Page 38 of Call it Reckless

“Please tell me you have time to help her with her hair. We were going to do something simple, like just a hairband, but then she saw the other girls with their hair done and…” He held his hands out in an awkward gesture, sounding more than a little flustered.

“Did you have an appointment already?”

His face looked panicked. “No. Do we need one? Are there more left?”

I bit back a laugh. Poor Reid was definitely out of his element, but I had to give him tons of credit for trying. “Well, technically, you were supposed to sign up, but we’re almost finished, and there’s plenty of time before the dinner, so it won’t be an issue.”

Relief flooded Reid’s features. He nudged Lexi. “What do you say?”

“Thank you, Miss Bristol.” Her face lit with a smile, and I thought she might be the prettiest girl here. She had Reid’s eyes, but I wondered if she’d inherited her dark blonde hair color and dimples from her mother.

“Are you excited about tonight?” I asked Lexi.

“Well,” she started but was cut off by a woman who shoulder-bumped me out of the way. Reid caught my arm as I stumbled slightly. Not that she noticed at all. One of the girls Paige had already styled stood by her side. She touched a small tiara on her updo that seemed a little mature for her age and gave Lexi a smug smile.

I caught Paige’s eyes as she looked over at me. Her eyes shifted to the mother and daughter duo, then she shook her head and rolled her eyes before returning her attention to her newest client.

“Reid, how lovely to see you here,” the woman said, laying perfectly manicured nails on his forearm. “I hoped we might bump into each other this evening. We never seem to have enough time to chat when we pick up our children.”

Reid looked at her hand on his arm and not so subtly pulled it back, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Hello, Sybil.”

“We should arrange for us to be at the same table. I’d love to hear more about your work at the sheriff’s department. You always look so strong and rugged in your uniform.”

I choked back the urge to make a gagging noise. Lexi stepped closer to her father’s side. Her nose wrinkled ever so slightly, but I caught it, along with how her smile faltered.

Reid rocked on his feet and scratched his cheek as he stared over Sybil’s shoulder before finally bringing his eyes back to hers.

“I, uh—”

“Actually, he’s already sitting with me.”

Reid’s head jerked toward me at my interruption.

I winked and curled my hand around his arm, appreciating the muscle I felt beneath my fingertips. Sybil’s eyes flared slightly when he didn’t shake me off but pulled his arm tighter to his side, locking my hand against him.

Sybil turned her attention to me with a snide smile. “You’re going to the dinner? But you’re the help. This event is for members only.”

I didn’t flinch at the challenge in her eyes. “Yes, members and invited guests. I’ll be there at the direct invitation of Miss Pettigrew herself. She’s known me since I was Lexi’s age and has never forgotten me.”

It was all true—just not the entire truth.

Earlier, I’d been determined not to join the presentation and the meal, but I hated the look on Lexi’s face. I sensed the discomfort in Reid’s stance, as well. He already had a list of ways I was impulsive, so what was one more? But at least he would get out of Sybil’s clutches this time.

It surprised me that Sybil didn’t hurt herself with her multiple clanking bangled bracelets as her hand flew to her chest. “You went to Miss Pettigrew’s school? But you’re a…a…”

“A brilliant, successful businesswoman with an engineering degree who’s volunteering her time here,” Reid finished for her. “I’m sure you can see why anyone would find that attractive.” He smiled grimly. “If you’ll excuse us, Bristol was just about to show Lexi and me where we should wait. I’m sure we’ll see you tonight.”

He rested his hand on the small of my back as he led us to the other side of the room.

Lexi practically danced a jig in front of me. “You really went to Miss Pettigrew’s school, too? That’s so cool.”

Unlike Sybil’s condescending tone, Lexi’s held a level of awe.

Reid cleared his throat. “See? I told you this school wasn’t so bad,” he said under his breath to his daughter.

“Um, well, I did. For a while.” From the corner of my eyes, I glanced toward Reid, who looked back with interest.

“Did you have a cotillion?”

---