“You would really sell it to us for less?” I ask, wondering exactly how much it costs to own a salon. I’ve always had it in the back of my head that one day I would open my own shop, but I figured that would happen in a few years, not now.

“For you two?” He looks between both of us. “Absolutely. You girls have made me so proud. You are both amazing young women. This place has been my baby for ten years, and there is no one I trust it with more than the two of you.”

“That would… God, that would be amazing,” Ellie whispers, reaching over to take my hand, and I wrap my fingers around hers. “I mean, we will have to talk about it, of course, and see what you’re asking. But it would be amazing!”

“What about you?” Frankie asks me softly, and Ellie’s fingers squeeze mine.

“Like Ellie said, we need to talk about it, but if we can get things worked out, I think you know we would both be honored to have this place.”

“That’s what I was hoping.” He smiles. “I’ll have the real-estate broker come in and talk to you two so that you know exactly what the details are before we move forward. But everything can stay unless you feel like you don’t want some of the stuff, and then I’ll have those things moved out, sell them, and take that off the list price I give you.”

“Kimellie Salon,” Ellie says, and I turn to her and raise a brow. “Just testing it out.” She smiles, and I return it while rolling my eyes at her.

“All right, Alex will be happy I’ve finally talked to you.” Frankie smiles as he stands. “Now, let’s get this bitch cleaned up. I need a drink.”

“On it.” I stand with Ellie, and we go to the back and finish getting things cleaned up while talking quietly about the prospect of the shop being ours. I can’t help but be a little more than excited over the idea, and I can’t wait to tell Sage about it. I just hope it all works out.

“WHAT DO YOU think?” I ask Sage when the phone in my hand goes quiet. I just told him about Frankie’s offer to Ellie and me, but he’s been quiet, and I don’t know him well enough to understand what that means.

“I think you should do it.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, baby,” he replies gently, and my stomach melts at the endearment. He doesn’t call me baby all the time, but when he does, it always has an effect on me. “You and Ellie know how to run the shop. You’ve done it in the past when Frankie’s been out of town. I’m sure there’ll be a lot to learn, but with the two of you together, I have no doubt you’ll figure it out and make it a success.”

“I hope so. The idea of owning a business freaks me out a little, but I’m also very excited to see what will happen.”

“Don’t focus on the freaking out part,” he says, and I hear the smile in his voice.

“I’ll try.” I grin, watching the night sky twinkle above me.

“What are you doing tomorrow?” he asks, and I hold the phone a little tighter in my hand, wishing he were close instead of all the way in Kentucky. I didn’t think I would miss him as much as I do, but after spending so many days with him, I miss him a lot—maybe even too much.

The only good thing to come out of him being so far away is we’ve gotten to know each other a little more, since every night before I fall asleep, I give him a call and we talk. Or I talk, and he breaks in every once in a while to add something about himself or something he did when he was younger that fits in with whatever I’m blabbering on about.

“Kimberly?”

“Sorry.”

“It’s all good. I thought you fell asleep,” he tells me quietly as I roll to my side and get more comfortable in my bed.

“No, just thinking,” I murmur. “Tomorrow, I have work in the morning then…” I pull in a breath. “Ashlyn’s called again, so I think I’m going to visit with her for a little while after that.”

“Are you ready for that?” he asks, sounding concerned, and my eyes close. Knowing Kelly’s killer is behind bars has helped me feel more at peace but I still need to hear what took place firsthand from Ashlyn. I need to learn what happened so I can hopefully let it all go.

“I…” I pause when I realize I’m going to say I will be okay, instead of being honest. “I don’t know, but I want to know what happened.”

“I get that,” he mutters, and I hear a car door slam on his end of the phone.

“Are you still working?”

“Yeah, I have to stop in at the bondsman before I can head back to the hotel for the night.”

“I’m guessing you still haven’t found the guy yet?” I prompt while covering my mouth so he doesn’t hear me yawning, since the last time I yawned with him on the phone he ended our call, telling me that I needed to get some rest.

“Not yet, but I’m close. His people are on edge and tired of me knocking on their doors looking for him. Eventually, one of them is gonna give him up. Me being around is taking money out of their pockets, since they can’t go on selling dope or bitches while I’m watching them.”

“I hope you get him soon. I miss you,” I confess, ignoring the part about the drugs and bitches, since it’s liable to freak me out. The phone goes quiet except for the sound of his breathing, and I wonder why I didn’t just keep my mouth closed. “I—”

“Don’t make plans for tomorrow night,” he growls, cutting me off before I can finish whatever it was I was going to say.

“What?”

“You just gave me the incentive to get this done.”

“Oh,” I breathe as warmth fills my body from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.

“Get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Night, Sage,” I get out, right before the phone goes dead. Placing my cell on the bedside table, I don’t fall asleep right away. I lie here for a long time looking at the night sky while thinking about Sage Mayson.

WALKING INTO THE shop the next morning with a cup of hot tea in my hand, I give Ellie and Jax a smile when I see them standing at the front desk.

“Hey, guys,” I say, then feel my eyes widen when Jax comes forward, grabbing me up in a hug that squeezes the breath right out of me. Hearing Ellie laugh, I hug him back awkwardly while trying to keep hold of my purse and tea without damaging us both.

“Been worried about you,” he states, letting me go, and I give him what I hope is a reassuring smile.

“I’m okay, or getting to where I will be okay,” I state, and he nods at me then moves back over to stand close to Ellie, wrapping his arm around her waist.

“I told Jax last night about Frankie’s offer. He thinks we should go for it. Well… that is, if you want to?” she urges, suddenly sounding nervous.

“I do,” I reply, setting my purse and tea on the counter. “I talked to Sage about it a little, and he agrees we should figure out how to move forward.”

“You talked to Sage?” Jax questions, sounding surprised, and I look at him and find his eyes studying me closely.

“Yeah.”

“He never calls anyone when he’s working.”

“Oh,” I mutter, wondering what it means that he’s called me every night since he’s been gone, and he’s also sent texts checking in during the day.

“I told you he claimed her,” Ellie says dryly, and I turn my eyes to her and narrow them. “What? He did.” She shrugs, smiling.

“Anyway.” I roll my eyes at her, and her smile turns into a knowing grin. “I guess we just need to wait and talk to the agent to see exactly what Frankie is asking. Then we need to figure out how to do this, how to get financing and all that. And I know there are some things we’ve said we would change about this place if given the chance, so now that it’s a real possibility, we need to figure out what of those things are a priority and how much it will all cost.”

“I’m so excited,” Ellie whispers, and I see a wide smile on her face that I know mirrors my own. Feeling guilt instantly wash over me for being as happy as I am, I drop my eyes from hers as my muscles start to get tight.