Summer Secrets - Barbara Freethy [13]
Caroline didn't know how to answer that question. Did sailing across several oceans count as actually living somewhere else? "I've been around. Are you crewing for someone?"
"I haven't firmed up my plans yet."
"Waiting for the best offer?"
"You could say that. Have you done any racing yourself?"
"Some."
"But you're not involved this year?"
"No, I have other things I'm more interested in right now." She trimmed his hair, then pulled up strands of hair so she could measure the cut. "How does that look?" she asked, meeting his gaze in the mirror.
"Perfect."
"Mousse, gel, blow-dry?"
"No to all three."
"A natural kind of guy. Or you're just cheap." "
It's raining outside," he said with a grin.
"Then you're a smart guy." Caroline pulled off the cover-up and shook out the loose hair. "You can pay Erica at the desk," she said as he stood up.
"Maybe I could buy you a drink, hear more about your racing experience."
A date with a fascinating stranger? She'd be crazy to say no. In fact, every instinct in her body told her to say yes. Especially since Mike had already canceled their plans for the evening, and she didn't particularly want to be alone.
"I'd like to show off my haircut," he said persuasively.
God, his smile was hot! Reason warred with impulse. "I have to finish a highlight. It will be at least another thirty minutes."
"I can meet you. I saw a bar down by the wharf."
"How about some food instead? There's a terrific seafood restaurant a few blocks from here, called the Castaway. It's on Gilmore Street. When you leave here, turn left at the next corner and go down about four blocks."
"Sounds good. An hour?"
"Sure."
"Good. I'll see you there."
"See you there," she repeated softly, as he handed Erica a twenty and told her to keep the change. Caroline was still staring when he went through the door, caught up in genuine appreciation of his nice ass. It wasn't until Peggy began to cough that she turned away. She forced herself not to say a word until she heard the door close behind him.
Erica let out a whoop and jumped up from her desk. "You got yourself a real hottie there, Caroline," she said with her usual twenty-year-old candor.
"He's all right."
"Honey, he's better than all right," Peggy put in. "If I wasn't married, with enough stretch marks to make a map of Washington on my hips, I'd have gone for him myself."
"Did you see his ass?" Erica asked.
"I wouldn't mind getting my hands on those abs," Peggy added.
Caroline groaned. "You are both terrible. Why do I suddenly feel like we're twelve and at a slumber party?"
"Hey, it's not like a gorgeous stranger walks in here every day of the week," Erica said. "Usually it's cranky old ladies or middle-aged marrieds, present company excluded, of course."
Peggy laughed. "Believe me, at this moment, with my head covered in tinfoil, I'm happy that the only name you called me was middle-aged married. But you look great, Caroline. It's no wonder he went for you."
"Do you think so? The skirt isn't too short?" Caroline looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her black skirt was as mini as they came, her stomach bared by a short, cropped, purple V-necked top that would have showed off some generous cleavage if she had any. Unfortunately, Kate was the only one of the sisters with more than a boyish bosom.
"You look terrific," Peggy assured her.
"I look like I've been at work all day."
"A little lipstick, some blush, you'll be good as new."
They both turned as the door to the salon opened once again. For a moment she thought he might have come back. "Oh, it's just you," Caroline said, as her sister Ashley walked into the room. Normally, Caroline got along much better with Ashley than with Kate, but at the moment she wasn't particularly interested in talking to either of her sisters.
"Gee, thanks. Who did you think I was?" Ashley asked.
"A hottie," Erica said irrepressibly. "This incredible man came in to