Page 15 of Waiting for a Prince
And whose fault is that?
Being painfully shy really sucked. And if he was going to be as good a hairdresser as Sonia, it was something he’d have to work on.
He wrapped a towel around Sonia’s head and led her to her own chair. As he looked at her smiling face in the mirror, surrounded by damp, straggly hair, Mark found himself nervously rubbing his hand down his pant leg.
God, don’t screw this up…
Sonia’s gaze met his. “You’ll befine.” Her tone brimmed with confidence.
Mark’s returning nod was nowhere near as confident.
For the next twenty minutes, Mark clipped, snipped and combed her hair, always conscious of Sonia watching him carefully in the mirror. There had been the heart-stopping moment when Marie had appeared beside him, her eyes wide. She opened her mouth to say something—and judging by the twist of her lips, it wasn’t going to be good—but Sonia got in there first.
“I thought it was about time Mark showed us what he’s made of,” she said brightly, watching Marie in the mirror. “I know I didn’t ask you about doing this, but I figured that as the senior stylist here, it was my decision.” Both Sonia and Mark watched for Marie’s reaction. Mark held his breath. Marie could make life difficult for Sonia if she wanted to. Sonia had come to the salon about a month after Mark, and Marie had been delighted to steal her from Snippets, the very popular salon at the foot of Union Street. Having Sonia was a real feather in her cap, because Sonia’s ladies were a loyal bunch. When she left Snippets, so did they.
Marie pressed her lips together and eyed Sonia’s hair with interest. “Well, since he’s obviously doing such a good job, we’d better let him finish.” She smiled thinly and walked away.
Mark regarded Sonia in the mirror, open-mouthed. He bent down and spoke into her ear.
“Did I just imagine that, or did Marie actually say I was doing a good job?”
Sonia clutched her ample chest. “I may faint,” she whispered, eyes sparkling mischievously. They both laughed quietly.
At last Mark was finished. He laid down the hairdryer and gave Sonia’s hair a final comb-through. He was especially proud of the waves that cascaded over her shoulders: he’d never used a straightener to make waves before, but he’d watched Sonia do it time and time again. He held up the large round mirror to the back so she could see how it looked, and then held his breath as she inspected the finished effect with a critical eye.
“Mark, that’s a really nice job.”
Mark expelled his breath in one long push of air. “Really?”
Sonia’s eyes met his. “Sweetie, I wouldn’t lie about something so important. You did well. Now go get your phone and take a picture. One for your portfolio.” She beamed. “I can’t wait until Stewart sees this tonight.”
Mark’s chest swelled with pride, and relief swamped him.
I didn’t screw it up.
The rest of the morning was very pleasant, as the girls stopped by wherever he was working at the time to comment on Sonia’s hair. Even Marie had a smile for him. It was his best day at the salon by far. When Marie finally locked the door at five thirty and everyone drifted off in different directions, it was a very happy Mark who walked home, his heart light.
Maybe this job will work out after all.
As he reached the front door of his building, his phone chimed. It was Sam.
Sam: Day over?
Beaming, Mark typed a reply.Best ever.
Sam: Cool.
Yeah, it was, Mark thought as he climbed the stairs to his second floor flat. He’d just got through his front door when the phone rang. Sam. Mark smiled as he connected them.
“So what was so good about today, then?” Sam’s cheerful voice filled his ear as he switched on the kettle for a much-needed mug of coffee.
“I finally got to cut someone’s hair,” he announced triumphantly.
“And I take it she isn’t going to sue?” Mark could hear the teasing note in Sam’s tone.
“Cheeky sod.” Mark dropped a spoonful of instant coffee into the mug and shifted impatiently from one foot to the other as he waited for the kettle to boil. “I’ll have you know, Sonia looked fantastic.AndI got compliments.” The memory brought his grin back.
Sam laughed. “Okay, I believe you. Sounds like you had a better day than I did.”
