The Beautician and the Billionaire: Episode 7 Final Scene

Good Morning! Well for me it is. Those of you on the east coast are already in the afternoon! Sorry about the late post. I had an unavoidable appointment this morning.

Be sure to vote for your favorite Heir Billionaire. I’ll be closing that down in a few hours and posting the winner! I’m also hoping to have a link to buy Episode 8 by then!

And now it’s time for the final scene of Episode 7. To catch you up, Conor dropped the L word in the middle of sex. He kissed Charisse before she could respond and didn’t bring it up again….well, he brought something else up again 😉

Please enjoy! And for the unabridged version of 7, please buy it at Amazon or your favorite e-book vendor!

They made love all afternoon. To her relief, Conor didn’t say he loved her again, and he didn’t ask her to return it. It was just too soon after the contract to know if she truly loved him, though her heart burned with a passion hotter than she’d ever had.

They eventually fell asleep, but Charisse woke up to Conor jumping out of bed.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, sweeping her hair out of her face.

“Someone’s downstairs. Wait here.”

She watched him leave the room without getting dressed and then caught a scent in the air. Sautéed onions. Whoever was there was cooking.

“Raul!” called Conor. “I gave you the night off.”

“Yes, but I was still worried about Charisse, and there have been problems.”

She heard Conor returning up the stairs. When he came in he said, “I’m sorry, I wanted it to be just the two of us tonight, but it sounds like there’s some trouble. At least he’s cooking dinner. It’ll be much better than the instant mashed potatoes and bacon I probably would’ve fixed.”

Charisse smiled. “It’s okay. I’ll clean up and be right down.”

She saw a door leading to a bathroom and went in while Conor got dressed. When she returned to the bedroom, she heard Raul and Conor talking downstairs in low voices. Something about Becca’s party.

She put on her button-down shirt without the tank tops. When she pulled her jeans on she felt her phone in her pocket. Better check for messages. Letti had been keeping her updated about the salon.

When she clicked her phone on, she saw a couple texts from Letti and one from Josh. All her muscles tensed. Her therapist had told her several times to get a new number. She’d intended to do it in town but had run into Conor first.

She clicked on Letti’s texts: a business update, and then Charisse went cold. Josh had been to the salon. Letti had told him Charisse was out of town at a business conference. He wanted to know where, but Letti didn’t say.

Charisse clicked on the message from Josh. “I’m back in town. I just want to set things right between us. Please call me.”

She gripped the phone, walked out the door and down the stairs.

The conversation between Raul and Conor had switched to business. Conor said, “I was hoping to take Charisse to Puerto Rico next week, but it sounds like I need to go to China. Set up the usual interpreter… Charisse, what’s wrong?”

She’d turned the corner into the dining room and knew her face was probably pale. “You’re going to China?” she asked, suddenly wanting to avoid the talk about Josh.

“I knew I should’ve called a doctor,” said Raul. “This is how she looked yesterday when I found her. Sit down. Would you like some coffee?”

Raul walked around the bar and pulled a stool out for her. Conor held her hand and pushed her gently down onto the barstool.

“I’m okay, but coffee would be good. Thanks, Raul.”

Conor took the phone out of her hand. “He called you, didn’t he?”

“I was going to change my number in town this afternoon, but I ran into you. He went to my salon today.”

Conor set the phone on the bar. “Raul, get her a new phone number tomorrow. I don’t care what Becca’s party needs, this is more important.”

He turned to her and held her face in his hands. “As soon as we get it, we’ll send your new contact info to your family and friends. Tomorrow we’ll go to New York and get a restraining order.”

Charisse nodded. She forced the advice her therapist had given her through her thoughts. Josh had no power over her anymore. Even if she saw him, she wouldn’t allow him to belittle her or touch her in any way.

To show Conor she was all right, or at least would be, she gazed up and him and said, “And then back here for Becca’s party. After, you’re making it clear to her that you’re not doing anything else for her.”

He grinned. “Yes ma’am.”