Mister West by R.J. Lewis (animal farm read .TXT) 📕

her bawling in her chair about her cheating boyfriend.

When I’m finally done blow drying her hair and consoling her – because God, my heart hurts for her – Alicia brings her to the front to pay, and I’m dashing to the staff room for coffee. I’m gulping a cup down, staring pleadingly at my phone, trying to figure out where the fuck I went wrong in the conversation for Aidan to have disappeared.

I find it, and I’m cringing at my desperation.

Ivy: Did you want to go for ice cream again sometime?

A.W.: Are you trying to tempt me, Ivy?

Ivy: No.

Ivy: I’m just really in the mood for a chocolate cone :P

Ivy: Hello?

A.W.: I’m here.

Ivy: Busy today?

A.W.: Yeah.

Ivy: You’re so quiet. Is everything okay?

A.W.: Just having one of those days.

Ivy: I understand.

A.W.: Do you?

Ivy: Why do you think I’m pushing for ice cream so much? :P

No response.

I slip the phone back into the pocket, feeling my stomach dip from embarrassment. His responses had been short like that the day prior too.

I think he’s already getting bored of me. I wallow for a moment in sadness, trying to process the rising likelihood that I’m no longer on his mind.

The door to the room opens and Alicia sticks her head in, staring at me with bug eyes.

“Um, Ivy, you lucky bitch, Aidan West just breezed through the door asking for you to cut his hair.”

My heart catches in my throat. “What?”

“Yep. Do you want me to repeat myself?”

When I don’t answer, she repeats, “You lucky bitch, the hottest man I have ever seen, Aidan fucking West, just breezed through the door, demanding your expertise. Melanie was all up in his business, saying in that annoying giddy voice that she can do it, but he flat out ignored her. It was so satisfying, Ivy, and I don’t even know how to feel right now.”

I have to shake off my shock as I absorb her words. Aidan is here? For me?

What!

The!

Fuck!

Am I dreaming? Is this a nightmare? Because if it were a good dream, we’d be on a beach and he’d be fucking me senseless. Aidan West showing up at my place of work while I look like a tired Hunchback of Notre Dame is the stuff of nightmares.

I crush the Styrofoam cup and toss it in the bin, and then I’m racing to the mirror on the wall and cringing at my reflection. I look seriously fucking ugly today. Like today is not my fucking day.

“Alicia,” I whimper, “help.”

Alicia doesn’t even need me to explain. She’s by my side in record time, opening her purse and pulling out a comb, brush and blush. As I make quick work of the blush, she’s combing through my tangles.

“Mascara,” she hisses. “Quick.”

“That’s unsanitary,” I reply.

She gives me a flat expression. “Unless you want to look like a washed-out horse, put some on.”

I do not want to look like a washed-out horse. I grab a tube of mascara from her purse and immediately apply it to my tired eyes.

“Do I look better?” I ask.

She nods. “You look great, but you have some serious explaining to do after you cut this godlike man’s hair.”

I let out a short laugh, but even that dies midway because…just when I’ve begun to think I’m no longer on his mind, Aidan shows up to prove me wrong. I’m so nervous, I think I’m going to vomit.

Just before I step out, Alicia’s voice rings through the air.

“Ivy,” she says softly, “relax, okay?”

I smile brightly. “I am relaxed! Totally relaxed.”

She winces. “Tone it down, okay?”

I nod at her and take a deep breath, bracing myself.

I don’t stop to overthink this. I just steel myself, open the door in one quick swing, and step out.

*

They haven’t seated him at my station. I have a feeling it’s because he’s waiting for me to.

He’s standing in the waiting area, back to me, his front facing the window. Hands in each pocket, he’s looking out at the busy streets. The whole place is quiet. Everyone is watching him and me as I silently creep up to him.

He’s tall. And broad. I lap the back of him up, feeling delicious sparks shoot through me. My face has heated up and he hasn’t even looked at me yet.

“Hey,” I say softly, smiling already.

He turns around at the sound of my voice, his dark eyes settling on me. His flat expression immediately lifts and his lips spread into the sexiest smile.

“Ivy.” He says my name like a prayer.

I can hear a collective sigh behind me. The girls feel it too. The want in his voice.

I swallow hard at his focused gaze. “I have an appointment in twenty,” I tell him. “I can squeeze you in for a quick cut.”

He chuckles, a look of surprise on his face.

“What?” I ask, curiously.

“I can’t think of the last time someone tried to squeeze me into their busy schedule.”

I laugh lightly in response. “There’s a first time for everything, Mr West.”

He goes still, his face warming. “You know my name.”

And you know where I work, I want to say. But I bite my lip instead.

Trying to play it cool, I dodge his statement and gesture for him to follow. “Come this way, Mr West.”

I lead him to my station, right in the middle of the crowded salon. I can’t even look Aidan in the eye as I motion for him to sit down in the seat. Everyone’s still watching. The focus is on us, and right now I’m feeling like Aidan West is too big for this hair salon. His attendance can’t be missed. I can feel his power, his confidence, his…dominating presence as he sits down, his eyes on the mirror directly in front of us. On me. He’s watching me intently. I’m trying not to fumble around as I adjust the chair height.

There is no fucking way I’m going to be able to get this all done and dusted in time for my next appointment. I glance nervously at Connie as she