Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Cleaning her body and taking his time, giving her everything she needed. He washed her hair, shampooing it and conditioning the length, and at the end of the shower, he dried her.
He refused to let her sleep on the massage-oil-stained sheets, so he changed them quickly.
“You know, I can help,” Nikki said.
“No, you don’t have to worry. Just sit!” He pointed at the chair and she let out a chuckle.
“What has gotten into you?” Nikki asked.
“I’m taking care of you. That’s what men do. They take care of women.”
“I don’t know, you seem strange. Are you sure you’re okay? Did I … was I not good?” she asked.
The sheets were changed and he rounded the bed, going to her, and he cupped her face. “Shut the fuck up. You were perfect and don’t for a second doubt it.” He kissed her. “Now, get into bed.”
She laughed. “Yes, Sir.”
“Be careful. You know how much I like that.”
Chapter Twelve
The following day, the salon was having one of its rare slow days. Not a lot of appointments booked, and Nikki had come to see they were the days the club women took over the salon. Darlene always made sure there was plenty of staff to help pamper the ladies. She recognized several of the women. One of them was Melanie, and there were a few others. Most of them were dressed in miniskirts, and barely-there tops that pushed their breasts up. She didn’t know how the women did it, as she was freezing cold in her pants and blouse.
Darlene had asked her to change it up and occasionally wear dresses or skirts. She intended to, but with it being so cold out, she didn’t want to freeze on the way to the car.
When the club women came, she made sure to clean up after them. There was always a lot of giggling and gossip. For the most part, Nikki tuned it out.
Darlene needed some extra work, as she treated Melanie’s hair, topping up the dye so it was vibrant and full.
Nikki was learning each element, although she wasn’t studying hair at night school yet, it was on her list of many courses to take. Darlene knew she was interested in learning every aspect of the beauty industry, and it was nice to have a teacher like her, who was just as passionate about it.
“So, come on, ladies, we all know we want Trixie to spill the gossip,” one of the women who was getting her nails done asked.
Darlene nodded at one of the solutions, and Nikki grabbed it for her.
“What gossip does Trixie have to spill?” Darlene asked. She looked up from her work, glancing over to the blonde at the nail station.
She let out a sigh. “Seriously, you didn’t hear?”
“I spend most of my time here, and you know I don’t always hear the gossip. That’s why you come here, Lindsey, to let me know what I am missing out on,” Darlene said.
“You shouldn’t be talking about what happens at a party.” This came from the woman Nikki had known as Sandy.
Nikki didn’t know who Trixie was.
Then Lindsey suddenly stood and walked over to the woman who was getting a pedicure, and put her hands on her shoulders. “Go on, Trixie, tell them.”
Trixie rolled her eyes. “There’s nothing to tell, and come on, guys, you all know the drill. Spending the night with the Prez, it’s … a one-time deal, and he doesn’t allow anyone to talk about it. You all know this.”
Nikki froze in place. She couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe. There was no way this could be happening.
“What?” Darlene asked. “I thought you were all complaining not long ago that Hawk was not looking at any of you?”
“Well, last Friday night, that all changed. He grabbed Trixie, took her up to his room, and trust me, this girl struggled to walk for a few days afterward. Didn’t even entertain any of the other brothers,” Lindsey said.
Nikki was going to be sick. Friday night. He’d told her to get a shower and that he was running late. That same night he didn’t arrive at the motel, and she didn’t check the time when he did finally arrive, and he smelled … freshly … showered. He’d been having sex with that woman. A club woman.
Nikki’s heart felt like it was shattering.
“Go in the back and check on the stock,” Darlene said. “I’ve got it.”
Nikki didn’t thank her, didn’t say anything as she made her way out of the main room.
Hawk slept with someone else. He’d been with someone else.
Last night he’d been different as well. This morning, even more so. Was he trying to end things with her? Was that it? Was he just using her? Was she a pity fuck?
Nikki stepped into the main stockroom. Darlene liked to have the shelves done a certain way. None of the cardboard boxes were there, all the bottles of products were easy to find, and she regularly reordered.