Page 5 of Beauty and the Grease
“What? No.” I shake my head. “No.”
She peers through the glass window beside the desk with a view directly into the adjoining salon’s waiting room. “I see a hottie. A business hottie. Older, but like, your age older.”
I flick a stray paper clip her direction. Kara is not of my generation, which she enjoys reminding me. I have socks older than Kara. I might even have them on right now.
“He’s figuring out a rental. His car might need to stay overnight.”
“He’s probably married, right?” She inches closer to the window. “Is he wearing a ring?”
I feel stupid to know the answer. “They can see you, you know,” I hiss instead.
“What’s his name?”
This is going to be a long day. “Chase. Now, will you—”
“Chase. I like it.”
I cross into the garage, letting my staff know the latest on our new repair. Thankfully, the mechanics aren’t chatty today.
To my horror, Kara has vacated her station. She’s in the salon talking to Chase. I zip past the empty desk through the open doorway to the salon.
Chase better not leak anything incriminating. Nobody in Derby knows we were married—heck, nobody in Derby knows I wasevermarried. And according to the state, we never were, anyway. The beauty, and curse, of annulments.
“Did Kara offer you coffee?” I look pointedly at her. “We have coffee. We even have flavored creamer.”
Kara doesn’t shed any vibes she’s heard juicy details. She does glare at me, though. She’s made it clear multiple times she is not a barista and her duties are limited to front desk only.
“I’ll get you coffee,” I tell Chase at the same time he says, “I’m good. Sort of covered in it.” He gestures to his wrinkled, lightly damp pants.
Don’t look at his pants.“We have a local roast,” I blurt. “The Derby Bean supplies us. They have excellent Yelp ratings, and you know how messed-up Yelp reviews can be.” I can’t stop talking.
“Is that the coffee over there?” Chase abruptly stands and points to the obvious coffee station four steps away. “I can get my own coffee.”
I just know Kara is watching this with a smirk. It’s her fault anyway for calling him a hottie and getting me flustered.
“He’s headed to Lake Martin Retreat Center—you know where that is, don’t you?” Kara asks in a sing-songy tone as Chase serves himself coffee he doesn’t want.
“I’ve heard of it.” It’s another maybe ten miles north. Not a far drive and not worth the hassle of a rental.
“Maybe I could drive him.” Kara looks deep into my eyes when she says this. She has no interest in driving Chase anywhere.
“Oh, no, don’t worry about it,” Chase says. “A rental will be fine. Do you have any cars here?”
“Nearest rental facility is eight miles away,” Kara answers for me. “And they’re all out.”
“All out?” both Chase and I repeat at once.
She grins. “Rental shortage. Spring Creek keeps me updated. We’ll have to wait for Auburn Hills, and that could take awhiiile.”
This hits the exact button on Chase to initiate a stress response. His breathing quickens and he checks his watch. “I can probably miss the afternoon icebreaker, but if I’m too late then—”
“It’s fine, I can drive you.” I don’t make eye contact with Chase, but I do spy Kara grinning ear to excessively-pierced ear.
“I’ll be okay—” Chase says when I add, “It’s no big deal.”
It’s not lost on me how we keep talking over each other. While getting back into an enclosed space with Chase is the last thing I want, driving him will get him where he needs togo and, bonus, gets him out ofhere. The sooner I get Chase out of Derby, the sooner I can forget this ever happened.
Well, except for when he picks up his car. Another problem for another day when I’ll call in sick.
