Page 12 of Handling Skylar (Hope Parish #5)

SKY

From the blue neon coyote howling at a translucent moon, to the tasteful cowgirl décor, country music playing in the background, to the dark mahogany floors, it was no hardship to spend time there.

The Blue Coyote Spa had saved me, given me purpose, helped to distract me. It served a need in this town. Before I came, there was a nail salon, but most people in Suttontowne had to go to Lafayette to get good treatments and hair services.

Not anymore. I provided jobs and glamor.

After all, who didn’t like getting all dolled up and smelling good.

Now that I was deeply entrenched with a steady stream of clientele, I’d hired several excellent employees, one who acted as my manager for both the salon and the spa.

Jordan Summers had started with me almost from the beginning when I was more of a one-woman operation, working six days a week.

I’d met her at beauty school and we’d kept in touch.

When she needed a change of pace from New York City where she’d been working, and I’d grown by leaps and bounds, she’d relocated to Suttontowne.

She was now my right-hand gal and a full week after I’d kissed Jake Sutton in my driveway, we were sitting on my back porch looking out on the Vermilion River and drinking.

“You do realize it’s only eleven in the morning…on a Sunday. I have to say that many staff planning meetings I’ve attended didn’t include delicious waffles and spiked orange juice. But I’m not complaining.”

“Are you saying we shouldn’t be drunk, or we should be in church?”

She nodded and poured us each another glass of mimosa. “It is our day off and we’re working, so we get some compensation.”

We clinked glasses and laughed. “Better than being drunk in church.”

“Imagine Reverend Fairchild’s face.” Jordan giggled and it was infectious. “I’d attend just to see his gorgeous son. I might be married to one of the sweetest deputies in these parts, but Ethan’s on my fantasy to do list.”

“There’s no doubt about it. Ethan is truly beautiful.

But, I feel more affectionate toward him, kind of like a brother.

But, yes, let’s talk about your perfect love story.

I think when you blew into town, Deputy Mason Summers got more haircuts than was prudent.

He almost went bald so it’s good that you had pity on him and went out with him. ”

She smiled and her eyes lit up. “He’s my life. When I’d been burned out and needed solace, this place…” She looked out to the river and sat back, propping her feet on my beat up coffee table. “…was like heaven.” She sipped and we sat in silence for a moment. “Who’s on your fantasy to do list?”

“Isn’t this off topic?” I asked. “We’re supposed to be thinking of ways to serve our clients better.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re so bossy when you have something to hide.”

I picked up my plate of waffles and sighed.

She dropped her feet and set down her glass.

Oh, this was serious. Turning to me, she asked, “All right, what is it? That’s got to be the tenth sigh you’ve sighed since I arrived.

Your Miss Sunshine attitude is a bit dimmed today.

What gives? Who’s messing with my girl? Because I’m about to get loud on their ass. ”

I set down my own glass and stood and walked to the screened porch door and leaned against the frame with my shoulder. “It’s complicated and messy.”

“Ought O. Does this have to do with that little scene last week with that Hells Belle, Anna Kate?”

I turned to look at her over my shoulder with a wry grin. “Yes…and Jake Sutton.”

“Jake? Is that supposed to come as a surprise?” She rose and came up to me and nudged my shoulder. Sweetie, it’s plain to see you have the hots for him. Everyone knows. Even blind Mr. Douglas.”

I gasped and nudged her back with a spurt of laughter.

“This is after all a small town. Dish. Now.”

“I kissed…or…um…he kissed me.”

“Where?”

“Here. Last Saturday night.”

“No, not where…on the cheek? Hand? Mouth?”

“Oh, mouth. Definitely on the mouth,” I said my voice suddenly uneven.

Her eyes grew round, and she squealed! “Oh my God. That’s amazing.” Then she looked at my face. “Why isn’t it amazing?”

“Are you forgetting Anna Kate? He’s seeing her.”

Jordan rolled her eyes. “Oh, honey, if there isn’t a ring on the finger, the man is open season.

That’s what I say. She’s not right for him.

Jake is much more down to earth and grounded than that society bitch.

I almost pulled out every strand of hair she had the last time she was in the shop.

She is never satisfied, tips are a joke and she never says a kind word.

Jake on the other hand always tips well, tells me how nice I look and is always satisfied.

I sure wish Hells Belle would go somewhere else.

I’m sure she’s got brimstone and sulfur in her future. ”

A tug boat floated past, its slow process just like the pace in Suttontowne.

No one was ever in a hurry here. On the far bank lush ferns and purple wild iris grew in the shade of hardwood trees dripping moss and willows waving swinging ribbons of green.

In brighter spots, the fading of summer, black-eyed Susans and bits of white and yellow daisy fleabane dotted the bank like golden pieces of sun.

Small birds fluttered past in flashes of slate blue and bright yellow.

Ducks paddled along, several sunning their bodies on the riverbank, the distinctive green head of the mallard prevalent, along with brown, gray and black markings.

I’d even seen on a rare occasion a few trumpeter swans, wondering if I’d see any this winter as they migrated down to a warmer climate.

“They are not getting along,” I said. “That is evident and she’s jealous of me.”

“Good. You are serious competition.” She sobered and watched the tugboat for a minute. “What are you going to do about it?”

“Nothing.”

“What? Why?”

“The ball is in Jake’s court. He’s the one who has to decide. I’ve thrown my hat into the ring.”

“Was it good?”

I turned to look at her with a straight face. “Have you seen his mouth?” I sighed, though this time it was pure weakness. “He can kiss.” I waved my hands and went back to the cozy sofa and sat down. “Enough of that. Time to get to work.”

“Oh, before I forget, Mrs. Jennings wanted more of your special salve.” Jordan took one last fleeting look at the scenery and came back to the sofa settling next to me. She picked up her tablet.

I smiled, pleased. I noticed Mrs. Jennings was favoring her hands the last time she was in and complained of dry skin.

I’d given her some of my salve and told her to keep the small pot.

I had plenty more. The recipe was my mom’s and something I had been making on my own for a while.

I got a little lump thinking about my practical mom and how making the salve drew me closer to her.

I’d lost so much and left my former life behind, but I didn’t regret the decision.

Having dinner with Adam had been surreal, but I didn’t want to relive my last few years in Jasper Gulch.

I was relieved my obligatory dinner with him was over.

I’d also gained so much by moving here to Suttontowne and starting fresh.

Missing my parents and my brother was a constant and unrelenting ache I would carry always.

Especially since we were at such odds right before they died.

I couldn’t change the circumstances. My parents were gone as well as my legacy.

I would always keep their spirit alive inside me to preserve all that I could of how they had lived and how proud I’d been of them all.

“Noted. I’ll make up some more. That reminds me,” I said and rose, popping into the house and grabbing a couple of my bath bombs, a mixture of essential oils, scent, citric acid and sodium bicarbonate that burst with a fizzy explosion when it hit water.

I loved beauty products and made most of what I personally used.

Jordan was also my sounding board and benefactor of my experiments.

I came back out onto the porch and set them in her hands. “Oh, I love the little blue coyotes. Where did you find the mold?”

“Online when I was searching for those salt and pepper shakers, eBay is fantastic. I just added blue food dye.”

She brought the round pink ball to her nose. “Oh, God. What is this?”

“Sexy bath bomb. I call it: Have Your Pink With Me. I thought you and Mason might try it out for me.”

“What’s in it?”

“Jasmine, clary sage and ylang ylang, powerful aphrodisiacs. There’s soya milk, too that makes the water white, softening your entire body—or hot bodies—smooth as silk. There is a pink rice paper flower in the middle.”

“I love them…hey, why don’t you do a line of bath and beauty products for the shop? This stuff would sell so well. We could even come up with a website if you wanted to sell them over the net?”

“That’s a great idea. Let me give some thought to what I would want to do, a good way for us to expand.”

“I know Mrs. Jennings loves the salve. She told everyone, and I’ve been getting requests. So, that’s a potential candidate.” She made a note on her tablet.

We discussed the everyday business of the shop, my employees and what products to produce along with logo, name and packaging.

When we were finished with the meeting, she hugged me and told me to stop worrying so much about Anna Kate. That shrew didn’t give a fig for me. Jordan was right. The memory of Jake was embedded on my body and mind.

I decided that starting to work on that salve would be a good idea.

When I heard the car outside, I wondered if it was Jordan checking up on me. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Jake’s sleek convertible.