The girl rolled her eyes at Mirabeau’s words, but she suspected it was for show. She sensed that the girl was secretly pleased.
“Here we are. We’ve decided this one is the best bet,” Elvi announced, holding out a matching set of bottles, one holding shampoo, the other conditioner. “Do you want to wash it in the shower or just at the sink?”
“The sink is fine,” Mirabeau murmured, and immediately found herself with a woman on each side, determined to help her do it at the bathroom sink. Unused to the fussing herself, she was relieved when the chore was done and she could dry her hair and use some gel to return it to its usual spiky state.
“My,” Mabel murmured, as Mirabeau finished and presented herself for inspection. “That style is really quite attractive on you, dear. The fuchsia tips are really quite striking. I like it.”
“Yes, it’s quite nice,” Elvi agreed. And then her eyes shifted past Mirabeau, and she smiled, and asked, “What do you think, Tiny?”
Mirabeau glanced over her shoulder with surprise. Her own eyes widened as she saw Tiny standing in the doorway.
“I think Mirabeau always looks beautiful,” Tiny said solemnly. “But I like this style best. It suits her.”
Elvi beamed at the man, and said, “I knew you were an intelligent man the moment I met you in New York, Tiny McGraw.”
Much to Mirabeau’s amazement, he actually blushed at the compliment, which just seemed to please Elvi more. Chuckling softly, the woman caught Mabel and Stephanie each by an arm and began to usher them out of the bathroom. “Well, our work here is done, girls. Why don’t we leave these two alone for a bit and go have tea? Stephanie, do you like white chocolate strawberry cookies?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever had them,” Stephanie murmured, as Tiny stepped out of the way to allow them to exit the bathroom.
“Oh, well then, you’re in for a real treat. They’re divine,” she said, as they headed through the bedroom. “We stopped and picked up a bunch on our way home from the airport.”
“She got cheesecake too,” Mabel announced dryly, then told Stephanie in conspiratorial tones, “You’ll find that Elvi has something of a sweet tooth.”
“So do I,” Stephanie said with a grin.
“Oh, brilliant,” Elvi crooned happily. “We shall get on like gangbusters!”
Mirabeau glanced to Tiny and shook her head wryly as the door closed behind the trio. “They are going to spoil her rotten before Dani can get here to collect her.”
“She’s been through a lot and deserves a little spoiling,” Tiny said mildly, then added, “And so do you.”
Mirabeau found her breath hitching in surprise and her heart melting a little at the words. It had been the exactly right thing to say. Mirabeau started across the room with every intention of kissing him for saying it, when he suddenly held up a phone.
“Lucian wants to talk to you.”
“Lucian?” She stared at the phone with amazement. “You’ve been on the phone with him all this time?”
He grimaced and shook his head. “I tried calling, got a busy signal, had a beer with the boys, and tried again.”
It had obviously been a long beer, Mirabeau thought, and wondered if “the boys” had been gently prodding him about her just like the women had been prodding her about him. Shaking her head, she sighed and took the phone. “Hello?”
“So Tiny’s your life mate,” were the first words growled in her ear.
Mirabeau stiffened, then scowled at the phone before saying pleasantly, “Would this be a business call, or pleasure, Lucian?”
“Business,” he barked. “Is he or isn’t he your life mate?”
Mirabeau grimaced, but snapped, “Yes.”
There was a hiss as if he was sucking in air, then Lucian cursed. “Goddamn that Marguerite. She’s going to make my life miserable. I was already shorthanded when it came to enforcers, and now I’ll be one shorter.”
“Well, you’re the one who let her convince you to put us together,” she pointed out with exasperation. “You could have said no.”
“And stop you from meeting a possible life mate?” he asked with outrage. “Not likely, little girl.”
Mirabeau found her lips reluctantly curling into a smile. He hadn’t called her little girl since the death of her family.
“I’m walking you down the aisle,” he announced firmly. “Your father would have wanted it.”
“There’s no walking yet,” she gasped, glancing worriedly at Tiny. Dear God, they hardly knew each other, and Lucian had them marrying. “And you haven’t lost another hunter. I’ll stay the night and tomorrow, then head back as soon as the sun sets, ready for work.”