She stalled me with a soft grasp of my hand once we were inside and pulled me around to face her. Her pretty eyes glistened in the dim light. “And you’re okay?”

I loved her empathetic heart. “I’m okay, Tink. I promise.” My lips pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

“Did your appointment go well with the psychologist?” Before I could answer, her face scrunched. “Sorry, that was too personal.”

Nothing is too personal with you, sweetheart.

“Not at all. And it was fine. I know a lot of officers grumble about doing that, but it’s a good idea to talk it out.” I tugged her along with me and headed to my bathroom. “We’re taught as humans to value other human lives, so it gets all jumbled up in your head when someone as evil as Luca Cappitani dies. It’s hard to muster any sympathy at all for the man.”

“Understandable. I’ve been watching on the news, and I’m not even sure that horrible man could be considered human. Have they found the son yet?”

“Nope. He wasn’t there or at his home when the raids took place. He’s disappeared just like his brother.”

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