Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(39)

“Somebody pinch me. I think I’m dreaming.” She had to be.

Gerardo sauntered over to the crowd, a devious smile wide upon his lips. “Okay, chica. You got it.” With a loud giggle, he clinched his fingers on her shoulder.

“Ouch!” Then just as instantly, the pain faded. Pre-succubus, she would have had a bruise the size of a chicken egg. She pulled up the arm of her sweatshirt and caught glimpse of a just-slightly reddened circle that already faded.

Lucy gave the Latino a playful smack and sent him on his way.

“How much longer, Lucy?” Her mom’s whine pulled her from their friendly repartee. She scratched her plastic-capped head. “It’s itchy.”

Lucy checked the timer then leaned down to inspect her mom’s hair. “Five more minutes.”

Her mom let out a deep sigh. “Oh, all right.”

“Ah, hell nah!” Frankie’s voice echoed from the back. “Where the hell are the foils?”

Kalli, whose nose had been glued to the Daily Executioner, lifted her head. “Foils? This is a hair salon, not a fencing studio.”

At the lack of laughter, she shook her head. “I’d never make it as a comedienne.” With a deep sigh, she flung the tabloid back on the table and jumped up. “Kalli to the rescue.” With the grace of a gazelle, she bounded down the hallway to help Frankie with his quest for foils.

Shaking her head, Lucy returned to inspect her mom’s hair. Thankfully for her and her itchy head, the color had completely processed. “All set, Mom. Let’s get you rinsed.”

“Thank goodness, I thought my scalp was burning off.”

Lucy’s face fell, horror replacing mirth. The only time her mom set foot in the salon and she’d fried her head. This was worse than Mrs. Carlson’s seventies-reject perm. She clenched her teeth and bit her tongue.

“Get that look off your face, Lucy,” her mom demanded. “I have a sensitive scalp. I forgot to tell you.” She flashed an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry.”

Lucy’s horror only slightly waned. This whole situation was surreal at best. Mom and her bonding at the last place possible—Luscious Locks.

“Your father would be proud of you.” She grinned as she slid into the shampoo chair.

Her mom’s words sent Lucy’s expression over the edge as a wide smile spread across her face.

“I took his advice, you know.”

“I know,” she said, leaning her head back in the bowl. Glancing up at the fixtures, she blinked. “Is that silver?”

“Yes,” Lucy said. “All the fixtures are silver.”

Her mom glanced up at her as she turned the faucet on. “I didn’t know they made silver faucets! You are doing well. I’m glad you took his advice.”

Shock prevented her from replying. Never in her twenty-nine years had she expected her mom to share in her happiness. Why couldn’t it have happened sooner?

How did that phrase go? Better late than never? Whoever coined that phrase didn’t know her or her mom. The fact was Lucy loved her, despite their differences of opinion. But now wasn’t the time to bond, with evil demons lurking. The last thing Lucy wanted was her mother’s soul on her conscience. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—do that to her. It was bad enough she had dragged Gerardo, Frankie, and Serah into this mess. Then again, wasn’t it Serah who had dragged her into it in the first place? Nah, Serah didn’t want to open the chest that night. Lucy did that all by her lonesome, despite Serah’s pleadings not to.

Lucy scrubbed and sprayed the dye from her mom’s hair. Deep inside, her sudden interest filled Lucy with peace. But turmoil outweighed the peace. Her mother wouldn’t understand. Yesterday, Lucy would’ve welcomed her with open arms. Today, however, she couldn’t handle it. Isn’t it funny how things can change in just one day?

Then an idea hit her. Perhaps she couldn’t bond with her mom because she wasn’t the same person she gave birth to. Yeah, that had to be it. She was now a closet nymphomaniac, and her mom was as conservative as… never mind.

The truth was simple. Lucy was scared as heck.

***

“I look magnificent!” Gripping the mirror, her mom beamed. “I’m so sorry I ever doubted you.” She thrust the mirror back into Lucy’s hands and squealed with glee. “Even Tammy doesn’t do as good a job.”

Lucy couldn’t help but smile. Her mom’s epiphany, or whatever it was, began to grow on her. Wonderful. And for the first time in like forever, she wasn’t being facetious. Nothing could ruin this moment.

“What the hell!” Frankie’s voice carried throughout the salon. “This is so not happening.”

Lucy’s breath caught. This did not sound good at all. Frankie stalked in from the back hallway, his breath ragged. Then again, Frankie was known as quite the drama queen. But with everything going on, she wouldn’t take any chances.

“What is it?” she asked, concern lacing her voice.

Frankie sucked in a long breath of air. “All of our foils are ruined.” He threw out his hand and held out a charbroiled foil. “What the hell were you doing last night? Kalli won’t tell me anything!”

Lucy rolled her tongue along gritted teeth. “Not now… not in front of my mom,” she ground out.