Conor held his hands out for quiet and said, “I know I only worked with you ladies for a short time, but I think all of you are great. And you deserve to have an owner far more knowledgeable in the salon business than I am. So I’m happy to announce that Charisse has taken over as full owner of the salon.” Continue reading
In the morning, Charisse awoke to an empty bed, but she still smiled. Conor had said he’d be leaving early to make sure everything was ready at the salon. She couldn’t wait to see what he’d done. Continue reading
Good morning! At least for some of you 🙂 I spent the weekend at the Colorado Renaissance Fair, and it was great. I’m afraid I have no pictures because I was just there hanging out and getting a much needed creative recharge as I shift into stories after The Beautician and the Billionaire.
Speaking of Shifting…I’ll post news tonight about Shifting into Love. I’m going to start posting twice a day on weekdays again and once on the weekend days. Please follow me so you don’t miss a post! I imagine a lot of you will be sound asleep when I post in the middle of the night 🙂
And now on with the last episode of The Beautician and the Billionaire:
Conor gripped Charisse’s hand as they walked through the hospital. Everything was going so well that he feared this visit with Roy would fuck it up. Continue reading
Charisse unpacked boxes of shampoo and conditioner in the quiet of Ma Charisse Monday morning. Strains of Mozart played gently in the background, and the scent of coffee pervaded without any stylists dying hair or giving manicures. Continue reading
The heaviness of a hand on her side drew Charisse to the brink of wakefulness. A kiss on her neck made her reach up and caress Conor’s cheek.
With a lurch of wakefulness she opened her eyes wide and flipped onto her back. The swing swayed. Continue reading
Conor rushed into his apartment and went straight for his bedroom. An empty bed stared back at him. The door to his bathroom was open, and the light was off. There was no indication she’d even been back there. It was early for bed, but since she’d fallen asleep in the middle of New York, he’d just assumed she would already be in bed. Continue reading
“Charisse, are you okay?”
Charisse sat bolt upright and tried to pretend like she hadn’t dozed off at a bus stop in front of the hospital. Raul had his hand on her shoulder and concern in his eyes. Continue reading
“Calm down,” whispered Marie outside the room. “She’s here to make peace.”
“So far I’m not impressed with her attempt.” She glowered back at Marie. Continue reading
Good morning! Sorry my time for posting has shifted so much. I’m sleeping in a little more to make up for the late hours of writing. I hope you’re enjoying Episode 9!
Charisse backed out the door, terrified that she’d brought on another heart attack. Continue reading
Inside the hospital, the lights were too bright like they were trying to cover up all the sickness inside. A family stood at the information desk with worried expressions while a toddler zoomed around oblivious to concerns. Other people slumped in chairs in the expansive lobby.
She clicked on the texts from Marie and found the room number. As she rode the elevator up, she put lip gloss on and scrunched her hair, more out of habit than a last ditch attempt to impress her mother. Maybe Gianna wouldn’t be there.
The doors opened on Daddy’s floor, and she asked a nurse which way to the room.
“I’m so glad you made it,” said the nurse, who was short and round with happy crinkles at the corners of her eyes. “He’s been asking for you.” She showed her to the room.
Charisse took a deep breath and stepped inside. No Gianna. No Marie. Just Daddy with an IV in his arm. He looked like he’d aged ten years.
“Princess,” he said, lighting up.
“Daddy,” she said, rushing to his bedside and giving him a hug.
“I was so worried you wouldn’t come. I’m sorry about everything: the salon, the investigator, everything. Becca called and told me she didn’t really believe Conor killed his wife. She was just angry and blaming him for the loss of her sister. I was only trying to protect you.”
Charisse had never heard her father gush out an apology. She pulled away but held his hand. “The salon is all mine, so I’d like to put that behind us. I don’t need your protection anymore. I need you to be honest with me. Do you have any idea how devastated I was knowing I couldn’t trust you anymore?”
“It was all to keep you safe, but I know. I’ll be different from now on. I promise.”
Charisse had her doubts, but he seemed genuine in trying to make amends. “And Conor’s my boyfriend, so you’ll have to be nice to him.”
Daddy started to bluster and then saw her arm. “Be nice to him? Did he do that to you?” He pointed a fat finger at the bruises and scratches.
Charisse released his hand and held her arm to cover it up. “Josh did that.” Her pregnancy hormones were trying to get the better of her by making tears spring to her eyes. It suddenly all felt overwhelming. Just yesterday she saw Josh, and now her dad was in the hospital and her mom was back. And Conor was on his way to China.
“Josh? What the hell is he doing here?”
The machine monitoring his pulse started to beep like crazy.
“Daddy, calm down. It’s over. I’m fine.” She was so stupid. She hadn’t even thought about covering up her arm to see him.
The machine kept beeping faster, and a couple of nurses rushed in.
“What happened?” asked the one who’d greeted her.
“It’s my fault. I said something to upset him.”
“Why don’t you go out for a minute?”
Evelyn Aster 