Page 6 of Homebody
“I don’t have the clothes for anything like that.” She had jeans and leggings. T-shirts, sweatshirts and sweaters. All of which had seen better days.
“Not to worry. I do.” Red grinned. “I do own a store, you know.”
Wardrobe shopping? Maybe that check wasn’t going to last as long as she’d hoped.
“Okay, so we’ve got a plan.” Ruby twisted to speak to the other hair stylist leaning, arms crossed, against the wash sinks with a scowl on her face.
If Janelle had ever liked Tessa at all, she didn’t any longer. Not after today between the broom incident and Ruby telling her to move aside so Tessa could take Red’s place in the middle of her appointment.
Pure hatred. At least that was the impression Tessa got from the woman’s expression now. Kind of like she’d tasted a sour lemon.
“Janelle, can you handle rinsing out Red and Susan when they’re ready?” Ruby asked.
“Yeah, fine.” Janelle’s scowled deepened.
“Good. Thanks. Now, what are we going to do with you?” Ruby made eye contact again with Tessa in the mirror.
For the first time Tessa felt included in the conversation that the others had been having around her. Which was nice since Ruby hadn’t asked before she’d hacked off a good two inches of length from Tessa’s hair.
Ruby continued, “I’m thinking highlights and low lights. Warm tones, like chestnut because of your brown eyes. Or we could go with cooler tones. You do have very fair skin.”
Fair, or more accuratelypale. That was partially because Tessa didn’t go outside unless absolutely necessary, but there was no time to worry about that. She was starting to panic. All these highlights and lowlights were very expensive. She saw the fists of cash being paid for similar services by Ruby’s clients.
Tessa lifted one finger. “Can I ask a question?”
“Yes,” Ruby said on a sigh, finally stopping the perpetual motion of her fingers in Tessa’s hair.
“How much will all that cost?”
Ruby held Tessa’s gaze. “First one’s on me, sweetie. After that if,when, you want touch-ups we’ll talk price. Sound good?”
Relieved, Tessa let out a breath and nodded.
Susan had finished with her call and lowered the cell. “Dean is on board for dinner at Muddy River tonight.”
“Good. Tessa, looks like you’ll be going out tonight.” Red smiled.
“Excellent. We’ve got a plan. Bridget! I need you over here on nails, please. As soon as you’re donechatting,” Ruby called across the salon.
The nail technician who’d been standing at the front desk talking to a friend of hers for the better part of ten minutes raised her gaze in their direction before she nodded.
Great, now Bridget was going to hate her too. Tessa was just winning friends all over the place today. And this was why she was a happy introvert.
After one more glare at her employee, Ruby focused back on Tessa. “Manicure first since your fingers are in as bad shape as your hair. We’ll tackle your feet, which I’m afraid to even look at, next. Just in case Red puts you in open toe shoes.”
Open toe shoes? In September? That sounded frightening. Especially since fuzzy socks were Tessa’s go-to ten months out of the year.
“Good call,” Red agreed. “What about a bikini wax?”
Bikini wax? Did they think things were going to get that far with this Dean person she’d never met that he would seethatarea?
Before she could ask, clarify what she’d actually agreed to, a woman walked up to Susan. She looked to be maybe a few years older than Tessa. It was hard to tell past the over-abundance of make-up and exposed cleavage.
“Hey, Mrs. Sinclair.”
“Oh, Juniper. Hello.” Susan’s tone—low and flat and loaded with barely camouflaged distaste—left no doubt how she felt about the other woman.
There was a definite nip in the air now, thanks to Susan Sinclair’s chilly tone toward the newcomer.
