Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(40)



“We’ll figure something out,” Kalli said. She turned and flashed an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Lucy. I must have missed those. It’s been a while since I’ve been in the business.”

She wouldn’t complain. Without this woman, there wouldn’t even be a salon to stand in. “It’s okay. You’ve done so much as it is. My mom’s just about done. I can go to the supply store and pick some up.”

Kalli shook her head. “I’m afraid you can’t leave the salon, at least not until Rafe gets here. I promised him.” She paced back and forth, scratching her dreadlocks. “We’ve surrounded the building with an enchantment that reduces your… ahh… condition.” Thank goodness Kalli chose to speak in a hushed tone. Despite her mom bonding with her, Lucy wasn’t quite ready to drop the bomb on her just yet.

“Who’s going?” Frankie asked, flinging his hands on his hips. “I’m staying here with Lucy.”

Gerardo shook his head. “I’ll stay here. You go.”

Apparently, the effects of her condition still hadn’t fully worn off. Would her pheromones ever let up? Frankie and Gerardo stood nose to nose, tall and proud, as they sized each other up. Hands on their hips, they narrowed their gazes in the stare-down of the century.

“Oh, come on, guys,” Lucy muttered. “This is silly. It’s just a drive to the stupid supply store. I’ll be fine.”

Kalli sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize such a slight oversight could cause such tension.”

Lucy gave her a reassuring gaze. “Don’t be. Part of this is my fault. Some of my effects apparently haven’t worn off yet.”

Gerardo finally spoke. “Frankie can go. He saved your ass the other day. Now it’s my turn.”

Saved her ass? When?

Frankie arched a brow, clearly confused as her. “I did?”

“Mrs. Gunderson,” Gerardo replied with a wink. “I think the words you used were, ‘I saved Lucy’s pretty little tush.’”

A slight blush crept to her cheeks. Did these guys forget her mother was setting right across from them? Although, having two blatantly gay men calling her tush pretty was a huge ego boost. Not that she needed any more of that right now.

Frankie rolled his eyes. “Oh please, you and I both know that’s not the same thing.”

“Oh yes it is!” Gerardo flung his arms across each other. “I’ve heard those feet are killer.”

With a hiss, Frankie stomped an impatient foot. “I look beyond the feet.”

Gerardo blinked. “Oh,” he muttered through taut lips. Slumping his shoulders, he backed away from Frankie. He stuck up his chin. “I’m still staying with Lucy. I have reasons.”

“What reasons?” Frankie prodded.

“Personal reasons.” Gerardo crossed his arms. “That’s all you need to know.”

Her mom, who must have been an arbitrator in a previous life, cleared her throat. All four of them whipped around to face her. Victoria Gregory stood proud and authoritative, like a woman who knew how to take charge. That face used to have Lucy trembling in her moon boots as a child. Now there was the mother she remembered. “I’m sure Lucy’s quite capable of performing such a menial task.” She ran her fingers through her newly cut and colored hair and rolled her teeth over her lip. “Not that any of your work here is menial, you know.”

Bemusement flooded everyone’s faces. Gerardo and Frankie stood there in stark silence, while Kalli twisted a pink dreadlock around a finger. Her expression, however, leaned more toward amused than bemused. Lucy almost broke out into laughter. The stunned silence wasn’t because of her comment about menial tasks. It was the fact that she’d finally stood up for her daughter.

“What?” she asked, gazing at each of them. She exhaled a deep sigh. “What I meant to say was… you know… the supply company is right next to Joshua Carlson’s office.”

So much for her mom’s metamorphoses. She should’ve known her mom had an ulterior motive. So she still wanted her to schmooze with the snobs of Connolly Park? Not that Josh was a snob or anything, but still…

“Umm… he’s getting married soon. Larissa Harding, remember?” Lucy snorted back a laugh. “I don’t think it’s good form for his ex-girlfriend to make social visits to his work.” Could you say “awkward”? Especially after the pheromone overdose she gave him earlier this morning.

Mom shrugged and nibbled her lip. “They just don’t seem to have that spark, you know?”

Lucy knew, all right. More than her mom realized. Joshua, bless his heart, wouldn’t know what a spark was even if it bit him on the ass. But he was still a good person.

“I’ll go,” Kalli blurted. With a smile, she threw her mass of hair over her shoulder. How did she hold all that hair on her head?

Lucy pulled Kalli to the side. “Is it safe to leave me alone?” Rafe would be pissed if anything happened while he was gone. Not that she should care if he was mad or not, but for some reason she was. Stupid man.

Kalli grinned. “As I mentioned earlier, the shop is surrounded with Rafe’s and my energy. You have nothing to worry about. And you don’t have to worry about your newly budding fan club. You’re protected all over.”

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