Obsession Falls(36)

“Why?”

“Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good guy. As much as I say I’d love a Mr. Darcy, I’m probably too sensitive to be with a man who’s so serious all the time. I’d wind up feeling responsible for his emotional state and stressing about his moods.”

“That’s very insightful.”

“I’ve done a lot of growing up, especially since I turned thirty. And I’ve probably read too many self-help books.”

“It’s weird because the grumpy thing should be totally off-putting to me. I hate confrontation and he’s kind of intimidating. I’m not usually drawn to that, but –”

“But?”

I took a deep breath. “I am. He’s so broody and mysterious but once in a while, he smiles and it’s amazing. By the way, I haven’t admitted any of this out loud, not even to my dog. Sorry for pouring my heart out to you when we just met.”

“Don’t worry, it comes with the job. Sometimes I’m equal parts therapist and hair stylist.” She put her comb and scissors down and grabbed a round brush and hair dryer. “And don’t worry about the Tilikum gossip line. I hear all the gossip—and I mean all of it—but I don’t spread it. What’s said in the sacred chair of hair, stays in the sacred chair of hair.”

“That’s good to know. Thank you.”

“As far as Josiah, he’s a good guy. I’d wonder why he’s still single in his thirties, but that seems to be a theme with the Haven brothers. Plus, I’m pretty sure he almost wasn’t.”

“Oh, really?”

She nodded. “I think it was about five years ago? He’d been dating a woman named Cassandra for a couple of years. Annika thinks he was going to propose when she broke up with him and moved to California.”

“Ouch.” I put a hand to my chest. “That’s brutal.”

“Right? Although obviously it wasn’t meant to be. But the poor guy hasn’t dated anyone since. Not that I know of, anyway.” She paused and fluffed my hair. “Regardless, he’s not a guy I’d warn you away from, especially if you like broody lumberjack types.”

“I never have before, but let’s be honest, my track record stinks. Not that I’m thinking of dating Josiah Haven. I don’t even know if he’d be interested in me.”

“I’m not saying a new haircut is all it would take, but it wouldn’t be the first time a fresh look helped a guy see what’s right in front of him.” She winked.

“Then I guess we’ll see what happens.”

She grinned. “Indeed we will.”

Marigold blew out my hair and then added some soft waves with a curling iron. It did feel fresh and vibrant, without being too big of a change, just like she’d said. Sandra was right, she was a magician.

Before I left, we exchanged phone numbers, since we agreed we’d become instant friends. I walked back to work feeling fresh, pretty, and invigorated. A new look and a new friend? How could my day get any better?

And then I saw my car.

I’d parked on the street in front of the Tribune office and when I’d left my car there this morning, it had been in perfect condition. Okay, so I was overdue for an oil change and there was a ding on the driver’s side from when some jerk had opened their door into mine a while back, and it definitely needed to be washed. But that huge dent in the front? That had not been there.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

I glanced around helplessly, as if the person who’d hit my car would somehow materialize and fess up. It was obviously a hit and run. They hadn’t left a note. Just backed into my car and drove off, probably hoping no one had seen anything.

But maybe Sandra had seen it. It had to have made noise, my bumper was crunched. I wouldn’t have been surprised if she’d taken a picture of the guy’s license plate and was already on the phone with the police to track him or her down.

I rushed into the office, my mouth open to ask Sandra if she’d nabbed the culprit, but her desk was empty. She must have gone out to lunch.

Ledger leaned back in his chair with his feet on his desk and didn’t look up from his phone. “Hey.”

“Ledger, did you see who hit my car?”

He glanced up. “Someone hit your car?”

“Yes, right out front.”

“That sucks.”

“Yeah, it sucks a lot. They backed right into me. You didn’t hear anything?”

“No.”

Of course not. His earbuds had probably been surgically implanted into his ear holes. Lou was in his office, but he almost never came out. Not much chance that he’d seen it happen and even less that he’d be able to help me figure out who had done it.

“Nice hair,” Ledger said.

That almost made me laugh. “Thanks. I was having such a great day, too.”

Josiah’s insistence that I call him if anything weird happened crossed my mind. But this wasn’t weird, exactly. More like frustrating and stressful. I didn’t need to bother him about it. But I probably did need to file a police report or something.

With a heavy sigh, I sat at my desk and looked up the non-emergency number. I didn’t relish the repair bill I’d be facing, but it could have been worse. At least my car would still run.