Page 40 of Hollywood

“Still…”

He patted my thigh, which was something he’d taken to doing and which still threw me off-balance each and every time. “You’ve got to pay the bills, Holly. Your boss is no spring chicken, either. He needs you back. It’s okay.”

“Yeah.” I twisted to look at Ruby, who was swinging her feet and humming contentedly. We’d come a long way since that first night. She was already such an intrinsic part of my life I couldn’t imagine being without her.

“Daddy will see you soon, Roo.”

“Da,” she said with a smile.

My heart fluttered. She hadn’t done that before. “Yeah, that’s right. I’m Da.” I shot a wide smile at Tex. “Did you hear that? I’m Da.”

Tex squeezed my leg. “Heck yeah, you are.”

“It’s hard to leave her. I know I spent so much time without her, but now…”

“Now she’s yours,” he said simply, understanding without me having to explain.

I nodded, throat tight. He raised his hand to my face, smoothing a thumb over my cheek. “I promise I’ll take very good care of her.”

“I know you will.”

“Go do your thing, Holly. When you get home, we’ll celebrate with dinner at the new place. We’ll eat on paper plates on top of cardboard boxes. It’ll be very fancy.”

I laughed and the urge to lean in and kiss him goodbye hit me hard.

I turned, leaning back between the seats to press a quickkiss to Ruby’s cheek instead. Then I opened my car door and stepped out onto the curb before my impulses could ruin our friendship again.

Clint looked happy to see me, but worn out, too. The creases around his eyes seemed more pronounced, and he moved a little slower than usual.

Dang. He was getting too old to run the shop alone. I wanted to be with Ruby and Tex, but Ineededto be here.

“Morning, Hendrix. Good to have you back.”

“Happy to be back,” I said, which was true now that I was here. I’d always liked my job. Clint was an easygoing guy, and clients loved to chat while they got their haircuts. It would be a relaxing change of pace after chasing after Ruby for two days.

“How’s the little one?” he asked as he filled a cup with the battery acid he liked to call coffee. He brewed a big pot every day, making it available to customers, but I couldn’t stomach the stuff. There wasn’t enough sugar in the world to make it palatable.

“Ruby’s adjusting,” I said. “She called me Da today.”

I was sure my smile was goofy as hell, but I couldn’t help it.

“Aw, that’s cute,” he said. “Enjoy her. They grow up too damn fast.”

“I will. I’ve already missed too much of her life.”

I went over to my station and checked over my table. The hair wax was running a little low, and my tweezers were mysteriously missing. I rummaged through drawers, then made a trip to the supply closet. When I returned, Cliff sat in his barber chair, nursing his coffee.

“You should have brought your little girl in,” he said. “I’d like to meether.”

“Oh?” I turned. “Well, maybe when Tex picks me up tonight.”

I’d told Clint about my friend who was helping out with childcare, so he didn’t ask any questions. “Good. Good. Jared’s coming in today. I’m going to let you handle his cut. My back needs a rest.”

“Oh, is he recovered now?”

Jared had a knee replacement, followed by a hip replacement, and he’d canceled his appointments twice in the past month.

“I don’t know about recovered,” Clint said. “But he’s getting better.”