Page 6 of Big Deal Sweetheart

Worry had a crease forming between the gorgeous woman’s brow, but Nova shook her head. If anyone would be in trouble it would be her, not her Nana. “No, I’ll handle it and him. She had an ID that was very good. I checked, and while she may be underage, I had no way of knowing it with the proof I was given.”

Of course, the man had a lot of money, which was clear with the credit card Delilah paid with and the way they both dressed and carried themselves. She’d deal with the fallout when and if it came, not her beloved Nana. After she finished using the facilities, she stared at herself in the reflection of the mirror. She did a quick fix of her makeup and finger combed her hair. Not because she wanted to look good for the oaf of a man, but because she wanted to appear professional and put together when she did come face-to-face with the upcoming confrontation.

As she opened the door, she heard the unmistakable sound of a man’s deep voice, the tone sending a delicious shiver down her spine. “Back off hussy, he’s bad for you,” she whispered to herself before walking into the main salon area.

“May we speak with you in the office please,” he asked, waving his arm toward the open doorway.

Nova saw his daughter sitting in a chair looking like a lost kid. Much more like the fifteen-year-old she now knew her to be. Her heart turned over for the young girl, but she still thought she looked great with the new do. “Hiya, Delilah. How’re you doing?”

Delilah’s head whipped up, surprise in the blue depths. “I’ve been better honestly.”

She nodded, then moved to sit next to her. No way was she going to stand and tower over the girl like an adult ready to berate her. “Haven’t we all?”

“I’m sorry I lied to you,” Delilah whispered.

“I’d say it was okay, but I don’t want to encourage you to do something like that again. I know lots of kids use fake ID’s, but honestly, there’s a reason that you have to be a certain age to do things, and the main reason is safety.” She reached over and grabbed the other girl’s hand. “You are lucky I’m a good stylist.” Nova winked.

“You really are amazing. Even if my dad hates it, I think it’s awesome. I already sent a snap to my friends, and they love it. If you lived near me, you’d have enough new clients you’d be booked solid.”

Nova didn’t tell the girl she had clients booking her months in advance, or that she had a waiting list. She gave her a little squeeze instead, then let go. “So, Mr. Delilah, what did you want to say to me?” Since she didn’t know his name, she used the girl’s instead. Petty? Maybe, but he wasn’t very nice to her either.

“It’s Mr. Sparks, not Mr. Delilah. Obviously as my daughter came in under false pretenses, which someone of your profession couldn’t know she was using a fake ID, this isn’t your fault. Due to the circumstance, I won’t be pressing charges. However, in the future, you should be more careful when taking on new clients and ensure they are who they say they are.” Mr. Sparks stood by the door, his eyes a darker shade of blue than his daughter’s staring straight at Nova with an intensity that warned of danger and heat.

She got to her feet and turned her back on the young girl, meeting his glare with one of her own. “I appreciate your generosity,” she said with a bite. “I would like to assure you that I am very good at what I do. As a matter of fact, my clients are normally booked months in advance. Your daughter got lucky and came in when I had an opening. Now, if you’re done, I have a client waiting.” The client was a bride-to-be who her Nana was set to color for her big day. Thankfully she was okay with Nova doing it. Another blessing just happened that color was one of Nova’s strong points. Heck, the lady had no clue what she was getting would’ve cost her three times what she was paying had she come to Nova’s salon.

“I’m sure you get a lot of business...here.” His words and tone contradicted one another.

Nova walked past him, her body brushing against his when he wouldn’t move back so she could get out the door. “Delilah, make sure your father approves of your color before you have it redone and remember to take the card with the details to whomever you go to next. I hope you both enjoy your stay in town.”

No way was she making it anymore pleasant for the jerk to stick around inside the salon any longer. Grr, the nerve of him to suggest she wasn’t a professional.

“I’ll be sure to find a professional when we get home to fix her up right. Have a great day, ladies.”

Delilah and her father walked out, snow blowing inside before the door shut after them. Nova had never wanted to throttle a man who looked that good in all her life.

“That man is a complete and total dick,” Nova muttered.

“Yes, he is, but what a damn fine specimen if I do say so myself. Why are all the men who look like that either taken, or assholes?” Linny asked, then turned the hair dryer on.

“He’s probably making up for the fact he has a small penis,” Nova said, her back to the door, laughing along with a hooting Linny. When the other woman’s mouth clamped shut and her eyes widened almost comically, Nova blamedthe crazy. She always blamedthe crazy. It was something her and her Nana always had done, much to her father’s dismay. Anytime she’d been a little wild, which hadn’t been too often, her mother would laugh and say,‘It’s my mother’s fault. I blame the crazy on Mama Nell’,and that was that.

Nova turned around to head back over to her borrowed styling station, bumping into a hard form. A sense of déjà vu hit her like a freight train, knocking the out of her.

Hands gripping her arms kept her from falling. “Hmm, I assure you I have had no complaints about the size of my penis. If you’d like to see for yourself, I’ll gladly step inside the office over there to show you.”

Wicked and wanton thoughts swirled through her befuddled mind. She wanted to nod and say yes please. Sanity kept her lips from forming the words, wondering what the heck he was doing back already.

“Delilah forgot her purse,” he answered the unspoken question, proving the man had to be a mind reader or something.

“Are you going to let me go?”

“My name is Keifer.”

His sudden change of subject made her shake her head. “What?”

“I didn’t introduce myself earlier.” Keifer shoved his hands into the pockets of his slacks, drawing her eyes downward.

When she realized where she was staring, she jerked her head up, catching the smirk on his face. “Um, okay. Nova, which I told you earlier. Where’s Delilah?”

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