Tangled Fury (9 page)

I laughed nervously.
“Right.”

“No, I’m serious,”
she replied.

“Interesting,” said Sinclair,
also smiling.

“What’s interesting?” asked Thane, stepping through the doorway.

My face turned red.

“Oh, nothing,” s
aid Sinclair, winking at me as she walked around him and back out into the salon.

“
It’s
interesting
that you spelled Sera’s name wrong on the business card,” said Felicia, following Sinclair out.

His eyes widened.
“What is she talking about?”

I handed the
card to him. “Um, my name is spelled ‘SERA’.”

He looked at me. “You’
re kidding me?”

I pushed the eyeglasses up on my nose.
“Nope. Sorry.”

“I guess you were right. I should have paid more attention to your resume,” he sai
d, frowning down at the card. “I feel like a moron.”

“
Eh, stuff happens.”

He
folded the card and threw into the garbage. “I’ll order you new ones. Have them over-nighted.”

“Okay.”

“You need help unloading your supplies?”

I thought about what Felicia said and the thought of him having the hots for me seemed ridiculous.
“No. I’ve got it. Thanks.”

“Okay then. Let me know if you do want my help. I don’t have much going on today.”

“I will. Thanks. So, did that guy give you an estimate on the remodeling?”

“Yeah. He gave me some ideas and pricing. Sounded pretty reasonable,
but I’m going to get some other quotes, just to compare.”

“Good idea
.”

“
Yeah. Which reminds me, I should start organizing and even clearing some things out of there before it starts getting torn down.”

“Probably a good idea
.”

He snapped his finger.
“I know what I was going to ask you - what are you doing for lunch?”

“I brought a sandwich.”

“Sandwich. Okay, well, don’t bring one tomorrow. We’ll do lunch, you know, to discuss the shop and ways to gain clients. I won’t keep you long, but I think it’s important to figure out some strategies, other than just word of mouth.”

“Oh, sure. Of course
.”

“
Do you like Thai?”

I smiled. “I love it.”

“Good,” he replied, opening up the door. “Then you’re going to really love it when you try this place up the street. Everything that I’ve have there has been delicious.”

“Sounds great,” I answered, following him out of the break-room. My
eyes glided down from his powerful-looking shoulders, past his narrow waist, to his firm looking buttocks. He definitely took care of himself. “I’ve heard that Thai food is pretty healthy, too.”

“If you order the right food. Some of it has a lot of sodium. I try to stick with the good stuff, but sometimes I stray.” He chuckled. “You know what they say, you are what you eat.”

I knew it had to be true, because Thane was definitely… delicious

Thane

I walked away from Sera, telling myself that it would be beneficial for her to create a sales plan and talking about it over lunch, made perfect sense. But, in all reality, the reputation of the salon itself drew in plenty of customers, and she’d probably be over-booked in a week or two. From what I heard, the last nail technician hadn’t even been able to accept walk-ins; she was kept so busy from the references the stylists generated.

I reordered Sera’s business cards, and then spent most of the morning in my office, talking to other remodeling contractors and going through the shop’s finances. At twelve-thirty, I stepped back into the busy shop, where everyone was busy with clients. Even Sera
, who had her supplies out and looked like she’d already been working at Tangled longer than me. She wore a white mask over her face, and was brushing acrylic on an older woman’s newly elongated nails.

“Hello there, Thane,” said
the woman, smiling up at me.

I recognized her from the week before.
Felicia’s client. Just like before, she was undressing me with her eyes. I stared down at the old cougar with amusement. “Well, hello there, Monica. Getting your nails done, huh?”

“Yes. I figured I’d give
your new gal here a chance.”

“How is she doing?”

“So far, so good. She’s gentle on the hands, which I really like. Your last technician did a wonderful job, too, but my nails were always sore afterwards.”

“
You may have had an infection,” said Sera, her voice slightly muffled from the mask. “Or, if she used a drummel, to smooth out your natural nail, it can leave them a little sore. Like I mentioned before, you should try gel nails. It’s less volatile and a lot of people actually prefer them.”

“I
know… I know… but, personally I really like the acrylic,” said Monica. “It’s just what I’m used to.”

“W
hatever makes you happy,” I answered. “We aim to please here.”

Monica’s eyes glittered. “Whatever makes me happy?”

I smiled. “You bet. We’re all about pleasing the customer.”

Monica licked her lips. “
You have no idea how exciting it is to hear you say that, young man.”

S
era let out a strangled giggle.

I smiled, wondering where she was going with this.

“You know what would really make me happy?” asked Monica.

“Uh, what would that be?” I asked, suddenly wishing I would have stayed in my office.

She rubbed her chin with her other hand and smiled wickedly. “Having you give me the pedicure. Bare-chested, muscles glistening with baby oil. Those large hands of yours massaging my feet, rubbing lotion all over them. Now
that
would be very pleasing to this customer.  Don’t you agree, Sera? Doesn’t that sound divine?”

Speechless, my eyes met Sera’s and I could tell she was smiling under her mask.

“Oh, Monica,” laughed Sera. “I think you’ve embarrassed Thane.”

I crossed my arms under my chest.
“No, I’m very flattered, actually.”

Monica wiggled her eyebrows.
“Good. Then you’ll do it?”

I laughed. “Uh, no. Sorry.”

“But, what happened to ‘the customer is always right?’ she pouted.

“If I were to take my shirt off, the stylists wouldn’t be able to concentrate on their client’s hair. Mistakes would be made, and the other customers would walk out of the salon,
not
very pleased with the service here.”

“Oh, you’re no fun,” replied Monica. She looked at Sera. “I almost thought I had him, though.”

“Me too,” she replied, looking up at me, her eyes twinkling.

“
How about one little peak at what you’ve got hiding under that shirt, young man? Give an old lady one last dying wish, before she meets her maker?”

I stared at her in horror
. “I’m sorry, are you… terminal?”

She waved her hand. “No, but for heaven’s sake, I’m i
n my eighties. Every day that I still feel an excitement for life, and for men, is a miracle. Hell, it’s a miracle if I remember to put on underwear in the morning. Now, what do you say? Take pity on one of your oldest and dearest customers? Give me something to smile about when I go home and fall asleep in my recliner?”

My eyes met Sera’s again. “
Should I indulge this charming woman?”

“It’s up to you,” she replied, a smile in her voice.

Felicia popped her head around the partition that separated Sera’s table from the other stations. “Oh, for the love of God, show that woman some skin! Aint nobody else in the salon gonna see you back here!”

“You women are making me feel very uncomfortable. Especially you, young lady,” I teased Monica.

“I’ve learned that you get nowhere staying in your comfort zone. You throw caution to the wind, and who knows what the future will bring.”

Sinclair and Tiffany also peaked around the corner.

“It’s just your shirt,” replied Tiffany, who then blushed.

“Isn’t this considered sexual harassment?” I said, untucking my shirt. “You know, if it was the other way around, and I asked any of you to remove your shirt, I’d have a lawsuit on my hand.”

“Young man, I’ll take my shirt off if it makes you feel more comfortable,” said Monica, grinning widely.

Trying not to laugh, I replied. “I’m pretty sure you’d mess up your nails and Sera wouldn’t be too happy.
Right, Sera?”

“Yes,”
she replied. “We’d have to start over and I’m almost finished with this hand.”

Felicia stepped around the
corner, holding her phone. She smiled smugly and soon hip-hop music began to fill the room. “Okay, Thane. I’ve set the mood for you. Start shaking those hips and showing Monica how you men do it in Alaska.”

“Don’t you ladies have customers?” I asked, staring at them incredulously.

“We do. That’s why you’d better hurry,” replied Felicia. She looked at her watch. “My girl, Jackie, is under the dryer. She’
s almost done, so get busy. Show us a little skin. Just a little. That’s all we’re asking.”

Shaking my head and laughing, I turned back to Monica.
The anticipation on her face reminded me of a child getting ready to open the largest present under the tree. Then there was Sera, who I could tell was also still smiling under the mask. Her emerald eyes were sparkling and it sent a shiver of excitement through me.

Oh… w
hat the hell…it’s just a shirt.

Sera

I sat there, stunned, as Thane began to roll his hips to the beat of the
music. Then, he grabbed the end of his shirt and slowly began pulling it up, giving us all a glimpse of his tan washboard stomach.

“Keep it going!” laughed Monica
, now dancing in her chair. “Let’s see that entire six-pack of yours.”

Chuckling, Tha
ne pulled his shirt up, just below his nipples, and I felt my own harden as his hips gyrated faster and he started having more fun with it.

“Damn,” said
Felicia. “He doesn’t move half bad for a mountain man.”

Smiling, I shook my head.

“Go Thane! Go Thane!” chanted Monica, now waving her hands in the air.

Laughing, he
pulled his shirt all the way off and began waving it above his head.

“Lord have mercy,”
said Felicia, her eyes round. “They sure know how to grow ‘em in Alaska, don’t they girls?”

Lord have mercy was right. Thane was more man than I’d seen in a long time. Just imagining my hands on his biceps was enough to make me tingle all over.

Thane laughed and I noticed his cheeks grow slightly pink. For someone as ripped as he was, I found it appealing that he was also modest. Being so attractive and having a body like that, he had to be used to women drooling.

“Oh, look at him. He’s blushing,” said Monica
, taking the words right out of my mouth. “That’s almost refreshing coming from someone with the body like yours. All manly and buff.”

Buff was right.
Thane was the epitome of raw maleness - thick, hard muscular arms and a defined, rippled chest that rivaled any professional bodybuilder. He had to have spent a lot of time pumping weights.

“You must live at the gym,” said Monica, nodding in approval at his abs, which had obviously graduated from a six-pack to an eight, some time ago.

He tightened
his stomach muscles even further and gave her a boyish smile. “Force of habit.”

Felicia’s
eyes widened. “Force of habit?”

His eyes met mine. “Let’s just say…
my last job required me to stay in shape.”

“What w
ere you, a ninja?” asked Tiffany.

“A stripper?” asked Felicia
.

Sinclair laughed. “I kno
w… I know… A Special Ops guy?”

“
I’m surprised that nobody mentioned a lumber jack,” he said, smirking at Felicia. “Especially you.”

“You have to know that it was next on my
list.”

“
So, tell us, Thane, were you one of those ax-yielding lumberjacks?” asked Monica. “With an ox as your side-kick?”

Before he could reply, the front door jingled.

“Oh, that’s probably my next customer, said Sinclair.”

“Well, that sure is a wakeup call,” said
Thane, grabbing his shirt. “And thank goodness. Okay, enough of the silly business. We
all
need to get back to work.”

Sinclair and Tiffany rushed back to their stations and Felicia turned off the music.

“That was tight, Thane,” she said. “You know, you could moonlight over at the club up the street. Thursdays they have male strippers. Lady’s night, you know.”

“Hopefully you girls will
all
get back to work - make some money, sell some products, and pay next month’s rent so that I won’t need to moonlight,” he answered, putting both his shirt
and
his boss hat back on. “And thanks for mentioning Thursdays. I’ll be sure to avoid those nights if I feel like having a beer after work.”

“What do you mean? That’s the best time to hook-up
with a woman. They are all usually hot-and-bothered. Looking for some beefcake. They see you and they’ll think they hit the jack-pot,” said Monica. “Especially since you’re not a stripper and more accessible.”

He turned back to her.
“Beefcake, huh? Monica, how do you know that I’m not happily married?”

“
My dear boy - you’d be wearing a wedding ring if you were happily married,” she replied with a sly smile.

He rubbed his ring finger
. “Okay, how do you know I’m not unhappily married?”

“
Believe me, I know when a man is single.
Really
single. Besides, I asked Felicia if you were even dating anyone and she said that you couldn’t be. That you were wound so tight at work and needed to get your dick waxed-”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa…” interrupted Felicia
in a loud voice. She laughed nervously. “Monica, I think you’re confusing Thane with someone else I was talking about. Right?”

The old woman’s eyes widened
. “I don’t think so. I believe you said it was him.” Her eyes lowered to Thane’s jeans. “And you’re right - the man probably has a buildup down there, making him cranky and irritable. You can tell he’s packing something substantial behind that zipper and -”

Felicia put a han
d over Monica’s mouth and stared at Thane. “Nah, nah, nah, she
is
just confused. I never said that about you, T.”

He crossed his arms over his chest.
“Really, because she doesn’t seem very confused.”

Monica
growled in the back of her throat and then bit Felicia on the hand.

She
squealed and let go. “Damn, woman! Why are you trippin’ like this today? What’s gotten into you?”

“You are not my Dom and certainly do not have
permission to subdue me like that, Felicia.”

Felicia waved her hand frantically, wincing in pain
. “Damn, that hurt.”

“Then keep it to yourself
, next time,” she replied with a smirk. Her eyes softened. “You know, you’re lucky I love you so much or I’d cancel my next appointment.”

“
Well, I love you, too.” Still waving her hand, she sucked in her breath. “I don’t need shots, do I?”

She rolled her eyes.
“Very funny. Anyway, I didn’t even puncture your skin. My dear, you’d never make it as a Submissive.”

“Submissi
ve? No, that lifestyle doesn’t interest me in the least,” said Felicia. “This girl likes to give as much as she gets, you know what I’m sayin’? Plus, I hate pain.”

“I see that
,” replied Monica. She turned to Thane. “What about you, Thane?”

His eyes widened. “What
about
me?”

“Would you ever submit to a woman? Let her tame you into doing whatever she asks?”

“Is this some kind of a trick question?” he asked, his lips twitching. “I mean that doesn’t sound that bad, but something tells me there’s more to it.”

“There is,” said Felicia.

“It’s all in your perception and an honest question,” she answered. “But, before you answer it, you need to know that when I say ‘anything’ she asks, it could require you to go way out of your comfort zone.”

He chuckled. “Oh, you mean would I ever get married?”

I laughed.

Felicia snorted. “That’s out of most men’s comfort zone.”

“No. I’m talking about the act of humbling yourself to someone else. Making yourself obedient and compliant to whatever they wish, even if it was… humiliating?”

“To be honest, I really don’t know. I usually like to be the one in control in the bedroom.”

I pictured him naked in my bedroom and heat pooled between my legs. I crossed them and pretended to be looking through my bottles of nail polish.

Monica smiled. “
You like to be in control. Well, that sounds heavenly, too.”

Sighing, h
e shook his head, looking exasperated. “I can’t believe I’m having this conversation right now. Actually, I can. You women have tainted me into thinking it’s okay to talk about this at work. Like it’s nothing. When in fact, it’s grounds for a sexual harassment lawsuit against yours truly.”

“Oh, settle down
,” said Monica. “You haven’t made anyone here uncomfortable, so don’t get your undies in a bundle.”

“What if I said that you’ve made
me
uncomfortable?” he said with a straight face.

“You mean gave you a boner?” replied Monica, also with a straight face.

“Takes more than that, Monica,” he replied, his eyes catching mine for a brief second.

I began to perspire.

Monica laughed. “I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable. Just don’t sue me.”

“I’m just giving you shit,” he answered. “I don’t
mind if you girls talk sex, just be considerate around people that might get offended. Especially other customers.”

Monica waved her hand.
“The women of this town are outspoken, confident, and not afraid to ask for what they want, especially when it comes to sex. You’d better get used to it.”

“Is that right?” he said.

“It certainly is.” She smiled. “Welcome to Sunny California, Thane.”

He grunted.

Felicia looked at her watch. “Shit, I should get back to work.”

“Yes, you should,” replied
Thane, tucking in his shirt. “Jesus, I can’t believe I let you women talk me into this.”

“Come on, you enjoyed it. I’ll bet you haven’t been that naked in front of a female, let alone a group of them, for a long time,” said Monica.

“Monica, you’re really starting to make me feel like a pathetic loser.”

“Why?” she asked.

“Come on now. You really have to ask?”

“Oh, we all go through dry spells. Wait until you get to be my age and the spells last years instead of months.”

“Something tells me that you’ve never had to wait too long,” he said, turning towards the partition and walking away. “Tell me I’m wrong?”

“Oh, you’
re right about that,” she answered, checking out his rear. “Life is too short to wait for handouts.”

He laughed and disappeared around the corner.

Monica turned back and offered me her fingertips once again. “I’m telling you, honey, you’ve gotta tap that. Because if
you
don’t,” her eyes glittered, “I will.”