Anna's Courage (Rose Island Book 1) (6 page)

“Are you saying you don’t like him?” Bianca asked in her typical middle child, provoking way.

“I’m saying he’s nice and good-looking, but we’re just friends.”

“You kissed him.”

My lips and cheeks tingled at the memory. “That was almost a year ago, and it didn’t mean anything.”

“Of course it meant something. You’re not exactly the kind of girl who goes around offering meaningless kisses to handsome men. By the way, you’re blushing. A sure sign that you’re enamored with Nick Peterson.”

I refrained from touching my face and forced a casual laugh. “Enamored? That’s a very big word to use this early in the morning.”

Humming a popular love song to herself, Bianca ran a finger down the names in the appointment book. “It’s okay, you know.”

“What’s okay?”

“Being enamored with Nick. Feeling something for him. Even falling in love with him is okay.”

My breath stalled. “I’m not falling in love with him or even enamored. I’m just trying to help him sort out things with the girls. He’s leaving next week, and I feel sorry for the whole family, don’t you?”

Bianca’s face crumpled. “Oh, honey, I do. My heart breaks for those little girls, Nick, and even grumpy Grandpa Jack. The whole thing hits too close to home, reminding me of losing Marcus.”

“I know,” I agreed.

F
or the rest
of the week, I focused on work and taking care of Travis. Around two in the afternoon on Friday, Nick entered the salon, holding Gabby and the Vera Bradley diaper bag.

My throat went dry at the sight of him. Why did he have such a profound effect on me? All week long, I’d been successful at keeping my distance—waving from the safety of my bike and exchanging quick text messages regarding taking the kids to school. Sure, I’d helped him figure out Gabby’s bike seat, but I hadn’t lingered.

Now that he was in the salon, avoiding him would be impossible.

Bianca clapped her hands and strode across the floor to greet him. “Look at you, all domesticated.” She gave him a big hug like they were best friends. She’d met him briefly at the New Year’s Eve party last year and again at the funeral. But that was Bianca. Despite being overweight, she had the confidence of a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model.

“How are you?” Nick asked, slightly taken aback.

“I’m fine. Now hand over that baby, so we can paint her little bitty toenails.”

Nick caught my eye as he passed the baby to Bianca. Fearing I might blush, I avoided looking at him and focused on my sister-in-law. “You can’t paint a baby’s toenails.”

Bianca frowned. “Why not?”

“Because she still puts her fingers and toes in her mouth, right, Nick?”

He shook his head and grinned. “Oh, no. Don’t you dare drag me into this. I know better than to get in the middle of an argument between two women.”

Both Bianca and I laughed. “This isn’t an argument,” I insisted. “Just common sense.”

Bianca carried Gabby over to her station. “What about a bow? Will the
Nail Polish Police
allow me to put a bow in the baby’s hair?”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m sorry to ruin your fun, but I have a problem allowing a baby to ingest a potentially harmful substance.”

“You have a problem with anything potentially harmful,” she shot back.

I placed a hand over my heart with mock indignation. “Ouch.”

Shaking her head, Bianca turned her attention to Nick. “Did you know Anna used to be an award-winning helicopter pilot?”

Nick raised his brow. “Seriously?”

“I won employee of the month,” I said, refuting my sister-in-law’s exaggeration. “It wasn’t a big deal, and it was a long time ago. Now, I’m a successful hairdresser who’s adamantly opposed to putting nail polish on babies.”

Nick carefully studied me. “Do you still fly?”

“No,” I said.

“Why not?”

I picked up a broom and began sweeping around my station even though it was already clean. “It’s a long story, but basically, I wanted to try something different.”

He said nothing as he continued staring at me. Tightening my grip on the broom, I spoke with a forced lightness. “Are you here for a haircut today, Nick?”

He touched his hair self-consciously. “No. I wanted to ask you about Monday. I’m going to Houston for Gabby’s wall-baby appointment, and—”

“A
what
appointment?” Bianca interrupted, her voice clearly amused.

“A wall-baby appointment?” he repeated, slightly uncertain now. “At least that’s what the pediatrician’s office told me over the phone.”

Bianca threw her head back and roared with laughter, the sound shaking the salon. Tears spilled down her cheeks.

“What’s so funny?” Nick asked, confused.

I smiled. “I think you mean
well
-baby appointment. Babies get them every few months to make sure they’re
well
.”

He readjusted the diaper bag, looking embarrassed. “I guess that makes sense.” One corner of his mouth tugged upward in that quirky smile I found downright adorable.

Bianca kept laughing. “What’d you think? They put the baby on the wall to see if she stuck?”

“I didn’t know what to think. This baby thing is completely foreign to me. Besides, the pediatrician’s office called during one of Gabby’s screaming episodes, and it’s impossible to hear or think straight when she’s freaking out like that.”

“Wall-baby appointment,” Bianca repeated, laughing again as she reached into a drawer and found several hair bows.

“Anyway . . .” Nick turned back to me. “Gabby’s appointment is up in Houston, and since there’s no school on Monday, I’m going to take Hailey with me. She’s been talking about visiting the pet store.”

“Bubba’s Pets,” I said. “Travis loves that place.”

“Yes, that’s why I stopped by the salon. I was hoping you’d let Travis come with us.”

Panic fired in my brain, and I let out a deep breath. “I don’t know. It’s kind of far away, and last time, they had this venomous snake named Cuddles. Not for sale, just on display . . .”

Nick looked offended and confused. “Could he come with us if I promise not to let him touch the venomous snake? It’d be good for Hailey to have a friend along. She’s having a hard time. Her teachers say she’s doing fine in school, but when she comes home, she sinks into a horrible depression. I thought Travis could lift her spirits.”

I nodded, wanting to say yes for Hailey’s sake but nervous about letting Travis leave the island without me. Rose Island offered a safe and idyllic life not found elsewhere. What if Travis wandered off and became lost? What if Nick had a car accident? What if someone tried to harm them?

Nick must’ve sensed my fear because he took a step back and raised his hands. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to push. I’m just trying to help Hailey, but the bottom line is I can’t fix the fact she lost her parents. I can’t force her to be happy.”

Guilt washed over me. The rational part of me knew I was being ridiculous. Hadn’t I told Travis that Hailey needed a friend like him?

Plus, with Travis gone for the day, I could pick up a few more appointments and make a little extra money for Christmas. My parents were coming for the holiday, and I wanted to take some time off in December.

“Ta-da!” Bianca disrupted the tension by swirling the chair around, causing Gabby to giggle. The baby reached a tentative hand to her head and touched the bows.

“Doesn’t she look beautiful?” Bianca asked.

Both Nick and I nodded.

Bianca lifted the baby into her arms and addressed Nick. “Now, we’re going to show off Gabby’s new hairstyle at the bank while you stay here and convince Anna you’re not going to kidnap her son.”

“I’m not worried about that,” I insisted.

“No, but I’m sure that crazy mind of yours has come up with all sorts of worst-case scenarios. Talk to the man about Monday or give him a haircut. Either way, Gabby and I will be back.”

With a wink, she headed out the door. Nick glanced nervously around the salon, taking in everything but me. His eyes landed on the wooden sign hanging above the sinks on the back wall.

“The higher the hair, the closer to heaven.” Grinning, he ran a hand over his head. “I was thinking about getting my hair cut, but maybe I shouldn’t go any shorter.”

I returned his smile. “It does seem a little long for the military. Are you leading a rebellion or something?”

His expression faltered. “I was waiting in the barber shop on post when my father called about Ethan and Ivana.”

I winced. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

“I’d be happy to cut your hair,” I offered.

He surprised me by agreeing and taking a seat at my station.

Smiling apologetically, I held up two bibs. “Our men’s selection is rather slim today. You have your choice between pink polka dots and daisies.”

“How about I hold onto my man card and forgo a gown?”

“Okay.” I stood behind the chair and locked eyes with him in the mirror before running a hand through his dark hair. Usually, there was nothing sensual about touching a man’s hair, but this felt different. Special. Almost intimate.

Suddenly, I was struck by an insane longing to lean over and kiss the back of his neck. Run my hands over his shoulders and down his arms. Thankfully, I came to my senses before doing anything reckless.

“Okay, let’s start with a shampoo,” I said, gesturing for him to follow me.

He gave me a blank stare. “Why? You don’t need to do that.”

Returning to him, I tugged at a tuft of hair. “Let me guess. The baby ate carrots for breakfast? Maybe strained green beans for lunch?”

He brought his hand to his head, and I guided it to the spot matted down, compliments of Gabby. “Well, that’s attractive,” he said, sarcastically.

We shared a laugh, and together, we walked back to the sinks. Sitting in the first chair, he leaned back and closed his eyes.

I tried to maintain a professional demeanor as I dampened his hair, but once again, my attraction to him overwhelmed me. I hadn’t been seriously interested in anybody since Marcus. Although I’d gone out on several dates and had even kissed a few men good-night, nothing compared to the explosion of emotion I felt toward Nick.

I lathered his hair with shampoo, the rich scent of sandalwood filling the air. He kept his eyes closed, giving me the opportunity to really look at him without fear of being discovered. No wonder I continued to think about kissing him.

He was magnificent. Broad shoulders, solid biceps, flat stomach, long muscular legs. Nick was nothing if not solid and dependable, both in body and personality.

After New Year’s Eve, I’d run a background check on him, and it hadn’t even turned up a speeding ticket. It was ridiculous not to trust him with Travis. So, why was I afraid? Just general anxiety issues, or something more?

A large drop of water splashed onto the ragged scar at his temple. He opened his eyes and stared up at me as if reading my thoughts. For a moment, neither one of us moved, then, placing a fingertip over the rough skin, I brushed aside the water.

“How did you get that scar?” I asked.

He let out a slow breath. “When Ethan and I were kids, we shattered a glass table in the living room. This is where a piece got stuck, and Ethan pulled it out with a pair of tweezers.”

“Your dad let him do that?”

He shook his head. “Our father wasn’t there, and we never told him. We weren’t supposed to be wrestling in the house, so we cleaned up the mess and never said anything.”

I frowned. “Didn’t Jack notice the missing table or the gaping hole in your head?”

Nick gave a derisive grunt. “No. He was working on an important business deal, so as long as we stayed out of his way, he tended not to notice us.”

“That must’ve really hurt.”

He shrugged. “It wasn’t too bad.”

I rinsed his hair, then dried it with a towel. I imagined the shard of glass in his head, and his father not noticing hurt more than Nick cared to admit, but I didn’t ask him about it.

“What scares me the most about taking care of the girls,” he began without preamble, “is the fact that Ethan and I didn’t have a lot of supervision growing up. Our mother left when we were little, and our dad worked all the time. Ethan wanted a different life for his kids.”

Clients often revealed personal information while I washed or cut their hair, but I was surprised to hear Nick speak so candidly about his childhood. Like a lot of military guys, he kept a tight rein on his emotions.

“Your brother was extremely involved with both his daughters,” I said. “Even though he worked hard, his family was most important.”

“I know.” Nick sounded frustrated, and he scooted to the edge of the chair as though preparing to stand. He took the wet towel off his head and tossed it in the hamper. “So tell me, how am I supposed to find someone to replace him? For that matter, how am I supposed to find someone to replace Ivana? In some ways, she was like a mother to me—sending me care packages when I was away, insisting I took the time to visit, and embracing me as a member of their family.”

“You’ll figure it out.” Wanting to encourage him, I rested my hand on his shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

Something between us shifted as he covered my hand with his. I sucked in a quick breath when he laced our fingers together and came to his feet. Still holding my hand, he stood just inches away and stared at me with his beautiful, beautiful, beautiful eyes.

A flutter of anticipation shot through me. I told myself to step back. Don’t let this happen.

But when he placed his free hand at my waist, I held perfectly still. There was a moment of hesitation. A moment when I could’ve distanced myself, but I didn’t want to. Didn’t want anything more than to feel his lips on mine.

With a gentle tug, he brought me closer and lowered his mouth to mine. His touch consumed me, and I threaded my arms around him, wanting more. Briefly, I lost myself in the comfort and desire of his kiss.

And then, warning bells clanged in my head so loud my entire body stiffened. Once again, I pushed him away.

“Anna,” he said, immediately releasing me.

“It wasn’t your fault. I can’t . . .” I pressed a hand to my hammering heart and took a deep breath.