Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 141951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 710(@200wpm)___ 568(@250wpm)___ 473(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 710(@200wpm)___ 568(@250wpm)___ 473(@300wpm)
“Linda!”
Delaney’s whisper-scold only made the older woman teehee under her breath.
“You’re so welcome,” Linda said over her shoulder, giving a little wave to Lucas on the other side of the salon as she headed back to her own workstation. She stopped halfway to turn back and tell Delaney, “Trust me, that one is every bit a catch.”
What fresh hell was Linda trying to walk Delaney into here, and since when did she play matchmaker?
Delaney couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry. Neither seemed appropriate given the current circumstances, so she plastered on a smile to greet the man heading for her chair. His friendly, charming grin made her own far more genuine when it leveled on her, though. She wouldn’t deny the shot of heat that raced up her arm the second he stretched out his hand for her to take, and his grip practically swallowed hers whole.
“Mr. Dalton,” Delaney said, her smile stretching wider.
“Lucas,” he corrected.
Of course.
“Lucas,” she echoed softer.
He nodded and squeezed her hand, clearly pleased. The suit from last time had been replaced by a corded-knit cream cashmere sweater that he filled out nicely, but his black slacks were still pressed with clean lines. There was something about his smile that deepened the cleft in his chin and the dimple in one cheek—he turned into a gentle giant before her eyes.
“I hope you don’t mind me coming back,” he said, pretending to give his reflection appropriate attention in the mirror behind them like his hair was some sort of mess. Barely even grown out, in fact. His gaze kept floating back to her more than it did the mirror, anyway. “I liked what you did.”
He had yet to let go of her hand.
Surprisingly, she didn’t mind.
“I guess I could fit in a walk-in before I take lunch,” Delaney replied, trying to be cheeky. With not one clue if she had succeeded except for the laugh that boomed out of him. An appropriate sound for a man that towered over her with an impressive size.
“Perfect,” he murmured, making her gaze zone in on the way his mouth moved with the word.
When was the last time she flirted with a man?
Embarrassingly long.
His handsome face made her want to try.
Dammit, Linda.
Chapter 8
Standing, sweet Delaney reached Lucas’ chest in height. Even so, he wouldn’t call her waifish despite her five-foot stature. His hands could probably meet if he grabbed a hold of her waist, but she didn’t lack in curves that stood out in painted-on black skinny jeans with plaid patches in the knees, and a loose-fitting black sweater with a dangerously low cut at the back, criss-crossing down her spine.
Leaving it open for him to notice.
And he did.
She’d pulled her hair up into a high ponytail so just the wispy ends brushed her shoulders. To be fair, once he had sat in her chair, making the two of them eye-level after she let out a bit of air, Delaney blocked Lucas’ view of anything, but the teasing cut in the back of her sweater. While she fiddled at her workstation, wiping shears down and prepping a small trimmer to clean up his edges at the end of the cut, he had two options.
Stare at her in the mirror.
Or her back.
Her jeans were tight enough that it took effort to keep from admiring the shapely swell of her backside that he had an urge to fit in both his hands. A good grab would pull her right into his lap, and he had the strangest feeling she would fit particularly well there. Not that his thoughts were appropriate.
Or even wanted by Delaney, for that matter.
Lucas needed to get this shit under control.
Fast.
A handful of weeks away from the black-haired woman with the face of an angel had given him a chance to appreciate her a little more sitting in her chair this time around. Mostly because he knew the haircut wouldn’t last very long, and honestly, he hadn’t thoroughly thought out this side trip of his during his three-day trip to Fredericton.
All work, no play.
Hadn’t that become his life in a nutshell?
At least, Jacob had been interested—probably because he couldn’t remember a time Lucas mentioned a female after his twenties—when his older brother offhandedly remarked that he hoped to catch up with someone while he returned to the city to finish the transition of new management at the call center’s headquarters. However, just saying someone wasn’t enough information for Lucas’ little brother. Jacob wouldn’t leave it at that, so Lucas provided enough bare bones details to keep him from asking too many questions.
Mostly because Lucas didn’t have answers.
Pitiful, huh?
“Mr. Dalton, I hope Delaney’s keeping you entertained,” came a new voice behind him.
Delaney turned away from the workstation at the same time he noticed who had joined their reflections in the mirror. The shop’s owner, who demanded he call her Linda even though he hadn’t offered her the same first name respect yet, beamed a couple of steps back from the chair in her bright red dress with polka dot hearts.