Amie Stuart - Built

I was in hell. The black and gold hell that was Glorious Creations, and escape was at the top of my list.

I flipped the thermostat on, praying this time it would work. Repairing the salons older-than-dirt air conditioner had meant spending most of the morning in the thick Houston heat, but Id damn sure rather be out there than in here with all these women.

Four of the seven barber chairs were occupied, plus the two old women under the dryer and a couple more getting their nails done. I could feel all of them staring at me as I moved around to close the front door. Posters in the reception area settled into place on the walls, and the sound of female chatter immediately picked up.

I turned toward the break room, ready to make my escape when an elderly woman with snow-white hair lifted the dryer.

DAngelo, hows your mama doing? She was tiny, with almost wrinkle-free skin that made guessing her age pretty much impossible. She looked familiar, but I couldnt place her.

I barely slowed my pace to answer. Shes fine, maam.

DAngelo

My aunt would have my ass if I was rude to her customers. I bit back a sigh and stopped directly under a vent, letting cool air wash over me. The woman sat up a little straighter and gave me a smile meant to charm. I did likewise and waited to see what she wanted. Yes, maam.

I want you to have my grandbabies, she announcedloudly.

I stared at her, a fuck no lodged somewhere in my throat, while every woman in the salon cackled or expressed their own desire for me to father their child or grandchild. If I had a nickel for every time some woman, old or young, had said the same damn thing to me, Id be a rich man.

Rubbing the whiskers on my chin, I turned and glanced at my aunt in the mirror. Apparently, not shaving wasnt the deterrent Id hoped it would be. Aunt Glo shrugged, a smile on her face. What the hell could I say? Thank you, maam.

Im surprised anyone wants his babies with that fuzzy head of his, my cousin Vivi practically shouted from the far end of the shop. She stood behind her chair, in the middle of a weave, her own tiny braids held back from her face by a rubber band. Vivi was a looker, she knew she was a looker and made sure anyone within a fifty-mile radius knew it too.

Nothing a haircut and a shave wouldnt cure, a busty blonde announced from her nail station.

Id noticed her on an earlier trip from the A/C unit, located out back, to the thermostat by the front door. But then, how could I miss her?

She tucked her long, tanned legs underneath her seat and winked at me. Her tiny pink bandana-print skirt barely covered her ass and matched a pair of painfully high-heeled shoes the same color. Pink and blue and blonde; in her own way, she was as out of place in the salons black and gold surroundings as me.

My aunt sauntered over and planted a kiss on my sweaty cheek. You should put that poor woman out of her misery, she said. One penciled-in eyebrow crested, dipped, and crested again while she spoke.

Her granddaughter would scare a Rottweiler, I murmured.

She snorted with laughter and rubbed my cheek. You so pretty, DAngelo, she teased in a singsongy voice. Thats what they all say about you .

I know. I sighed in resignation. I wasnt conceited; Id heard all my life how pretty I was, and I hated it. Not that my brothers were uglyfar from itbut my light skin and green eyes had always attracted a lot of attention, and not always the good kind. I got down to the business at hand. You need a new compressor, Aunt Glo.

She waved off my bad news and turned her back to me, prepared to finish up a wrap on the woman in her barber chair. Come see me Saturday morning for a haircut, young man.

Bubble gum and rubber bands would probably have been just as effective as anything I could do with a wrench and a prayer, but Aunt Glo was cheap. Wed just have to baby it along until Dad could convince her to shell out some real dough for that compressor.

Thanks for waking me up, Aunt Glo. Looked like Id just have to wait until Sunday to catch up on my sleep.

I settled in the chair, coffee clutched in one hand, as my aunt whipped a silver cape out, covering my jeans and T-shirt.

My pleasure. Smiling serenely in the face of my sleepy glare, she dug out a wide-tooth comb and her clippers.

I lurched forward and turned to look at her. Just a trimplease.

Trim my ass, boy. Youre not gettin out of my chair until you let me do something with that nappy-ass head of yours. Now turn back around.

My hair wasnt nappy, just curly, but Aunt Glo wasnt a woman you argued with. Sighing, I did as shed instructed.

If youre a good boy, Ill give you a manicure when shes done.

Che-rise! My aunts shout ended on a laugh. Girl, you are shameless!

I was just kidding, Cherise drawled from her spot behind us.

Smiling to myself, I turned to face the mirror again, focusing on the blonde in my line of sight. Today her hair was pulled up in a funky ponytail like something out of I Dream of Jeanie . Even though her ass was covered by a pair of capris and her cleavage was hidden by a sleeveless turtleneck, she still looked hot enough to make me need to adjust my jeans.

Now that was something to wake up to.

Dont even think about it, boy, Aunt Glo practically growled.

Bout what? I knew damned good and well who and what she was talking about. The first tug of the comb at the top of my head made me wish I hadnt given in quite so easily about getting a haircut, though.

You know what! She pulled again, harder this time for emphasis, almost driving the vision of Cherise giving me something more than a manicure right out of my head.

I could practically hear my aunts foot tapping as I tried to take a sip of my coffee. She talked to me first, Aunt Glo.

Boy, I worked hard to get that girl out here. She scowled at me through the mirror. Including five trips to Baytown to see her, and I sure dont need you mucking things up.

Would I do something like that? I bit back a grin, then winced, praying shed finish torturing me soon.

What are you into now, DAngelo? Vivi asked, appearing at my elbow. The smell of warm sugar and grease from her bag of donuts teased me as she sank into the empty barber chair beside us. She popped a donut hole in her mouth.

You could share those, I said.

Cherise, Aunt Glo hissed again, interrupting my bid for breakfast.

Oh, no ! One eyebrow shot up as Vivi leaned forward and crumpled the now-empty bag. You dont want to hit that.

That was rude, I said, pointing to the bag she was holding. It looked like breakfast would have to wait too.

Who said I wanted to mess with her? I whispered, hoping Cherise couldnt hear us from where she sat just a few feet away.

That Vivi tilted her head in Cherises general directionis bi-sexin- all !

I nearly dropped my cup of coffee before I regrouped and took another look at Cherise. Shes bisexual?

I dont care what shes doing as long as shes here when she needs to be here and paying me my money on time. Aunt Glos voice was low and firm as she added, And neither should you.

Youre full of shit, Vivi, I muttered.

Go ask her yourself, she challenged, arms crossed over her tiny chest. Vivis smirk and the knowing look in her pale brown eyes convinced me she might be telling the truth.

I slid into the chair across from Cherise, still unsure if Vivi had been yanking my chain or not. Up close her eyes were a clear, pale blue with just a little gray to them. Despite the curves, the full lips, and the occasional freckle, I got the feeling she was more spice than sugar. My eyes drifted a bit, finally landing in the vicinity of her hidden cleavage. Dayum! No woman should be that fine.