Everything His Heart Desires by Patricia Preston

Author:Patricia Preston [Preston, Patricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2016-11-03T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Amber draped a black hairstyling cape over Natalie and fastened it behind her neck. The wide mirror in front of the chair where Natalie sat reflected the small beauty shop that Amber owned. She worked in the shop by herself except on Saturdays, when an additional cosmetologist and a shampoo girl came in to work.

The shop was decorated with splashy, black-and-white portraits of beauty icons—Marilyn Monroe, Jean Harlow, Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth—hanging on dark red walls. Amber’s business goal was that every woman would leave her shop feeling like a movie star.

“All right.” Amber fluffed Natalie’s long hair. “We’re gonna give it some shape and highlights. And I’ve got some new makeup samples I want to use on you, too.” She smiled. “So how are things going in the world of fake romance?”

Natalie let out a sigh. “It’s getting a little too real for comfort.”

“Uh oh.” Amber reached for the scissors on the counter. “Don’t tell me you’re falling for Brett Harris.”

“No.” Natalie squirmed in the chair. “I’m not about to fall for him. I’m not his type at all. And there’s no point in it.” She spread her hands from beneath the cape. “In a few weeks, I’m leaving here, and a long-distance relationship wouldn’t work.”

“You’ve already fallen for him.”

“Maybe a little. Not much, though.”

Amber started snipping again. “I knew it. I knew you two would get together.”

“No, we’re not together. Not like a real couple. It’s all about helping Nana, and he’s making an all-out effort to win her over. He comes over every day, and Nana always comes up with something she wants him to do around the house. Brett and I have worked our asses off.

“I haven’t said anything, but I feel like Nana is taking advantage of us.” She told Amber how they had hauled the Christmas decorations down from the attic, dusted the chandeliers, cleaned out gutters, moved shelves in the greenhouse, and washed Nana’s Cadillac.

“Brett has never complained once, and I think Nana likes that about him. She’s always admired someone willing to work hard, and he doesn’t mention anything about medicine to her. He leaves that subject alone.”

“That’s smart.”

“He’s a smart guy,” Natalie said. “Clara loves cooking for him, but last night, he took all of us out to eat at a new place called the White Lily.”

“I love the White Lily. It’s beautiful.”

“It is. Nana and Clara enjoyed it so much, and Brett was so sweet. He gave each of us a long-stemmed rose. I think Nana was impressed.”

Amber glanced at the large mirror in front of the styling chair and grinned at Natalie. “From the dreamy sound of your voice, I think you were the one who’s impressed.”

“I am. Unfortunately,” she added, “I realize he has an end game in sight, and I’m definitely not naïve. But I’ve gotten to know him better, and he has his share of good qualities, which I never thought I’d say.”

“When a guy goes from asshole to awesome, you know where that road leads, don’t you?”

“It’s a dead end for me.

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