Having him be so vulnerable for me made me realize that he was putting us above all else. Putting me above his reputation. He must have had his employees put that video together, letting them see who he really was. For me.
Taking his big, strong jaw between my hands, I smiled into his deep eyes. “Dan, I love you. We’re going to be okay, as long as you don’t hide who you are, and tell me everything.”
He nodded immediately. “I swear, I will. I love you, Katy.” His kiss was soft, almost shy at first as if he were testing the waters with me.
Then our bodies instantly took over, the heat between us immediate and startling. His arms wrapped around my back as he pulled me into his lap, kissing me so deeply my breath hitched.
“Since I’m always going to be completely honest now, I should tell you,” he murmured. “As much as I want to take you right here, right now in the back of this car, I have something else to show you.”
I nodded, kissing him again. “Show me everything.”
Reaching forward, he knocked twice on the glass between us and the driver, and the car pulled smoothly away from the curb. We didn’t stop kissing until the car glided to a stop about five minutes later.
Dan’s arms squeezed me tightly, then he stared at me hopefully. “This is just an idea, little one. Something to show you how much you mean to me. But if you don’t like it, we don’t have to do anything.”
I grinned while giggling. “Now I’m curious. Let’s go.”
He helped me out of the car, and we stood on the sidewalk facing an empty corner retail space. It was at the bottom of a medium-sized office building, but just a block away from an artsy neighborhood full of clothing stores, jewelry stores, and restaurants.
“It faces both the business district and the neighborhood where a lot of creative people hang out,” Dan said. He hadn’t quite regained his confident, booming tone of voice.
Taking my hand, he led me into the bright, open space. It wasn’t huge, but as I looked around, I could see where tape outlines had been marked on the floor. I walked in a circle, studying the printed signs. Someone had blocked out the space as if it were a hair salon. There was room for three stations, then as I turned to the right to see where the reception desk would be, I burst out laughing.
Seven funky multicolored lamps were in a row across the floor.
“You could lay it out however you liked, of course,” Dan said quickly. “I just had my people start the process to help you visualize it.
I nodded, walking around. “I’d like a giant mirror behind the reception area,” I said automatically. “When people see themselves in a mirror, they’re tempted to check their hair. That would be perfect for when they’re walking by the window of a new salon.”
Dan nodded. “Clever. Go on.”
Walking around the space, I thought carefully. “Instead of closing off the wash and dry area with walls or curtains, maybe we could create a bit of a buffer with some tall plants. It would keep light moving through the space, and keep the employees better connected.”
“Katy,” Dan said softly, coming over to take my hands in his, “My niece is a year younger than you, and has only finished one year of university, but she has been dying to open her own business. Maybe you’d like to meet her, and if you get along, this could be your business, but she could take care of all of the administrative work. Anything you didn’t want to do.”
I nodded, wrapping my arms around him.
“So, baby, may I buy you a salon?”
I stretched up to kiss him, then pulled back. “That’s a yes, by the way.”
“Thank goodness,” he chuckled. He held my hand against his heart. “Katy, I don’t know what it is, but you’re part of me now. I need you to be my partne
r in everything. The word love isn’t big enough for what I feel for you.”
“I love you too, you big strange man,” I grinned, stretching up to kiss his cheek. “Thank you for my new salon.”
He laughed as I bounced up and down a bit while I looked around again. “It’s small, so maybe we could call it ‘Three Snips’, for the three chairs. No, wait – ‘Snips, Dips, and Sips’. We could have haircuts, dip dye nails, and martinis.”
Dan laughed loudly. “Anything you want, baby.”
Then he took my hands in his again, looking at me quite seriously. “Baby, I don’t want you living in that basement apartment alone. Will you live with me in the condo during the week, and then the north house on weekends?”
“Well,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “I haven’t even seen the house.”
He instantly pulled out his phone, but I put my hand over it, laughing. “I don’t need photos. I’m sure it’s lovely.”
“If you don’t like it, we’ll choose another,” he said quickly.