Page 101 of The Sasquatch and the Hairdresser

“Who sent this?”

The gargoyle smirks at me as I sign the clipboard indicating I’ve received my delivery.

“I’d say someone who likes you an awful lot.” He winks. “There’s a card attached to the balloons. Enjoy.”

He saunters out, and Akram and Flo crowd around me as I open the card with a shaking hand.

Dearest Skylar,

Congratulations on your opening day, sweetheart! May your wildest dreams come true, and may your days ahead be full of pure happiness. I’m here to help you, and stay by your side, every step of the way.

All my love,

Hal

Flo sighs dreamily. “Now isn’t that romantic?”

Akram grins. “I’m happy for you both. Congratulations.”

“They were cozied up in the diner not too long ago and I could just tell,” Flo confides. “Those two are the genuine article. True soulmates.”

“All right, enough gossiping about my love life,” I grumble, all while secretly pleased by her words. “Let’s get back to work. Flo here needs another mocktail, don’t you?”

She pats her shiny hair and sashays over to Akram’s impromptu bar. “You know it, honey.”

I clean up my station and get things ready for whoever shows up next. But moments later, I’m surprised when the door opens and Hal’s friend, Ryder, strides in, looking around the place with open curiosity. I only met him briefly on the night I moved into the B&B, but haven’t seen him around since.

He doesn’t say anything at first, just pulls a small notebook out of the pocket of his jacket and a pencil from behind his ear and starts furiously scribbling something.

“Can I help you?” I ask uncertainly.

His tongue peeks out between his teeth as he finishes writing whatever in his notebook, then he closes it and puts the pencil back behind his ear. He turns his focus toward me and stares at me in a way that soon turns uncomfortable, like I’m some odd specimen he’s trying to figure out.

He pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “I’d like a haircut. We can talk while you work. I’m all about multitasking.”

“Uh, sure.” I gesture him over to my midsize chair and secure a cape around him.

“Would you like a beverage while you’re being worked on?” Akram asks from his nook.

Ryder waves him off. “I’m good, but thanks.”

Flo finishes her drink before hurrying off to the diner.

Now it’s just me, Ryder, and Akram in the salon.

“What are you thinking about with your hair?” I ask, running my fingers through the auburn waves. No lie, he has real great hair, and my brain is already buzzing with ideas.

He’s studying me in the mirror in a way that makes me feel even more like a bug under a microscope.

Then he blinks. “Just a trim, I think.”

“Sure,” I say, then lead him over to a sink, promising myself to make a note of my ideas after he leaves. Hal’s best friend is gonna get the full Skylar Wright experience if I have anything to say about it. He’ll look great with a faux-hawk.

“What did you want to talk about?” I ask once he’s lying back and I’m rinsing his hair.

Ryder blinks a couple of times. “Ah, yes. I forgot to mention that didn’t I? Well, I’m sure Hal has told you how I’m his BFF, so I wanted to make sure you understand and appreciate how epic he is.”

I can’t hold back a laugh. “Gotcha.”