Chapter One
Cal pushed his chair back away from his desk and folded his hands behind his head. He was pleased with what he’d achieved in his first week. He was starting to get things in order. He nodded to himself. Dan had set this whole outfit up to work well but his focus was elsewhere. Dan was a tech guy, not an operations guy. That was why he’d brought Cal in.
He looked up at the sound of a knock on his office door and had to laugh when he saw Ryan and Manny standing there grinning at him.
“Yes? Can I help you?”
“More like we’ve come to help you,” said Ryan. “You’ve barely come up for air since you came in here on Monday morning. Now it’s Friday afternoon—time to cut loose.”
Cal frowned. “It’s not even four o’clock.”
Dan came to join them and smiled at him. “It’s almost four o’clock, though. And since there’s no operational need for anyone to be here on the weekends yet, we close up.”
Cal raised an eyebrow at him. “That’s not—”
Manny came into the office. “There’s no point in arguing. I tried that, but I’ll warn you now, these guys will only start harping on about how we’re supposed to be retired.” He shot an evil look at Ryan. “He’ll start giving you grief about not working full time at our age.”
Ryan laughed. “Nah, I wouldn’t do that to Cal.”
Manny rolled his eyes. “If you start talking about me being even older than him …”
“Nope.” Ryan winked at Cal. “I just know that Cal would kick my ass into next week if I gave him even half the grief you let me get away with.”
Manny clipped the back of his head. “I’ve resisted all this time, but if that’s what it’ll take …”
Dan shook his head at Cal as the two of them watched Manny and Ryan start to wrestle.
“Enough!” Cal had to hide his smile when they both snapped to attention.
Dan laughed. “Damn, you need to teach me how to do that.”
Cal shrugged. “It doesn’t come easy. It comes from a whole career of having to keep them and a whole team of others just like them in line.”
“I don’t think that’s true,” said Ryan. “Even without a lifetime’s worth of practice, I’d quake in my boots when I heard you bark out orders in that tone.”
Manny smirked at him. “That’s only because you quake in your boots at the first sign of trouble.”
Ryan raised his fists with a grin, ready to go at it again.
“Can you give it a rest?” said Cal. “For guys who’ve spent their lives in the field working the kinds of ops you two have, you’re more like a pair of little kids.”
Dan nodded, but didn’t say anything.
Manny blew out a sigh. “You’re right. I’m old enough to know better, but this one …” He clipped the back of Ryan’s head again. “He brings out the worst in me.”
Ryan jabbed his arm with a grin. “You know you love me, really.”
Dan turned to Cal. “Do you want to come out for dinner later? I think everyone’s meeting up at the Boathouse.”
Cal thought about it. Ryan was right that he’d barely come up for air since he’d started work on Monday. He’d stayed here at the office until late each night, only going back to the house to eat, sleep, go to the gym, and shower before returning in the morning. All he wanted to do tonight was repeat the routine, and if finishing early gave him a few extra hours then he should use them to run errands and start putting the house in order. It was only a rental, and he wasn’t sure how long he’d stay there, but …
Manny raised an eyebrow at him. “Don’t say no. I’ve promised Nina that she’ll get to meet you tonight.”
Cal smiled. He was eager to meet the woman who’d managed to change the intense, take-no-shit special agent he’d known for half a lifetime into this new grinning, play-fighting version of himself, who Cal had to admit he liked even better.
“Come on, boss.” Ryan looked more serious now. “I love that I get to work with you again, but I’ve been looking forward to you being a part of life around here, too.” He smiled. “It’s a new one for us.”
“It is.” In all the years Ryan had worked for him at the agency, they’d rarely socialized. There wasn’t room for it in that life. And this … this was supposed to be a new life: his retirement. He needed to remember that and try to learn to chill out more. “Okay. What time?”
“Missy and I are going over there at seven-thirty,” said Dan.
Manny nodded. “That’s when we said, too. Nina’s trying to get her friend to come.”
Cal narrowed his eyes. Manny knew better than to try and set him up with a woman.
“Don’t look at him like that,” said Ryan. “He can’t be held responsible for Nina. She’s a sweetheart and she wants to see everyone happy. She’ll want to set you up with someone who’ll take care of you.”
Cal gave Manny a warning look. “I’m sure she is a sweetheart, but I can look after myself—and you all know it.”
Manny gave him a half smile. “We do. But I’ll let you be the one to convince Nina of it. And you might want to wait until after you’ve met her friend.”
“Who—?” Ryan began, but Cal cut him off by shoving his chair back and getting to his feet.
“I have some errands to run, so if we’re really done for the day, I’ll get to them. I’ll see you all at the Boathouse later.”
Manny caught up with him as he made his way out to the parking lot. “Will you be there or was that just the standard Callahan; tell them what they need to hear to get them off you back?”
Cal chuckled. “I haven’t decided yet.”
“I figured. If you don’t come, do you want to join me for a run in the morning? I’ll be going around seven.”
“Sure.”
“Okay.” They’d reached Cal’s car. “But don’t use that as a built-in excuse not to come tonight?”
“I won’t. I think I’ll be there. I need to get a haircut, get some groceries and …” He shrugged. “That’s about the extent of what I have to do so …”
Manny smiled. “So, I’ll see you later. You’ll only be climbing the walls otherwise.”
Cal got into his car. “Seven-thirty, then.”
~ ~ ~
“We’ll see you in six weeks.” Teresa handed the appointment card to Elaine Summers with a smile.
“Thanks, Terry.” Elaine shot a glance over at Elle. “Do you think she’ll still be here by then?”
Teresa shrugged. “I hope so.”
“Me, too. You should get her more involved. Let her step up and run the place. You take it a bit easier.”
Teresa gave her a rueful smile. “I’m just playing it by ear.”
Elle looked over, as if she somehow knew they were talking about her even though there was no way she could hear them over the hairdryer in her hand.
Teresa met her gaze. She was hoping with all her heart that Elle would decide to stay, but she knew better than to think she’d get a say in her daughter’s decisions—or her granddaughter’s future.
“I’ll see you next time, if not before,” Elaine said as she left.
Teresa checked the clock on the wall. Mel Thomas should be here any minute, and she was just a blow dry ready for the weekend.
She reached for the phone when it rang. “Mane Street Salon. This is Teresa—”
“Teresa! I’m so sorry. It’s Mel. I’m supposed to be there and I’m not going to make it.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes. Don’t worry. Everything’s fine. It’s not an emergency or anything. It’s just me. I swear my short-term memory’s starting to fail. I completely forgot. I’m at the mall down Route Twenty. It was only when Barb called to check that I’m still going tonight that I remembered that for one thing, I’m going out tonight and for another, I’m supposed to be getting my hair done for it.”
Teresa laughed. “Don’t worry about it, it’s not a problem. You were my last appointment, so I’ll make the most of it and go home early.”
“You do that, but be sure and charge me the cancellation fee, won’t you? I don’t want to mess you around.”
“Thanks.”
“Of course. We’re friends but this is business. I wouldn’t take advantage.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll give you a call on Monday morning and rebook for next week, if you can fit me in.”
“Sure, but don’t leave it too long, my schedule’s mostly full.”
“I’ll tell you what, do you have this same time next week?”
Teresa checked the screen. “No. Sorry. Elle can take you if you like?”
Elle glanced over at her. Teresa was trying to help her build her clientele up now that she was back, even though neither of them knew if she wanted it.
“I’ll take it. Thanks. I’ll see you then.”
“Bye.” Teresa hung up and tapped in the appointment before she got to her feet. She went to stand beside her daughter, who was brushing out the gorgeous cut and balayage she’d spent the afternoon on. “Wow, you look gorgeous,” she told the girl sitting in the chair.
“Isn’t it perfect?” The girl looked up at Elle. “You’re amazing! Thank you so much! Please say you’re going to stay?”
Elle smiled at her, then met Teresa’s gaze in the mirror. “I’m not sure yet.”
Teresa nodded. At least it wasn’t a flat-out no. “My last appointment just canceled. So, how would you feel about closing up tonight?”
“Sure. It’d do you good to go home and put your feet up. Are you going to go out with Nina later? You know she wants you to.”
“Well … actually … I was thinking I could go and get Skye for you. You know, take her home and—”
Elle was already shaking her head. “I’m not being mean, Mom. I’m really not. But I’m trying to get her into some sort of routine. Jackie’s not expecting me to pick her up until six-thirty. I don’t want to mess her around.”
Teresa nodded sadly. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I just …”
Elle touched her arm. “We’ll hang out on Sunday, huh? The three of us?”
Teresa had to blink and hope that her eyes weren’t too shiny. “I’d love that, sweetheart. I’ll see you later. Oh.” She rolled her eyes at the sound of the bell when the door opened. “Looks like I might not be leaving after all.”
She turned to see what kind of client she’d be facing. Tourist season had quieted down now, but they still got walk-ins. Wow! She pressed her lips together, hoping that she hadn’t just said that out loud. The sound of Elle’s giggle beside her let her know that she might have. It was hardly her fault; the man standing just inside the door was breathtaking—even if he did look thoroughly uncomfortable as he took in his surroundings. He couldn’t be a starker contrast to the soft pastel and undeniably feminine décor of the salon—he was solid, masculine …
“Go get him, Mom!”
Teresa bit back a giggle of her own and hurried toward the door before he could turn around and leave. He looked like he could’ve walked off the set of an action movie—one of those where all the actors used to be the hot, young things in Hollywood, but these days they were the older generation—but still hot. She’d guess he was around her age. Maybe a little older. She kept herself in good shape, but he looked like he must live in the gym; he was solid muscle. He must be military by the way he carried himself; he even had the whole square jaw thing going on. She made herself focus.
“Good afternoon, what can we do for you?” No way was she going to let her mind wander to all the things she’d like to do to him!
He met her gaze. Phew! His eyes were a piercing blue.
She smiled, waiting for him to speak.
He continued to stare for a few moments before shaking his head. “No.”
She raised an eyebrow.
His expression softened, though he didn’t quite smile. “Can you tell me where I can get a haircut in this town?”
She gave him a puzzled look before casting a curious eye around the salon.
She looked back when he made a noise. It wasn’t a laugh, but by the way the corners of his mouth turned up ever so slightly, she’d guess that it was at least an expression of amusement.
“I mean, where can a man get a haircut.”
She couldn’t help it. She looked him up and down.
This time he cracked—and his smile was so worth the wait. She wanted to laugh at the thought of the sun coming out from behind the clouds and birds breaking into song all because of that smile.
“Yes, I’m a man.”
Was he ever!
“And yes, I can see that this is an establishment where hair gets cut.” He pursed his lips and she’d guess that it was to stop himself from letting any more smiles out. “But it doesn’t strike me that this is where men get their hair cut.”
She finally let out a chuckle. “I’m sorry. I was only playing with you. It’s a small town. There’s no barber’s shop. The men around here either do it themselves, get their wives to do it, or they come to me.” She held out her hand to shake with him. “I’m Teresa.”
Whoa! He had big hands. She had to bite back a laugh at the obvious question that raised about other parts of his anatomy.
He held onto her hand for just a moment too long. “Well, I don’t like to do it myself and I don’t have a wife to do it for me …” He held her gaze and his eyes told her that he wasn’t thinking about a haircut any more than she was. “So, I guess I’m coming to you.”
Her throat went dry and she had to swallow before she could speak. She was probably just imagining the whole thing. “Well, alrighty then.” She gave him her best customer-facing smile. “Do you want to do it right now?”
She realized her unfortunate wording at the same time as he laughed. It was the sexiest sound she’d heard in years.
She smiled at him through pursed lips.
“Now works for me, but I can make an appointment if you’d rather?”
“No need to wait. You’re in luck. I just had a cancellation.” She motioned for him to follow her to her chair.
“His loss is my gain.”
He probably only meant his gain in getting an appointment straight away, but the way he was looking at her when she turned to him made her wonder. “Not a he,” she said. “I do women, too.”
His laugh was rich and deep.
She covered her mouth with her hand and shook her head. “Oh, my God! Not like that! What do you think, should we start again from the top?”
He smiled. “Sure thing. Good afternoon, ma’am. Is there any chance you can give me a haircut?”
“Why yes, yes I can. Please, take a seat. I’m Teresa, nice to meet you.”
He held her gaze. Those eyes were something else. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, too.”
She’d hoped that he’d tell her his name. When she told Nina about this later—heck, when she replayed it in her mind—she wanted to be able to say his name. He wasn’t offering, so she asked. “And your name is?”
“Blake.”
“Oh.” He didn’t look like a Blake, but what did it matter? If he found his way back into her thoughts—or dreams—later, and she already knew he would, she could call him by whatever name she liked. “And what can I do for you, Blake?” She gave him a wry smile in the mirror. “What kind of haircut are you looking for?”
