“Actually, little sis you could help out while I’m gone. Make up for being such a brat.”
“Oh?”
“I have a job for you. There’s a new girl in town. I told her to be gone by Friday. Make sure she is.”
“What did she do.”
“Piss me off.”
“Obviously.” Regan’s eye’s light up. “Did you…?”
“Hell, no. She disgusts me.”
“Uh-huh.” You know what I think?
“No. But that won’t stop you from telling me.” I place my hands on my hips.
“I think you’re afraid of her.”
“Mouse?” I laugh, heartily. “That’s funny.”
“Mouse? It is funny. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she’s gone.”
“Regan,” I bite out. “Don’t get yourself involved. She’s a spy for Edge.”
That finally snaps my sister to attention. “I’ll find out everything I can on the girl.” Her eyes are fire as she picks up a shovel and slams it down hard into the Earth.
“Good. I knew I could count on you.”
6
Amber
Three days later…
“You’re good with him.”
“Thanks. He’s amazing.”
We both turn our heads. Evan is busy at his easel painting. He has natural talent and many of his pieces hang in oak frames around the room.
“I knew you were the right fit. My family thought it was crazy to hire you, without meeting you in person. But I just had a gut feeling you were the right person.”
“That’s how I felt, too.”
“What’s wrong? I thought you liked it here?”
“It’s only been three days… but yes. I’m sure I’m staying.”
“Then why are you twisting the ends of your shirt and biting your lip. And every time a bike goes by, you wring your hands.”
I blow a lock of hair off my face. “I’d never win big in Vegas, eh?”
“Nope.”
“Ugh, it’s nothing. Just some dumb-ass biker giving me a hard time.”
“Tell me about it. I was married to one.”
“Was he a Royal Bastard?”
“Totally.” We look at each other and laugh. “I like you Amber, not just as Evan’s para. I was hoping we could be friends. And by the way—I’m dying to get you into my salon. I’m not into girls, but I know you’ve caught me staring.”
My face heats because I have caught Jenny looking at me when she thought I didn’t notice.
“I didn’t want to impose but my ends… I tried to dye them myself…”
“Let me see.”
My hands undo the sloppy bun on top my head.
She lifts a lock of my hair. “I can work with this.”
“Really?”
“Please. You would not believe what people did to themselves during the pandemic when salons were closed. I was booked solid for a year.”
“I’ll bet,” I smile.
“Evan’s dad is taking him for tacos later. Swing by my salon, I’ll stay open for you.”
“I couldn’t impose…”
“Is it about money? I’m offering.”
“No. It’s not that. I can pay…I just… can you do more than hair? Would it be weird?”
“What did you have in mind?”
I swallow thickly. “I don’t want to be unseen anymore. People look through me, not at me.”
“I can, do… more. But Amber, I can’t fix what’s in here.” The tip of her finger brushes my chest. It’s not sexual and yet it is…
She shrugs. “I do kinda go both ways. There’s something about you… a frailty layered over great strength. It’s like you can’t decide which one to wear.”
“Are you a mind reader?”
“It’s the Native American in me. My great-grandmother was a seer.”
“Wow. That’s beyond impressive.”
“My half-brother insists we connect with the land and our heritage. Once a month we go to the reservation in the mountains… we smoke pipes, set up a sweat lodge as a way to keep our culture alive.”
“I wish I had something like that. My family isn’t into culture or religion.”
“Maybe I’ll take you with me next time we go.”
“I’d like that.”
“Are you coming by later?”
I nod.
“Good. Have a good day with my boy. Open Instagram. Find a few looks you might want to try. And when my Royal Bastard of an ex swings by, give him the bird for me.”
“Yeah, ok.” I roll my eyes. I smile as she kisses Evan on his head before she leaves for work.
“You ready?”
I nod, anxious to see my big reveal. Jenny spent hours, plucking, exfoliating, and putting some weird cream on my face. Then she artfully raised her shears to my long locks, “promising not to cut too much.”
I held my breath as she applied strong smelling dye to my hair, but she swore I’d look “like a desert rose in full bloom,” by the time she’s done.
Neither of us speak as she wheels me around to face the mirror.
“How is this possible? You did this just with make-up and hair dye?”
“What can I say, I’m good. Right?”
My tongue is stuck to the roof of my mouth. Gone is the plain, brown mouse girl with pale skin and muddy eyes. In her place is a stunning brunette with caramel highlights and light pink tipped ends. My eyes are wide and lined with pink and black liner. My lashes are long and full. She put a light tanner and coat of blush on my cheeks.
“All I need to do now is gain twenty pounds.”
“That won’t be hard, girl. Just stop at Tommy’s Tacos on your way home every night. Everything is deep-fried and the avocado guac is homemade.”
“Yum.”
“Are you ready to tell me about this biker giving you a hard time?”
I shrug. “He hates me. For no reason either.”
“Is he a Royal Bastard?”
I nod. “Tarak.”
The brush stills in her hand. “Tarak?! Girl, what did you do to piss off the Desert King?”
“Desert King?” My mouth tips down. “He’s just a bully.”
“He saved this town. Kept us fed, protected, and loved. I’d do anything for the man. Be careful what you say about him. He’s beloved here.”
“Great. I guess I should just pack up and leave like he asked.”
“He must have a reason if he asked you to do that.”
“Nope. Not one. He’s just an arrogant prick.”
“They all are. But at least Tarak has a big heart. That’s what makes him different than the rest of the MC’s. He’s a good Prez.”
“If you say so. My first impression of him was that he was just a big baby.”
“Where did you meet?”
“At the Triple XXX outside of Albuquerque…”
“What?” She guffaws. “This is some story…”