Characters aren't my own.
Bella has a simple, quiet life. She owns her own hair salon in the quiet town of Forks but has always thirsted for more. When a new family arrive in town she finds herself putting down the comb. The charming and intense Edward Cullen is danger but somehow she can't help but resist. EXB, Humans, Lemons, Rated M!
ONE
Just as I was about to turn the sign around a short woman with black hair pulled out the saloon door.
"I'm not too late? Please say you're open!" She huffs breathlessly.
"I was just about to close," I say biting my lip.
"Oh," she sighs.
I checked my watch and sagged my shoulders. The Good Samaritan in me encouraged me to not be an asshole.
"Come on," I say.
My little salon wasn't much. In Forks, there was little competition for my business. I was the woman kids loathed when their parents brought them to me every few months, but I was the woman teenagers loved on prom night.
"Why are you coming in so late?" I ask seating her in a chair.
"Well I've been on the road with my brother all day and I noticed some split ends through the bordem. I couldn't wait until tomorrow. I made Edward stomp his foot on the gas to get here before you closed. I thought you'd be able to sneak at least a trim to tie me over," she says smiling.
I'd never seen this woman before. I'd cut many of hair but never hers. Or the older brother's she spoke of.
"Are you new in town?" I ask fanning a black cape over her body.
"Very new. I've just moved here. Like literally just moved here. I've not even seen my house yet. My parents have been here a week seeing to the house and my other brother went ahead home. Edward who was my delightful road buddy agreed to this before we could go to our new house," she explains with a hint of sarcasm.
"So before you even got to your new house you came for a haircut?" I smirk.
"Yeah," she laughs, "I googled you and the reviews were amazing. I'm a Leo. My lion mane is my pride and joy."
"I'm happy to help you out. So your brother is just out in the car?" I ask pointing to the small car park outside the saloon with a comb.
"Yeah," she smiles.
"He isn't eager to see his new home?" I ask combing through her short hair.
"It's not his home. My father scored a new job at the hospital here. I'm moving in and so is my eldest brother. We both liked the look of a small town. I'm married and want to settle down in a town like this to have kids with my husband. We thought we'd freeload off our parents until we find a place to buy. As for Emmett, he wants to do something similar. He just needs the girlfriend part," she explains.
"What am I doing," I asked running my fingers through her short hair.
"Just kill the dead ends and maybe shape more at the front!" She says.
I get to work. I spray sections and snip where the ends needed freshening. Strands of black hair fall to my previously clean floor. I'd need to stay back even longer tonight before heading home to Charlie.
"So your whole family moved all this way to Forks?" I scoff.
"What's wrong with Forks?" She asks smiling.
"Most people avoid small towns. They try to escape them. I got stuck here I guess," I smile, "I would have killed for adventure. I just never seemed to get out there. I couldn't leave my father. He's a police officer but got hurt on the job a few years back. I managed to get a hairdressing job here and after a few years was handed the keys for good."
"That's selfless of you to stay with your father," she says.
"I guess. This job is fun but I'd wished I could have seen the world more. I would have loved to try living in some big city," I say.
"You still can," she shrugs with a wink, "our family wanted simple. We've been through a big past few years with my brother outside. He had a dangerous job too and we almost lost him. We decided moving to a small town might bring us together. He refused and settled for Seattle. But when dad saw the job offer for the hospital we all agreed it was a sign."
"Well welcome to Forks," I smile.
"Your name was?" She asks
"Bella," I say.
"I'm Alice," she smirks, "I'm glad my first friend is a hairdresser. My hair is my everything."
"You are always welcome," I laugh.
"I'll need to tell Esme about you," she smiles.
"Who is Esme?" I say moving to grab a product.
"My mother," she says, "she'd love you!"
"I would appreciate that," I say.
After lathering product on my hands, I smooth it through Alice's hair getting rid of the baby hairs that were sticking up and adding volume. The bell on the door jingles to notify me of a new customer. I look through the reflection of the mirror in front of Alice and almost wet myself from shock. It's gorgeous. The sexiest man alive is here in my salon. I hoped he wanted more than a haircut.
"Alice, you finished?" He asks impatiently
"Almost," she says to the man through the mirror, "men are so annoying. That's Edward.. the brother."
I nod unable to speak. I hope she wouldn't notice my sudden silence as I checked if her hair was even. I didn't need her to know I'd already had him down as naked in my mind.
"I think you're done," I nod with a nervous smile, "I'll just dry it off from where I wet it."
I fire up the hairdryer and flick it through her hair, combing through it as I do. Nervously my eyes flick to Edward through the mirror. His eyes stare back without moving, even when they're caught. I try to hide my smile after noticing him running his eyes down my body. They lingered on my ass. I kill the dryer placing it back in its holder.
As I reach for the mirror I feel the eyes of the stranger follow me. He leans against the front counter watching me now. It was if I was his own personal show. I felt exposed. Even though I wore my hairdressing blacks, I felt bare. His eyes pierced into me analysing my each move.
I hold up the mirror behind Alice's head and let her see the back where I had cut.
"Oh Bella! It looks great," she claps excited.
"I'm glad," I smile pulling her coat off careful to flick her cut hair to the floor.
"How much do I owe?" She asks reaching for her small handbag.
I walk with her to the register and shake my head smiling. Sexy man watches me with an intense gaze. His hair was something I'd love to play with. Maybe he'd let me? I wouldn't need scissors or a comb. Just my fingers.
"You know what. This one is on me! You're new to town so think of it as a welcoming cut," I say.
"No way I need to pay you," she laughs pulling cash out.
"It's fine really," I say laughing as she tries to put the money in my hands.
"Can we hurry?" Edward grumbles at Alice, "Stop taking up her time. She's meant to be closed."
"Take it," she rolls her eyes at her brother.
"How about next time," I smile.
"Fine," she huffs, "but at least let me take you to coffee. I know no one in this town other than my husband and family. A friend would be nice."
Before I can refuse she has written her number down on a small notepad on her side of the register desk.
"You call me tomorrow and we'll find a time. Maybe I can come to visit you," she says.
"Fabulous," I smile nodding.
My eyes flick to Edward. I wonder if it would be weird to ask her to bring him to lunch?
"Bye Bella," Alice waves heading out the door.
I expect Edward to follow her. He does for a second, before doubling back to flash me with a wicked grin. I hear my breath hitch.
"Goodnight Bella," he smirks.
My heart flutters and a certain somewhere tingles.
"Bye," I squeak uselessly.
"Oh. You also should know, you won't get rid of her now. Though I do think that might be a good thing for her brother," he winks at me before the bell sings to echo his departure.
As I close the store for the evening I think of him. He'd been checking me out for sure and I was pretty certain he'd liked what he had seen.
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