At his quizzical glance, she thought of the men he knew. “Much like the cut Jeremy has right now, though that particular cut takes more work on his part. The one I’m considering for you is part messy and part refined. I’d do what’s called an undercut fade—which is basically shorter on the bottom—with messy waves on top.”
Adam’s dark brows drew together. “I’m not interested in anything that will take a lot of time and effort.”
“All you’ll need to do is apply some matte styling cream and leave everything tousled with a little side part. Super easy.”
He hesitated, and Charlotte prepared for him to tell her to just take off a couple inches.
Instead, he nodded. “Go for it.”
Twenty minutes later, Charlotte rubbed styling cream between her hands, then ran it through his hair. She turned the chair so he could see what she was doing.
“You put a small amount—it doesn’t take much, think pea-sized—rub it between your hands like I’m doing, then through this hair at the top. Make a side part, and you’re done.”
Adam stared in the mirror when she was finished.
As she removed the cape, he studied himself. “I look different.”
Not exactly the response she’d hoped for. She loved the style on him. The look worked equally well for the head of a Fortune 500 company or an organic farmer. It was especially flattering for someone with Adam’s bone structure. The cut emphasized the lines and angles of his face and highlighted those amazing eyes.
She’d liked his longish hair, but this stylish cut had her stomach fluttering.
“What do you think?” Charlotte found herself holding her breath. “Be honest.”
When he smiled, everything in her relaxed.
“I like it.” His gaze met hers and held. “Thanks, Charlotte. You’re really talented.”
It wasn’t anything she hadn’t been told a million times, but in this moment tears stung the backs of her eyes.
Get a grip, she told herself.
When Adam pulled out his wallet to pay, she tried to dissuade him from adding a hefty tip, but he insisted. Then he was gone.
It was good, she told herself, that he didn’t stay to talk, even though she had the time. As she stood by the window and watched his long strides carry him down the sidewalk and away from the salon, she found herself wondering where he was going in such a hurry and who he was meeting.
Chapter Four
Adam’s haircut generated lots of positive comments over the next two weeks. Charlotte had an influx of calls from men wanting appointments. Business was booming.
She’d had an opportunity to thank Adam when she’d run into him outside Muddy Boots last Saturday night. He’d been in a hurry, and so had she. Still, something in the way he’d looked at her had made her wish, well, wish things could be different.
Talk in town this week had been about the upcoming ice cream social Sunday afternoon at First Christian. Piper had asked her to go with her, but Charlotte had demurred at first.
An ice cream social at a church wasn’t really her thing. But she was bored with her own company. When she found herself changing into a dress that matched the bright summer sky to buoy her spirits, Charlotte decided an ice cream social might be exactly what she needed to pull herself out of her funk.
It would also afford an excellent opportunity to network. Marigold always said, and Charlotte firmly believed, that building connections was essential in a small town.
Once she felt certain she looked her best, Charlotte messaged Piper.
Still interested in the ice cream social?
The reply came quickly.
I’m already here. Look for me.
Charlotte responded with a heart emoji and grabbed her bag. The church was close, and the heeled sandals she wore were comfortable, so she walked the four short blocks to the church.
Music wafted on the breeze. As she drew close, laughter and the buzz of conversation rippled on the air. When the church and surrounding yard came into view, Charlotte paused for a second to admire the church with its pointy spire and white siding that glistened in the sun.
She let her gaze linger on grass so green and lush it looked fake. Then a rectangle table holding three huge tubs of ice cream caught her eye.
Off to her right, a refreshment stand offered iced tea and lemonade. The scene would have been festive even without the brightly colored tablecloths and streamers. Balloons tied to chairs at scattered tables bobbed in the light breeze.
Charlotte marveled at the sheer energy in the air. She spotted Piper, but noticed her friend was engaged in conversation with several women Charlotte didn’t know. Not wanting to intrude, she turned to check out the ice cream and ran straight into a broad chest.
Two hands briefly gripped her arms to steady her. “Whoa, there, missy.”
“I’m so sorry.” She stopped the apology when she saw it was Adam.
“You stepped in front of me on purpose.” Her words held no bite. How could they when she was too busy smiling?
Even dressed simply in a red polo and cargo shorts, Adam was the most handsome man there. His dark hair glistened in the sunlight. Charlotte resisted the urge to reach up and run her fingers through the wavy strands on top.
She’d missed him. He was one of her few friends in town. Though their night together had been incredible, right now she wished it hadn’t happened. Then, maybe, they could be hanging out at this church social as friends without things being weird.
“You have to decide.”
She blinked and brought her wandering thoughts under control. “Decide?”
He thrust out both hands. “Which one?”
Each hand held a sugar cone crowned with ice cream.
“You got two?”
“One for you. One for me.” At her surprised look, he grinned. “I saw you coming. Pick. This one is starting to dribble.”
Charlotte inclined her head. “That’s clearly strawberry. What’s the other one?”
“Peanut butter and strawberry jam.” He pulled the hand holding that one back. “Really more of a kid’s flavor. Though I hear it’s a popular item among adults at the Good Hope Market.”
“You’ve convinced me.” She lifted it from his fingers. “Thanks.”
She was conscious of his gaze fixed on her mouth as she took a bite.
Her lips tingled under his watchful eyes, and when she licked the last bit of ice cream from her mouth, she swore she heard him groan.
He cleared his throat. “How is it?”
“Really yummy.” She held out her cone to him. “Want a taste?”
“You don’t mind?”
“I wouldn’t be offering if I did.”
Charlotte expected him to take the cone from her. Instead, he leaned close and took a big chomping bite out of it.
“Hey, I said a taste. You ate half of it.”
He held out the strawberry, which was dripping down the sides of the cone. “You can have some of mine.”
“I believe I will.” She took his cone and swirled her tongue around the outside to catch the drips.
When she looked up, their eyes met and locked.
“My Henry and I used to share our ice cream cones.”
Charlotte jerked her head in the direction of the wistful tone.