Read Online Second Chances (Nugget Romance 3) by Stacy Finz - Free Book Online Page B

said.
    “I know what you mean. I’m doing a big open house next weekend. Come on by and bring your friends. At least the place’ll look crowded. We might even convince the city folk that the homes are selling like hotcakes.”
    “Are sales that bad?” Darla turned on the sprayer, waited until the water turned warm, and rinsed Griffin’s hair.
    “Too soon to tell. We just got the models spiffed up and the sales office up and running. I’ve got high hopes.”
    Darla wrapped a towel around his head and directed him to get back in the barber’s chair. He had a great head of hair and she was looking forward to giving it a little more shape. As skilled a barber as Owen was, he hadn’t kept up on modern styles. Darla swished a cape around him and clipped away.
    “Owen always wants to shave off my whiskers,” Griffin said. “But I like my whiskers.”
    She put her hand on his shoulder to reassure him. “Don’t worry. I’ll just even them out.”
    “You think he’ll really retire?” Griffin started to turn around in the chair, but Darla held him still.
    “He’ll probably stay on a few days a week. But he’s sixty-three and deserves a break. Part of the reason I came here is because I thought he’d work himself into the grave without help.”
    “So,” Griffin asked, “how’s it working out so far?”
    “The truth, not so good. People seem reluctant to give me a chance.”
    Griffin watched her through the mirror. “Give it time. This town has issues with change. But they eventually come around. When I first got here, your dad accused me of being a drug dealer.”
    “Get out.” She laughed, and then asked, “Are you?”
    “Actually, I’m a high-end hooker.”
    Darla laughed again, enjoying his personality as much as his looks. “Do you have a girlfriend, Griffin Parks?”
    He was quiet for a few minutes, and Darla wondered if he thought she was trying to pick up on him, because she wasn’t. That would be completely unprofessional.
    “Yes and no,” Griffin finally said. “We’re supposed to be taking space and seeing people if we want to. She doesn’t even live here anymore.”
    “But?” Darla continued snipping Griffin’s hair.
    “I don’t really want to see anyone but her.”
    “So why don’t you tell her that?” Darla thought men for the most part were idiots.
    “I have to stick to the bargain—at least for a year,” he said, and she wanted to ask why they’d made such a ridiculous bargain, but figured she didn’t know him well enough yet.
    “How ’bout you? You seeing anyone?”
    “Nope,” she said.
    Griffin chuckled. “Not a lot to choose from here in Nugget—at least not in our age bracket.”
    “Maybe we should get a singles group together to go bowling,” Darla suggested. “I’ll bring my friend Harlee.”
    “With a name like Harlee, I like her already.” According to Owen, Griffin was a motorcycle fanatic.
    Darla took out the clippers to clean up Griffin’s whiskers when Wyatt walked in the door. He must’ve been on duty because he wore his police uniform. As soon as he noticed Griffin in the chair, Wyatt scowled.
    “I see you’re busy,” he said in a clipped tone. “I’ll come back another time.”
    “I’m almost done, Wyatt, if you want to wait.”
    But he’d already sailed through the door. Darla shook her head.
    “I guess he was in a hurry,” Griffin said. “When do you want to do this bowling thing? Because I’ve got to tell you, I love your old man and the rest of the mafia. I love playing pinochle with them. But I need to get with some people my own age before I start driving an Oldsmobile and watching Gunsmoke reruns.”
    “Let me talk to Harlee and we’ll come up with a night.”
    If circumstances were different, Wyatt would be invited into their group since he fit their demographic. But if circumstances were different, Darla would be married to the jerk.
     
    “This cannot be happening,” Harlee yelled into the darkness.
    She’d just