Page 41 of Maverick

“Don’t you have a wife or girlfriend?”

“Nope. I only just retired from the military. I haven’t really had time to meet anyone or get to know them.”

She nodded, taking off the ball cap she was wearing. Her hair was a sunny, golden blonde. It fell like a waterfall to the top of her ass cheeks, and Brax swallowed. He couldn’t help but think that her features were hand-selected during the cloning process. They were doll-like with big blue eyes and that hair that seemed to go on for days.

“Can I get my hair cut?” she asked.

“If you want. There’s a salon at the front of our property. I can take you there.”

“N-no. I’ll do it myself.”

“Yourself? No. I can get Keegan or Winter to come here,” he said. He sent a text and waited, showing her where to put her things and then the rest of the house. “If you need more clothes we can get those for you. Avery manufactures beauty products, including shampoo, conditioner, bath oils, soaps, and perfume. If there’s something you like and want more of, let me know. If there’s something different you want, tell me, and I’ll find it.”

The knock on the door had two smiling women staring back at him.

“Ladies, thank you for coming so quickly. Miss Stephanie here would like to get her hair cut before dinner if possible.” He smiled at Stephanie and watched the women move toward her.

“Make room,” smiled Keegan. “What a beautiful color!”

“Thank you.”

“How much do you want off?” asked Winter.

“Maybe a foot?” she said with a questioning expression.

“A foot?” frowned Brax.

“No?”

“No. I mean, it’s your hair, a foot if you want. But it’s beautiful. Maybe six inches or so? I don’t know. Don’t ask me,” he said nervously. “I’ll just go do some laundry or something.”

While Braxton got busy, Keegan and Winter worked magic on Stephanie’s hair. They only cut about eight inches off but gave it soft layers, framing her beautiful face. When Brax returned to the living room, they were all done and headed out.

“See you at dinner, honey. You look beautiful,” said Keegan. The door closed, and Brax was frozen in place.

“Well?” She tilted her head, wondering what the strange expression was on his face. He seemed to be searching for his words, then finally spoke.

“She’s right. You look beautiful.”

“Then why do you look so unhappy?” she asked.

“Because I am truly fucked.”

The overwhelming welcome at dinner had Stephanie nearly making a run for the door. Every time someone approached her, she would scoot closer to Braxton, making him stiffen. She didn’t seem to notice, but he could smell her shampoo and feel the soft skin of her body touching his own.

“What’s wrong with you?” whispered Pax.

“Nothing.”

“Something is wrong. You’re acting like you have a stick up your ass.” Brax let out a long breath and just shook his head.

“Your hair looks great, Stephanie,” said Katelyn. “I remember you always having incredibly long hair.”

“It grows insanely fast,” she said. “I’m going to guess that’s another genetic freaky thing inside of me. One of the many I’m trying to figure out in my own work.”

“Don’t do that,” said Braxton. She looked at him, blushing a bright pink. Pax, Mav, and Saint stared at him, wondering what the hell he was doing.

“Do what?”

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