SHOCK HOLDS ME IN PLACE as I’m being circled by Sway—the short, but fit, owner of the salon that Dani works at. He’s probably a good three inches or so shorter than my five-foot-nine, however the five inch heels that he’s rocking make him taller than I am. Not to mention, the man makes skinny jeans look better than I ever could. Of course, he doesn’t have my hips. I’ve heard, but never seen, that he also rocks his long blond wig better than most women can.
Yeah, Sway is a force that you will only understand if you know him. He’s flamboyant and over-dramatic, loves glitter to the degree that it is probably unhealthy, and isn’t afraid to tell you exactly how it is.
He’s also Stella’s dad.
But even though I love Stella and even though Dani seems to think this is a brilliant idea, having Sway circle me while muttering, is freaking me way out.
“Those hips, child! God, only the lucky ones have hips like that. I’ve tried, trust me. I had hips when I was a sexy plump man, but they never looked as good as yours. I bet that gorgeous man just grabs hold and goes to town!”
My cheeks heat and I hear Stella, who also works at the salon, yell at her dad to stop embarrassing me.
“Nothing to be embarrassed about. I’ve told you before, child, I don’t bat for the kitties but I still think like a man. Well, sometimes. And those hips. Yes, honey . . . oh yes! Now come sit in Sway’s chair and tell me all about that hunk Liam Beckett.”
Then my hand is in his and I’m being pulled past Dani and into Sway’s chair.
“You do realize she is my client, right?” she huffs.
“No. She was. Now she’s mine.”
I watch through the mirror as Dani puts her hands on her slim hips and snaps, “You can’t just steal my appointment. She’s my friend, you weird old man. I swear, if I didn’t love you I would quit.”
He laughs, throwing his head back and his arms in the air. “You,” he points to her and then reaches out to unbutton the top button on her black blouse, “Will never learn to let those babies free. Can you believe her?” he asks, looking at me through the mirror. “She has those great girls now that she’s turned into a human milker. Never shows them off. I tell her, time and time again, now that she has the man doesn’t mean she should put them away. And you,” he snaps, turning back to Dani. “Leave me to this sweet child. She needs Sway. You need to go tug up the girls and go give your man a nooner before he calls here, again, and yells at me for keeping you away from the house.”
“He did not yell at you,” she yells. “He just asked if I could take a longer lunch and then got a little upset when I had to leave before we finished.”
“Oh yeah, and what didn’t you finish? Huh? You think he was happy with me because you have too many clients? No, not Cohen Cage. Just like his daddy. Wants to lock you up in the bedroom and never let you go. I bet you have another little Cage in that belly before too long.”
Her face reddens. “I was talking about lunch, you perv! We didn’t finish lunch!”
“Hmmm,” he mumbles and starts running his hands through my hair. “And what, honey child, was he eating?”
My jaw drops when hers snaps shut and I watch, fascinated, when she turns her eyes to me and with a shrug says, “Sorry. Looks like you’re his now.” Then stomps off to the back room.
“Uh,” I start.
“You need to ignore her, sweetheart. I figured out she was pregnant two weeks ago, mind you she has not a clue, but she will. She always gets snappy in the beginning. So, while I love that I get to get my hands on all this hair, I also get her off her feet while she’s back in the breakroom having a snit. So I win, but she wins bigger,” he whispers close to my ear and then pulls back.
“Pregnant? Again?”
“I swear it must be a Cage thing. Runs in the family. Super swimmers, both of them.”
“Uh,” I mumble.
“She’ll find out soon enough. If her losing her breakfast this morning was any help, if not, she will when she stops focusing on her best friend’s love life long enough to remember she hasn’t had her lady time yet.”
“Oh my God,” I say, still low and soft. Shocked.
“You, sweet girl, are ready for the new you?”
I nod, still thinking about how Sway could know that Dani is pregnant before she does.
“Then sit back and relax, time for me to work my magic.”
I nod again, because really what can you do when a man who does heels, skinny jeans and a loose blouse better than you ever could, starts waving his hands around with scissors attached? You sit back and shut the hell up. That’s what you do.