She shuddered. Analyzed the options for a way out. Found none. She could threaten him, but he’d still refuse and, without changing his appearance, she’d be too behind the eight ball. Or golf ball. “Fine. You win. But no more bitching and giving Benny a headache. You follow our instructions. Deal?”
“Deal.”
“Benny?”
The stylist ran his fingers through Nate’s shaggy locks, a look of disgust on his face. “Deal. This is too horrific not to help with.”
“Thanks.”
She scrolled through her text messages and waited while Benny prepped a moisturizing treatment and began his magic. Kennedy sipped coffee, answered emails, and tried to ignore her client’s grunts and groans of horror as the solution was rubbed into his scalp. Roughly. A razor edge was brought out from the drawer and a hot washcloth placed on his face. Suddenly, Benny gave a shout.
“My God, I am brilliant. This man needs scruff.”
Kennedy walked over. Nate’s voice was muffled under the cloth. “What?”
“Do you think he can pull it off?” she asked.
Benny tapped a finger over his chin and debated. “It’s a gamble. If I do this correctly, he can become my greatest creation.”
“I’m a fucking Frankenstein now? Get me out of here.”
“Shush,” Benny said.
“What the hell? I shave every day and now this is a problem?”
“Shush,” Kennedy said. “Let him think.”
Benny finally nodded. “We shall do it. But it must be delicate. I will set up the pattern but he must promise to follow it exactly. The hair growing in needs to be the right shape so he doesn’t end up looking like a drug dealer gone bad.”
Nate whipped off the cloth. “Drug dealer? No stubble, I’m an aerospace engineer.”
Benny cocked his head. “Hmm, I’m making over a rocket scientist, huh? Not bad.”
“Aerospace engineer.”
“Shush,” Kennedy and Benny said in unison.
Benny wielded the blade in warning. Nate settled back into his chair. Kennedy went back to work, content to let Benny work his magic.
“What are you putting on my eyes?” Kennedy pressed her lips together. Benny didn’t answer, just applied the hot wax to the nightmare unibrow. “That’s hot and sticky. What’s going on?”
“Stop whining.”
Kennedy swallowed a giggle and spoke up. “Benny needs to clean up your brows.”
“They’re eyebrows, for God’s sakes. What can you do to them?”
Benny pressed the fabric down. And ripped it off.
“Shit!”
“Stop being a baby. Women handle hard-core pain on a daily basis. Now hold still, I’m not finished.”
“You ripped my hair off my face. I’m a guy.”
“A hairy guy. You will need to wax regularly.”
“Fuck you.”
Kennedy held back a gasp. Interesting. Nate rarely cursed. Extreme pain pushed his societal limits. She wondered what else did, but then quickly shut down the thought.
An hour later, Ben revealed the finished cut, keeping Nate turned around so he wasn’t able to peek at his reflection. An odd shiver coursed down her spine as she stared at the new and improved Nate Dunkle.
Oh. Yeah.
Frankenstein he was not. His dull brown hair now gleamed with health and shine, in a dusky golden brown that picked up the moss green in his eyes. The expert cut gave the front a bit of a wave that just brushed his brow. The back was a layered razor cut to shape his head and give him a touch of bad boy. The features of his face were finally revealed, and she admitted it had been a crime to cover them up with all that hair. She envisioned the way the dark stubble would edge his chiseled jaw and mouth, adding to the overall appeal. Her belly flipped over just once.
“You’re looking at me funny. How bad is it?”
Kennedy smiled. “You look amazing. Turn around.”
The chair swiveled. Those eyes widened as he took in the new cut. They both waited him out. Kennedy was getting used to his silences, and respected the way his mind processed every detail of the world around him.
“Not bad.”
Benny sniffed. “As if. I am a master. We should have done this for a reality TV show. I would’ve been famous.”
“As if,” Nate muttered.
Kennedy gave him a glare in the mirror and hugged Benny. “You are a genius, thank you.”
“For you, my love, anything. He must moisturize weekly and return to me every week until I am assured he can handle his stubble. Have you considered laser hair therapy for his back?”
“Hey, Ben, have you read the latest article in Esquire citing a diamond earring worn in the left ear gives off an air of desperation? How are you making out on the bar scene lately?”
The hooked nose turned up in its signature sign of disgust. “Stop being a mitch and get your ass out of my salon.”
“A what? A mitch? What the hell is that?”
“A male bitch. Don’t you get out enough? Learn the language.”
Nate gaped. “That word doesn’t exist and is not defined by Webster’s.”
“Live your life by Webster’s standards and you’ll miss out on everything. Wake up.”
“I’m in some type of acid-tripped-up Wonderland. I can take care of my own stubble.”
Benny dropped his voice. “Cross me once, my little aerospace engineer, and you shall live to regret it.”
“Go ahead. Make my day.”
Ken jumped in between them. “Bonding time is over! Let’s go.” She scrawled her name to the VISA sales slip, grabbed the moisturizer, and marched Nate out.
“How do you find these people? First Ming, then Benny. Who’s next, the murderer from Texas Chainsaw Massacre to show me how to socialize properly?”
She clamped down another laugh and headed toward the car. “No, Kinnections will take care of that. The gym is next; I have something planned. You can meet me there Wednesday night. I’ll text you the address.”
Misery carved out his features. “Funny, suddenly having my hair ripped from my skin sounds like more fun.”
“Don’t be so dramatic. Is this your car?” She looked down at the super sleek black Tesla and gave him extra points. “Nice.”
He practically beamed. “Thanks. Completely battery powered and emission free.”
A smile tugged at her lips. “And it’s pretty hot. So, I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Where are you going?”