Determined Kisses (Love in Sandy Beach Book 4) by Jessica Gray

she was also very kind.
    When they arrived at the small office in the back of the salon, Veronica sat down behind her desk and gestured towards a chair. “Have a seat. So, you’ve been doing hair for how long?”
    “Well, I’ve been out of the field for a while. My mother got ill and I stayed home to take care of her. But I’ve worked as a temp and kept up with the latest trends.”
    Veronica glanced her up and down before she said, “I like you. For starters I can offer you a salaried position as assistant hair dresser.” She gave the salary figure.
    Hazel nodded. The sum was a decent amount, and yet in Sandy Beach, it wouldn’t be enough to live comfortably. She was deep into her thoughts when Veronica spoke up again. “I don’t pay until the end of the month, but you can take the tips you earn home every night.”
    That would help a lot. She’d be able to pay for food and gas in between paychecks with her tips. “Thanks, Veronica…”
    “Vero. All my friends call me that.”
    Hazel smiled. “Thanks, Vero.” She really liked the woman. Vero might dress like a rebellious teenager, but she had a big and kind heart.
    “So, what do you think?” Vero asked, taking a sip from her water bottle.
    Hazel smiled at her. “I’ll take it.”
    “Great! When can you start?”
    Hazel chuckled at Vero’s eagerness and said, “Tomorrow?”
    “That sounds good. Let’s get your papers ready.” She took a pen and filled in some paperwork, “Where are you staying?”
    Hazel hesitated, unsure if she should mention Ethan’s offer, or the fact that she didn’t have a place to stay yet. She looked at Vero and swallowed hard as the light dawned in the other woman’s eyes.
    “You don’t have a place to stay. Do you, hon?” Her kind voice almost brought Hazel to tears.
    She shook her head. What could she say but the truth? “I just arrived in town yesterday and I need to look for a place to stay this afternoon.”
    Vero sighed and scribbled something on the paper. “For now I’ve put the address of the salon. It can be really difficult to find something affordable in Sandy Beach. You might try the small town about ten miles away from the lake. It’s quite rural and doesn’t attract the tourists like Sandy Beach does.”
    “I’ll do that,” Hazel informed her.
    “Well then, come on back and meet the crew.” Vero introduced her to everyone and then left her standing in the middle of the salon with the other girls gathering around her.
    “So, you have a boyfriend?”
    Hazel shook her head, “No. Why?”
    “Well…” The girls chattered away about the single men in town, and Hazel had to bite her lip to keep from laughing, when one of the male patrons just sat there rolling his eyes. Her colleagues seemed to be nice enough, getting her up to date with the town’s latest gossip, the hottest movies and music, but Hazel was more focused on the clientele she would be serving.
    Sure, she needed to get to know her colleagues, but they wouldn’t pay her bills. The clients would do that.
    She finally managed to excuse herself from the salon and headed back to Ethan’s house. Right after walking inside, memories of last night and this morning assailed her and her knees went week. I can’t let myself get sucked into him and his perfect world. Her first impulse was to grab her stuff and run.
    But when she stood with her suitcase in hand at the door and looked back one more time, she couldn’t get herself to leave. Just one more night. He wouldn’t be here, so she didn’t have to fear giving in to his attraction.
    And sleeping in her car wasn’t exactly an enticing alternative. One more night in the coziness of a real house. What could it hurt?
    She heated up the remains of the lasagna from the day before retreating to the bedroom. But at the doorway to the master bedroom she stopped at seeing the bed, and her mind replayed every delicious detail from the night before and she felt herself getting damp between her