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“It’s what you want, isn’t it?”
“For real?”
He stared at her. “I’m starting to wonder if you’re attempting to fool me with these trick questions.”
She shook her head. “No, nothing like that. I just, I guess I didn’t expect you to agree to allow me to get my hair cut.” She offered him a smile and then pressed her lips together. “Thank you.”
“You’re a strange person, Lucia. One day, you will learn that all you have to do is ask, and you’ll get what you want.”
Should she believe him? He had not hurt her. He’d not demanded his husbandly rights. They shared a bed, yet they had not consummated their marriage. She might be able to start trusting him. Maybe? Possibly.
****
Boone knew the hairdresser was losing patience, but he gave her a look that told her to wait. Lucia kept getting out of the chair and climbing back in. They had been in the salon for twenty minutes.
Chloe, the hairdresser, had canceled a few of her customers to slot in his wife, and he appreciated it. She was a damn good hairdresser, and had nearly closed a few years ago due to the rates Bonaldi had put in place on the salon to do business within his sector. She was another person he’d taken care of, and business was booming. He didn’t put any rates of business on anyone.
“I’m sorry,” Lucia said.
“You want it cut?” Chloe asked. She didn’t sound impatient.
“Yes, I do. I want it all off, but you asked me what style I wanted, and I don’t know. Do you think you could do something that would ... suit me?”
Chloe looked toward him and he nodded his head.
“Sure thing, sweetheart. Just don’t move and don’t make any jerky movements, okay?”
“Yeah, okay.”
She looked so nervous. He continued to watch as she cringed with each touch. At no point did she ask for Chloe to stop. As for Chloe, he had no doubt this was hard for her, working on a client who didn’t seem to want to get her hair cut. It took a good fifteen minutes before Lucia relaxed and finally stared to enjoy it.
He watched as her hair fell to the floor. A smile filled her face. It was so natural, like she was finally at peace. Her hair must have been another element her father attempted to control, and now that was all gone. There was nothing for her to fear. He’d make sure of it.
Little by little, her hair became styled. It was longer than a bob, but hit her shoulders. There would be no way she’d be able to pull it back into a ponytail. The style curved around her face, and she looked beautiful before, but now, with that smile, it transformed her into stunning.
After Chloe was done, Lucia grabbed the woman’s hands. “Thank you,” she said.
“Honey, it’s fine.”
“No, I know I was being a problem, but thank you for working on my hair and not getting angry.”
Chloe offered her a smile, nodded to Boone, and that was the end of it.
Lucia looked back toward the mirror and Boone got to his feet, moving in behind her. “You like it?” he asked.
“I do. What about you?”
“It doesn’t matter if I like it or not.”
“Yeah, it does.”
“Why?”
“Because, you’re ... I care if you like it or not.”
Well, if she cared, then he was not going to hold back. “I love it and it suits you. Are you ready to grab some dinner?” he asked.
“Yeah.”