locker room as I was on my way to the steamer. I remembered the look on her face. She reminded me of a cat who'd just swallowed a bird whole."
Chapter Five
Marla didn't have time to think about Councilman Ritiker's remarks. Monday was taken with visiting her brother and catching up on bookkeeping in preparation for the dreaded meeting with her tax accountant. On Tuesday, work was busier than usual, so lunch consisted of yogurt and a banana in the back room.
Waiting for her final appointment, she was brushing stray hairs off her station chair when the chime over the front door sounded. Marla glanced up, eager to do her last customer so she could leave. Tonight was Brianna's dance class, and she wanted to be on time to pick the girl up.
"Arnie, what are you doing here?” she asked as the proprietor of Bagel Busters charged in her direction.
"Marla, you've got to help me!” The big man's mustache quivered, and his dark eyes regarded her wildly.
Aware of her staff's interest, she took his arm and gently propelled him toward an empty manicure station at the rear. He still wore an apron over a collared shirt and khakis. Beneath the fabric, she felt the rock-hardness of his biceps.
"What's wrong?” she said. “Are your kids all right?"
"Yes. That's not the problem. It's Hortense."
"Who?"
"Hortense Crone. You know."
She tapped her foot impatiently. “No, I don't. You're confusing me, Arnie. Who is this person?"
Arnie wrung his hands. “She's a former classmate. We went to high school together, and she had a crush on me. The ugliest dog in school, that was her. A real fresser, too. Ate everything in sight. And now she's here! Oy vey, what am I going to do?"
"What do you mean?” Marla glanced furtively at the reception area, hoping her next client would be delayed. Arnie needed her, making her nurturing instincts surface.
"Hortense is in town. She wants to see me. She's on her way over here!"
"So? You can exchange a few reminiscences and then she'll leave."
He leaned forward, breathing heavily. “You don't understand. She likes me. Hortense said she'd been sorry to learn my wife had passed away, and how difficult it must be for me to raise two kids on my own. I could tell from her tone of voice that she's still interested in me."
"Hortense never married?"
"She's divorced.” His brows drew together. “I said the only thing I could think of to get rid of her. I told her I was engaged."
Marla smiled gently. “Arnie, how could you? The poor woman probably just wants an hour of your time."
"No, no. She's moving back to Palm Haven! I had to discourage her. Tell me you'll play along."
"Huh?"
"I knew you wouldn't mind, since you're such a good friend.” Taking her by the elbow, he steered her into the rear storeroom. “She'll come into the salon. Tell her off for me, would you please?"
"Me?” She wrinkled her nose. “Why would she come here?"
"Oh, God,” he moaned. “I remember how her second chin jiggled when she waddled down the hall. She was the only girl with frizzy black hair whose boobs were overpowered by her blubber.” His eyes grew as round as bagel holes when the front door chimed. “That may be Hortense!” he croaked. “Marla, you've got to save me. I'll give you free bagels for a year!"
"You're on,” she said, laughing. How bad could this woman be to make Arnie so afraid of her? Intensely curious, Marla strode toward the reception desk.
The woman standing by the counter wasn't the ugly horse Arnie had depicted. Nor was she Marla's next client. A tall, sexy blonde, she wore a short skirt and bolero jacket with black leather heels. Wavy hair cascaded like a river down her back. A delicate lilac fragrance wafted around her. Marla approved of the woman's subtle makeup that enhanced her refined features. Envying her busty figure and shapely legs, Marla vowed to work out extra hard at the fitness club on Wednesday.
"This is Marla Shore,” said the receptionist. “She owns Cut ‘N
Chapter Five
Marla didn't have time to think about Councilman Ritiker's remarks. Monday was taken with visiting her brother and catching up on bookkeeping in preparation for the dreaded meeting with her tax accountant. On Tuesday, work was busier than usual, so lunch consisted of yogurt and a banana in the back room.
Waiting for her final appointment, she was brushing stray hairs off her station chair when the chime over the front door sounded. Marla glanced up, eager to do her last customer so she could leave. Tonight was Brianna's dance class, and she wanted to be on time to pick the girl up.
"Arnie, what are you doing here?” she asked as the proprietor of Bagel Busters charged in her direction.
"Marla, you've got to help me!” The big man's mustache quivered, and his dark eyes regarded her wildly.
Aware of her staff's interest, she took his arm and gently propelled him toward an empty manicure station at the rear. He still wore an apron over a collared shirt and khakis. Beneath the fabric, she felt the rock-hardness of his biceps.
"What's wrong?” she said. “Are your kids all right?"
"Yes. That's not the problem. It's Hortense."
"Who?"
"Hortense Crone. You know."
She tapped her foot impatiently. “No, I don't. You're confusing me, Arnie. Who is this person?"
Arnie wrung his hands. “She's a former classmate. We went to high school together, and she had a crush on me. The ugliest dog in school, that was her. A real fresser, too. Ate everything in sight. And now she's here! Oy vey, what am I going to do?"
"What do you mean?” Marla glanced furtively at the reception area, hoping her next client would be delayed. Arnie needed her, making her nurturing instincts surface.
"Hortense is in town. She wants to see me. She's on her way over here!"
"So? You can exchange a few reminiscences and then she'll leave."
He leaned forward, breathing heavily. “You don't understand. She likes me. Hortense said she'd been sorry to learn my wife had passed away, and how difficult it must be for me to raise two kids on my own. I could tell from her tone of voice that she's still interested in me."
"Hortense never married?"
"She's divorced.” His brows drew together. “I said the only thing I could think of to get rid of her. I told her I was engaged."
Marla smiled gently. “Arnie, how could you? The poor woman probably just wants an hour of your time."
"No, no. She's moving back to Palm Haven! I had to discourage her. Tell me you'll play along."
"Huh?"
"I knew you wouldn't mind, since you're such a good friend.” Taking her by the elbow, he steered her into the rear storeroom. “She'll come into the salon. Tell her off for me, would you please?"
"Me?” She wrinkled her nose. “Why would she come here?"
"Oh, God,” he moaned. “I remember how her second chin jiggled when she waddled down the hall. She was the only girl with frizzy black hair whose boobs were overpowered by her blubber.” His eyes grew as round as bagel holes when the front door chimed. “That may be Hortense!” he croaked. “Marla, you've got to save me. I'll give you free bagels for a year!"
"You're on,” she said, laughing. How bad could this woman be to make Arnie so afraid of her? Intensely curious, Marla strode toward the reception desk.
The woman standing by the counter wasn't the ugly horse Arnie had depicted. Nor was she Marla's next client. A tall, sexy blonde, she wore a short skirt and bolero jacket with black leather heels. Wavy hair cascaded like a river down her back. A delicate lilac fragrance wafted around her. Marla approved of the woman's subtle makeup that enhanced her refined features. Envying her busty figure and shapely legs, Marla vowed to work out extra hard at the fitness club on Wednesday.
"This is Marla Shore,” said the receptionist. “She owns Cut ‘N
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