He took her mug to pour for her, the muscles in his hands and forearms flexing as he did.
Honestly, she should have felt bad for the super filthy things such a simple task made her feel, but she couldnt. However, up until recently, hed been in a two-year relationship. Add the fact that he was her boss and shed been able to admire from a distance and keep him firmly in fantasy-fuck land.
Until about eight months ago when hed broken off with his fiancée. And for about six months after that hed drowned himself in a steady diet of cow-eyed women who showed up around closing time to moon at him.
Hed taken them home. Way more than Maybe would have preferred, which to be honest was not at all.
Essentially, hed fucked a lot of pretty women, went out with his friends and had, from what she could see, worked most of the need to party out of his system. And had, over the last two months or so, calmed that frenetic schedule considerably.
Not wanting to think about him being with other women for another second, Maybe dropped two sugar cubes into her freshly poured tea and grabbed a few of the pyraniki. The little anise spice cookies were perfect with tea.
You should have the salmon too. He tipped his chin toward the fish hed already piled on a thick slice of bread.
I had some earlier with your aunt. She ambushed me with fish and bread, which I then shared with her, because hello manners. That sounds like a complaint, but truly, its an awesome way to start my workday. Shes a food ninja.
He smiled slightly.
Hed decided about a year before that he liked the way she did his hair best and had announced that to her. It had meant no one else touched his head. Not that the other barbers werent relieved. He was a particular guy who liked to back seat drive everything, including his own haircuts and shaves.
It never got to her. Instead she found herself charmed by it over and over. Like he was so outraged every single being in the universe didnt bow to his whim.
Adorable.
She kept trying to talk him into some funky streaks but hed only stared at her without speaking until shed rolled her eyes.
Gruff. But really, under that crusty exterior, there was a soft heart and a vein of compassion shed seen over and over.
One by one, the other barbers began to come in as the quiet had eased into a more laid-back sort of bustle. Clients filled the space in waves. She loved how the energy of the shop could change so much just from who was inside at any given moment. Bikers, bankers, artists, a few lawyers, lots of office workers and folks who wandered in from off the busy streets in Pioneer Square.
They filled Whiskey Sharp with their own flair and flavor and it was truly one of the most fun parts of her job to be part of that daily ebb and flow.
* * *
VICKTOR ORLOV, IRENAS SON, the guy who ran the bakery and one of what seemed like a dozen of Alexseis cousins, strolled in, placing a cup of coffee on her worktable on his way past.
Thanks, handsome.
Youre welcome. He hung up his coat and eased into Alexseis chair just across the way from hers.
Is this your way of asking a favor? She gave him a grin as she held up the cup. Not that itll stop me from drinking it or anything. Im just curious.
You dont trust me? Even when he frowned Vic was beautiful. Im simply here to watch you cut his hair. Hes like a cranky bear. What can I say? Im easily amused.
Beautiful, but a shit stirrer nonetheless. As it was generally good-natured, most people were amused by him rather than annoyed, which was a good thing.
Alexsei just finished up with someone and disappeared for a moment. Hell be back soon so youll be smart to stay out of arms reach.
Vic smirked and she withheld her eye roll. The two of them were like brothers with the constant bickering and deep loyalty they had with one another. So weird, but she and Rachel could be very similar at times.
Maybe remembered there was a voice mail waiting from one of her parents and then shoved it to the back of her mind. It wasnt time to let herself get upset over it.
She was at work. This place was her refuge. None of that crap came through the door with her and she liked it that way.
Alexsei, wearing a dour expression, headed over and flopped into her chair. Im ready. He said it with the gravity of a man headed to surgery or something life threatening.
You act like Im going to cut you and then squeeze lemon on it. Jeez, the big baby.
Its not that. Whatever stern lecture she was about to get got sidetracked when he caught sight of what was in her hands. Do you think those clippers? You can use mine.
After setting the clippers down, she whipped the drape out with a snap to underline who was in charge just then. I hate your clippers. That was your one and only free complaint. Last time you owed me enough to take my sister out to her favorite steak place. So keep on whining.
Maybe set the jar she kept for such occasions on the table next to her coffee. It said Complaints: $10 and she strictly enforced it when Alexsei was in her chair.
He pursed his lips and she adjusted the clippers before giving him a smile in the mirror.
I should get a free one because Im speaking of Rada. Shes broken yet another phone and she wants me to go with her to buy a replacement.
Maybe took a deep breath but kept a tsunami of annoyance reserved just for his ex-girlfriend deep inside where she pretended it didnt exist.
You look like you have a stomachache. Vic smirked again. Granted, Rada makes me feel like that too. Why do you even entertain this? he asked Alexsei. Shes got a new boyfriend. Why isnt he doing this stuff?
No shit. Maybe wished she knew too. Because one thing was clear and that was Alexsei had moved on. Months and months ago. And with at least four different women, not that she was counting. His ex was clingy and needy as hell and it made her teeth hurt.
But it was more of a matter of the way shed just been used to him doing everything for her. Him or her damned family always picking up after her. Taking care of her like she was a toddler.
And none of it was her business. Maybe reminded herself of this fact over and over.
It was better that way. Something else she kept telling herself.
The men spoke back and forth in Russian until she flicked the back of Alexseis ear. He growled, but then apologized.
Shed learned enough Russian to understand when they were talking about a woman. But she couldnt tellbecause their Russian was rapid-firejust exactly what.
I cant believe he lets you get away with that. He punched me in the chest the last time I flicked his ear. Vic was on a roll.
Ill come flick your ear too if you dont stop talking in another language in a clear bid to keep me from knowing the topic. So rude. Her expression was prim.
Always with the fancy talk. Alexsei sighed and waved a lazy hand as she started to work.
My parents would disagree that anything about me is fancy, especially the way I speak.
She hadnt meant to say that out loud, but she kept her focus on hair and not the men around her, whod gone even more quiet than usual.
Still, she knew he looked up to catch her eyes in the mirrors reflection, even as she continued to keep her attention on her work because this wasnt the time or place for that discussion.
The tools in her hands always kept her centered. In a way that nothing other than sex and music had been able to do.
It makes me nervous when youre quiet, Alexsei said after another few minutes.
Surprised, Maybe let herself look up to snag his gaze in the mirror. A zing of chemistry hit her in her gut. And lower.
His mouth did this thing where one corner lifted and an honest-to-God dimple popped out, even through his magnificent beard. Even his goddamn dimple was bossy and couldnt be bothered letting itself be hidden.
It shouldnt get her hot. Dominant men like Alexsei were so not her type. Shed had enough of that to last a lifetime. Enough that it had driven her to run away at sixteen.
But when it came from Alexsei, it flipped her switch. Perhaps it was because he was dominant but not heavy-handed. Or maybe it was the accent. Whatever it was. It worked.
She had to clear her throat and focus on her hands again or she would actually screw up and hed never let her hear the end of it. I was concentrating. Youve got a very low opinion of haircuts that arent absolutely perfect.
What sort of person has a high opinion of bad haircuts? He made a little growly sound of disapproval that raised the temperature a few degrees. In her pants.
You get mad at the weirdest stuff, man. Vic just shook his head.
They call it having standards. You should try it. Alexsei sniffed but never moved. He had a lot of discipline that way.
Maybe brushed the back of his neck to get rid of stray hairs before circling to get a look at his face. Why dont you schedule shaves for first thing in the day?
I have to pick someone up from the airport later.
Your mom? Maybe indicated he lean his head back. What she knew about Alexseis mother had mainly come from Irena. Alexseis aunt loved her little sister, but it was pretty clear she disapproved of the way Alexsei and his siblings had been parented before the boys showed up on her doorstep.
Then again, Irena disapproved of a lot of things. Most things. It just made Maybe and Rachel feel special that, for whatever reason, their neighbors had adopted them into their little circle.
It would suck large if Irena didnt like you.
He grunted his assent to her question. Her plane arrives in a few hours. No sandalwood while shes here. She doesnt like it.
Hed never told her not to use a certain product before to save the preferences of anyone else. On one hand, she liked it that he cared about what his mother thought. And it wasnt applied to a date, also good. But she heard the vulnerability there under the domineering tone. Which meant he could get hurt and she disliked that.
He was very crunchy on the outside, but he had a soft center. It was a poorly kept secret that pleased her to no end.
She hoped very much that his mother understood how blessed she was to have sons like hers as well as a sister whod raised them when she decided to send them halfway across the world in their teens while she stayed back in Russia.
Maybe held up a deep blue jar. Smells like the ocean. Many of my clients like it. Want to try?
His frown made her snicker.
I have unscented product too. Lets use that. She liked to use her fingertips to massage in the pre-shave oil. It enabled her to be more precise. And she liked to touch Alexsei when he was relaxed and at her mercy. He was always on. Always ready to spring to protect, handle or direct someone.
But in her chair, she got to pamper him a little.
Once shed gotten the hot towel on, she left him for a moment as she sucked down some coffee.
Ill stick around until close tonight. That way you can get your mom settled in and not worry, she told him.
Too long for you to be here. Ill come back just before ten. Shell most likely be sleeping anyway, he said once shed taken the towel away. It wasnt as if he was at Whiskey Sharp every moment of every business day anyway, but she knew he liked to know what was happening and if he was out with his mother, hed be thinking about it.
But he had other employees, including their shop manager, who handled both the barbershop and the bar when it came to opening and closing and that sort of stuff.
And really, it wasnt as if anyone could make the man do something he already had his mind set against.
If youre sure. Otherwise, call me and Ill handle it. Im having dinner down here anyway.
He was tense under her hands once shed gotten him lathered up.
Hot date? Vic asked.
She shrugged. I hope so. Its the third date. Thats a big one.
Vic laughed.
Why are you laughing? What is a big one? Alexsei demanded.
Dude, stop moving. Relax for heavens sake. She held the razors edge away from his skin until he settled again.
Its a sex thing, Vic told him.
Not really. She sniffed. Annoyed, though she knew he hadnt meant it to be offensive. She hated the idea that women held on to their pink parts to get something from men. Like she needed to wait until three dates? If she wanted to fuck, shed fuck. And it didnt matter if it was the first date or the fifteenth. It was about her connection and trust level with that other person.
She went on, To be more specific, its a schedule of consideration. By the third date Im thinking about whether a guy is double-digit date material.
Though he held very still as she worked on his throat, he still growled. And if he is? What then?
Thats just another level of commitment. Like is he a dude I date while dating other people too? Is he a long-term guy I date and have sex with but I cant really see myself married or serious? Or, will he be that person I finally see forever with?
Women have a very serious checklist, Vic said.
Im old enough to know what I want and not be ashamed of it, she said. But relationships only work if both parties are on the same page after a certain point.
* * *
ALEXSEI HOPED SHE wasnt done yet because theres no way he could have stood without the entire shop knowing she turned him on.
Her fingers massaging oil and then shaving cream into his skin, the way she bent close as she scraped the straight razor over his beard. He could smell her skin. And her hair. Currently fire-engine red, it also smelled like apples.
Hed been staring at her pulse point just below her ear. Her heart beat so fast he could see her skin jump. And thats when it hit him that it was time to stop messing around and ask her out.
More accurately, hed been craving her more and more each day until the point where it was impossible for him to ignore. Hed woken up that morning in a bed in a house that didnt belong to him. House-sitting had kept a roof over his head since hed moved out of the place he and Rada had shared. And hed been able to save up a decent amount for a down payment on a place of his own. Once he decided to look, at any rate.
But hed woken up thinking of her. After hed gone to bed thinking of her, wondering where shed been and what shed been up to. Hed lain there, sleep slowly leaving him, but the sense of needing her hadnt.
Plain and simple, hed come to a place where if he didnt pursue her, hed be lying to them both.
Then shed brought up that date she had later. A year ago hed have had a pang of jealousy. Wondering what if hed ever given in to his attraction to the strange woman who worked in his shop.