Nine

Blaze

Torture.

A week felt like torture when it was a week with nothing more than Harlow’s texts or a quick phone call at the end of the day.

After our date at the drive-in on Saturday, there wasn’t a chance I was going to be able to wait until the following weekend to see and spend time with Harlow.

Obviously, I was aware we both needed to work and had other obligations in our lives, but ever since I’d met her, the only thing I seemed to want to do was spend time with her.

It was almost as though I could finally have an understanding for people who suffered from addiction, because that was the way I felt about Harlow. The more I was with her, the more I wanted to be with her. I was constantly wondering how I’d manage to go another day without seeing her.

So, like someone with an addiction, I took action to get my next fix without it seeming like I couldn’t make it through a week without being able to see her.

Since she was off from work on Monday, I had no choice but to wait until first thing Tuesday morning when she was back at her salon to give her a call. Because even if I hadn’t quite gotten to the point where I needed a haircut, I was determined to see her by any means necessary.

Unfortunately, Harlow didn’t technically have any openings in her schedule this week, but she offered to have me come in after her last appointment on Wednesday evening, claiming she’d be happy to stay a bit later for a new client.

I loved how she always seemed to try to make the best of a situation and be playful. There was a part of me that felt bad and hated the thought of making her work late, but I was desperate to see her again, and I thought this might be the best way to do it without her feeling as though I was coming on too strong.

Nobody had ever affected me the way Harlow had. I felt a bit out of my element, wondering if this was one-sided. I didn’t think she wasn’t interested at all, and it was clear she enjoyed spending time with me, but I often felt like she was content with things as they were while I felt like I couldn’t breathe if I went too long without seeing her.

I didn’t blame her. She hadn’t dated anyone in more than ten years, so it was likely that the time we did spend together was already more than she’d anticipated having or perhaps even needed.

For now, I’d do what I could to be content with the time I did get with her, and hopefully, as things progressed between us, we’d get to a place where Harlow would also want more time together.

I finally arrived at the salon, swung open the door, and scanned the room until my eyes landed on her.

Harlow’s face lit up as she crossed the room and came in my direction. I stood there, watching her make her approach with that gorgeous smile on her face. The second she was close enough to touch, I reached my hand out to her wrist and tugged her forward. She let out a squeal of delight, wrapped her arms around me, and didn’t hesitate to press her mouth to mine.

God, the feel of her soft lips on mine again was the biggest relief. If I thought it would have been an option, I’d have foregone the haircut and spent the rest of the night kissing her.

How was it possible to have missed her so much in a matter of days?

When Harlow tore her mouth from mine, she took a moment to allow her eyes to roam over my face. They were sparkling as she smiled at me. “I’m so happy you’re here. Let me lock the door, since I’m technically closed now.”

Begrudgingly, I released my hold on her, finding comfort in the words she’d said. She was happy I was here with her.

After locking the door to her salon, Harlow said, “You can follow me over to the chair. We’ll discuss what you’d like me to do, then I’ll get your hair washed before I start cutting.”

She could have shaved my head completely bald for all I cared. I was simply grateful to be there with her.

Once we made it to the chair and Harlow urged me to sit, she wrapped the cape around me. Harlow took the next minute or two to discuss what I typically liked to have done with my hair. Seemingly confident in her ability to accommodate my request, it seemed that no sooner had I sat down, she was urging me to get up again, so I could join her at the hair-washing sink.

And that was the moment it all changed for me.

Because no matter how much I believed this was going to be precisely what I needed, I hadn’t taken into account just how difficult it was going to be for me.

I was quickly learning there wasn’t anything Harlow did that was like anyone else, not even when it came to washing hair. The thought never crossed my mind that she’d be able to turn something that should have been so ordinary into something that had me grateful she’d draped the cape over my body.

She’d turned on the water to get my hair wet and asked, “Is the water temperature okay?”

“It’s perfect,” I replied.

As soon as she got my hair wet, Harlow began massaging the shampoo into my scalp. If it hadn’t been for the way she was looking down at me while she did it, I was convinced I would have closed my eyes and fallen asleep.

God, it felt good.

And there was something about the way she looked at me that I loved.

My hands were balled into fists beneath the cape, an effort to stifle the urge I had to reach out, pull her into my lap, and bury my face in her tits.

This woman was so effortlessly sexy, and the scent of her was enough to make me feel completely spellbound.

I wanted nothing more than to give in to every primal urge. I wanted to touch her, taste her, pleasure her. I wanted to make her moan. I wanted to feel her fingertips on my skin, and I wanted to touch every inch of her naked body.

I wanted to run my hands along her hips, up her sides, and over her breasts. I wanted to kiss her mouth, listen to her whimpers, and watch her come apart.

I wanted this woman to be mine.

Yes, being unable to see her for days felt like torture, but this was arguably worse torture. Because she was this close, everything I could feel myself falling for within my reach, and I had to hold myself back from doing what felt most natural.

“Is everything still okay?” she asked me, snapping me out of my thoughts.

Maybe it was wishful thinking, but I could have sworn I heard a slight rasp in her voice. Was I merely hoping she was feeling just a smidgen off balance like I was? Or was I lucky enough for that to be the case?

Either way, I couldn’t hold myself back from sharing the truth. “It’s even better than I thought it would be.”

She smiled at me, and her face flushed.

There was that, too.

Conversations with Harlow were always easy and fun. She seemed confident and sure of herself, no matter what we were discussing. If it hadn’t been for the fact she shared it with me, I’d never have guessed she’d experienced so little in her life.

But when there were moments like this, moments with the slightest hint of innuendo that turned her cheeks a shade of crimson and forced her to look away from me, I wondered just how deep her level of inexperience ran.

It seemed impossible that a woman as beautiful as her at the age of thirty-two could still be a virgin, but the signs were pointing in the direction. I mean, not only had she admitted the first night I met her that she hadn’t dated anyone in more than ten years, but she’d also indicated over the weekend that she’d never taken a man home to meet her family.

Was it possible this woman could really be all mine?

I’d been so caught up in all the thoughts about Harlow, before I was ready for it to end, she’d finished washing my hair.

“Okay, you can sit up and head back over to the chair,” she instructed.

I did as she said and waited for her to make her way over to me.

Standing behind me, Harlow’s eyes met mine in the mirror in front of us, and she smiled. “Ready?”

“Absolutely.”

Harlow pulled out the clippers and got started on the bottom, back, and sides of my hair. And as she did, she asked, “So, how has work been so far this week?”

“Okay. I’ve got enough cases on my plate to keep me busy,” I told her, watching the way she was focused on what she was doing.

“I don’t normally keep track of things like that, but ever since you told me about what happened at the pub and that tiny home resort, I’ve been watching the local news,” she revealed. “I haven’t seen any reports of anything else like that happening. Do you know if they’ve caught the men responsible?”

I hated to think that what I’d shared with Harlow had scared her so much she was now watching the news in fear of the unknown. Of course, I knew these things happened, but I didn’t want her mind or heart burdened by the bad things in the world. “Well, there’s still no concrete proof that the incidences are related, even if the eyewitness accounts describe similar individuals,” I said, wanting to be clear. “But no, there have not been any arrests in either case.”

“How are your friend and his fiancée holding up? Are they okay?” she asked.

“I guess they’re doing the best they can in a situation like this. Hanna’s distraught over losing one of the homes, but she’s grateful nobody was hurt. Plus, insurance will cover the loss, so at least she won’t have to worry about that part of it.”

“Oh, that’s good news, I guess.”

“Yeah. They’ll get through it, and we’ll all help them along the way,” I said.

A smile formed on her face. “I love that. So, tell me more about these people you work with. Are there any other celebrities I might meet one day besides Lily Mack? Or is there another business owner in the mix?”

I let out a laugh, relieved she found a way to turn the mood around. I’d have kicked myself if this time we spent together tonight was marred by unnecessary worrying on her part over random crimes happening in the town. Obviously, I didn’t want her to be oblivious to what was going on, but I certainly didn’t want it to control her life, either.

So, while she continued to cut my hair, I told her a bit more about the women who came into the lives of the men who worked at Harper Security Ops. The one thing that she seemed most excited about was learning that the women occasionally planned times to get together as a group.

Though she didn’t say so, I had a feeling Harlow wondered if she could become part of that group.

There was nothing I wanted more.

Before I knew it, Harlow was putting product in her hands and styling my hair. She was focused on what she was doing, finally got it the way she wanted it, and as she wiped her hands on the towel on top of the cart beside her, her eyes met mine in the mirror. “What do you think? Is it okay?”

I didn’t care about the way my hair looked. If she liked it, I was fine with it. “It’s perfect. Looks great.”

She smiled. “Are you sure?”

I nodded. “Positive.”

After using the hairdryer to get the hair off my neck, Harlow unfastened the cape and took it off me.

Before I had the chance to stand up, she said, “I really am so happy you came here today. Of course, it’s always nice to have a new client, but this wasn’t about that for me. I never get to see you during the week, so this feels like such a special treat.”

Just like that.

Without thinking twice about it, Harlow just put it all out there. She didn’t play games with her feelings. It was refreshing.

And it was everything I could have wanted to hear from her.

“It doesn’t have to be,” I finally said, after staring at her and feeling nothing but disbelief and gratitude.

“What?” she asked, tipping her head to the side.

“Seeing me during the week doesn’t have to feel like a special treat you can only have occasionally,” I clarified. “If you would like to spend more time together throughout the week, I’d be happy to make that happen.”

Harlow’s lips parted slightly. “Oh, Blaze, I wasn’t suggesting you had to go out of your way during the work week to do anything like that. I’m sure you already have a lot on your plate.”

“Harlow?”

“Yeah?”

I hesitated a beat, taking in the curious look on her face. “I called you yesterday morning to make this appointment, because I didn’t think I’d be able to wait until the weekend to see you again. I would love more time with you, but I didn’t want you to feel overwhelmed by it.”

“Really?”

I nodded slowly, keeping my eyes locked on hers.

Harlow’s body visibly relaxed, and as that relief swept through her, she revealed, “When you called and asked about coming in to get your haircut, I was so frustrated I didn’t have any openings. That’s why I offered to stay later tonight, though. I just wanted to see you. I’ve been trying to figure out how to let you know I wanted to spend more time with you, because I was worried you would think I was too clingy or something.”

I reached back for her and used my feet on the ground to spin the chair around. With both hands on her hips, I looked up at her and said, “Baby, I can’t get enough of you.”

Her body shivered in response as her lips parted. “Blaze,” she whispered.

Rising to my feet, our bodies were inches apart. I tugged her hips forward, bringing her closer. Harlow’s hands flew to my chest just as I captured her mouth with mine.

Her lips were soft, yielding. She parted them instantly, my tongue driving inside to taste her, and Harlow’s fingertips pressed in firmly against my chest as a soft moan tore up her throat, the sound undeniably sweet.

One of my arms slid around her waist, holding her firmly in place, while the opposite hand slid up along her spine and into her long, silky hair. I still hadn’t gotten over just how soft her hair was.

But her kiss.

There was nothing better than the way she kissed.

Nothing in my whole life could compare to her kiss.

Unable to stop myself, I groaned and forced my mouth from her.

She stared at me through hooded eyes, looking beyond beautiful. And it was in that moment it became even more clear just how deep I was getting with this woman.

“What are you doing tomorrow night?” I asked.

“Tomorrow?”

I nodded.

“I was going to go home, shower, make dinner, and veg out on the couch,” she said.

“How about you go home, shower, and wait for me to bring dinner over for the both of us? Then we’ll spend some time together eating and vegging out on the couch.”

“I’m not sure I’ll want to veg so much if you’re there,” she advised.

My lips twitched. “I’m sure we’ll be able to make whatever you want to have happen a reality.”

She stared at me.

When too much time passed without a response, I asked, “Does that work for you?”

“That works for me.”

“Do you like pizza?”

Harlow’s face lit up. “I love pizza. It’s one of my guilty pleasures.”

I cocked a brow. “I’m going to need to hear more about that tomorrow night. Until then, how about you let me pay you for the haircut and get this place locked up, so I can walk you to your car?”

Harlow shook her head. “You’re not paying for this. It’s my treat.”

“I’m paying you,” I insisted.

“Are you buying me dinner tomorrow?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“And did you pay for the dinner and movie date we had over the weekend?”

“Yep.”

“And have you paid for the coffee at the diner, the fancy dinner at The Ridge, and the ziplining?” she pressed.

My lips quirked. “Yes.”

Harlow narrowed her eyes. “Then don’t insult me by not allowing me to cover the haircut.”

I sighed, realizing I was just going to have to make it up to her in a different way. “Fine. What do you need to do to get locked up and out of here?”

She grinned at me. And only after kissing me once more did Harlow walk away to get everything shut down in the salon, so I could walk her to her car.