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“There’s a little problem. I don’t date my clients,” CeCe remarked. She thought back to last night when she told Alexis she may have to get a new stylist.

“It won’t be a date. You’re coming to see me while Alexis does a follow-up with a patient,” Melanie said.

CeCe looked at Melanie and could see she was determined to make this happen. “I’ll tell you what, Alexis will be in the salon Tuesday for a pedicure. I’ll talk to her about it then.”

“Good. We’ll see her Wednesday morning,” Krista said. “Now, Cat, show us what you brought.”

CeCe sat back and watched Cat show the toys. She wondered if Alexis would agree to this non-date on Saturday. What are you doing? You are not good enough for Alexis to date, much less come out here and party with these Hollywood people.

But Melanie was insistent and she wasn’t a celebrity like the others. And honestly, CeCe wouldn’t know Krista was a celebrity if she hadn’t seen all her movies.

CeCe smiled and listened to the laughter around the table. She’d been to parties out here before and hadn’t felt out of place. So why did the thought of being here with Alexis make her so nervous, but also excited?

“What do you think, CeCe?” Cat asked.

CeCe shook the thoughts out of her head and joined the laughter and conversation.

* * *

Alexis walked into the salon and her eyes immediately found CeCe shampooing someone’s hair in the back of the salon. She stopped and watched her for a moment. The smile on her face as she worked her fingers through her client’s hair warmed Alexis's heart. CeCe really enjoyed what she was doing.

As if CeCe could sense her there she looked up and their eyes met. She wasn’t prepared for the butterflies that fluttered in her stomach when CeCe smiled at her. Alexis hadn’t felt anything like this in—she didn’t know when. Had it been that long since she’d been excited about the possibility of something new?

She wasn’t sure exactly what was happening to her and she didn’t know if CeCe felt it too, but she intended to find out.

“Hi, Dr. Reed,” Ryan said as Alexis started back to where Nora waited to do her pedicure.

“Hi, Ryan. It’s nice to see you,” Alexis replied, trying to calm her heart as it pounded in her chest.

“I’ve got everything ready,” Nora said to Alexis as she reached the back area of the salon that contained Nora’s nail station, the shampoo bowls on one side and CeCe’s station on the other.

“Thanks,” Alexis said with a smile.

As she rinsed her client’s hair, CeCe looked up and winked at Alexis. “Hi, Lex. How’s your day?”

Alexis smirked and put her hands on her hips. “It’s been a good day, Cecilia. How about yours?”

“Oh, it’s much better now,” CeCe replied.

Alexis couldn’t help but smile. CeCe Sloan was fun. With a look or a word she brightened any day.

“Right this way, Alexis.” Nora led Alexis to her chair and slipped her shoes off then placed her feet gently in the water.

Alexis decided right then to do this more often. She had the perfect seat to watch CeCe. Today she was wearing a pair of jeans that hugged her curves in all the right places.

CeCe glanced at Alexis, as she put the cape around her client then began to cut her hair. Alexis could see in the mirror what CeCe was doing and also had a view of her back. She smiled as she watched CeCe deftly cut the woman’s hair then she noticed CeCe had stopped. Their eyes met in the mirror and Alexis's heart began to thump wildly in her chest once again.

Alexis wasn’t sure what was going on, oh, who was she trying to fool, she knew exactly what was happening. Alexis and CeCe were lusting after each other while pretending it was an ordinary day.

The idea made Alexis chuckle.

“Uh oh, are you ticklish?” Nora asked.

“No, it’s okay,” Alexis replied. She heard something hit the floor and looked up to see that CeCe had dropped her comb.

“Oops,” CeCe commented and reached for another comb in a drawer.

Alexis continued to watch CeCe and was enjoying every second when once again something hit the floor. This time CeCe dropped her scissors.