16

 

At Logan House the next day, Maxi laid the last styling device on the coffee table, and took a sip from her mug while waiting for Dora Lee to come downstairs. Anticipation buzzed through her system along with the caffeine. She hadn’t felt this eager about hairstyling since taking classes herself. Just knowing she could help Dora Lee change the course of her life for the better gave Maxi an immense sense of satisfaction.

Don’t get too attached, an inner voice warned. Dora Lee and little Robbie would be moving away from Rainbow Falls as soon as arrangements could be made for their safe integration into a nearby community. And she would be heading back to her job soon anyway.

Against her will, her thoughts drifted to Jason and the amazing kiss they’d shared a few days before at the falls. She knew her rejection of his affection had hurt his pride, but it’d been for the best. For both of them. Jason’s cool acceptance of her breakup with Lance only reinforced her decision.

Footsteps on the stairs alerted Maxi to Dora Lee’s approach. She entered the living room with little Robbie glued to her shoulder. She looked exasperated.

“Sorry,” she shrugged. “He won’t go down for his nap.”

Maxi smiled at the boy. His white blond hair with a huge cowlick in the middle of his forehead made him incredibly endearing. “I guess Robbie doesn’t want to miss the fun. How about we put a movie on for you while I teach your mommy to cut hair?”

The little boy stared at her with his big blue eyes. Then he nodded. “Fish” he demanded and popped his thumb back in his mouth.

“Fish it is,” she agreed. If only she had a clue who or what Fish was, she’d be golden. She held out her hand. “Come and help me find it.”

The boy wriggled down from his mother and ran to the pile of movies. At first grab, he came up with a case with a cartoon fish on it.

“Ah, Fish. Looks like fun.” Maxi popped the DVD in the machine and turned on the TV. Soon Robbie was settled in a chair, his attention riveted to the screen.

“I bet he’s asleep in five minutes,” she told Dora Lee.

“Thank you. I run out of patience with him sometimes.”

“All mothers run out of patience sometimes, don’t they? Isn’t it part of the job?” Maxi smiled and took another quick sip of her coffee. “Ready to get started?”

Dora Lee’s fatigue seemed to vanish. “You bet.”

The woman picked up the techniques Maxi showed her with amazing aptitude. Even though they were using a dummy head for practice, Maxi was confident Dora Lee would be working with live models very soon. As soon as Maxi could convince her to take some real classes.

When they were almost finished, Leslie came in carrying her son. She paused to chat for a minute and then continued back to the kitchen to make the boy a snack. At the sound of footsteps in the hallway a few minutes later, Maxi looked up, expecting to see Leslie again.

“Hello, Dora Lee.”

The deep masculine voice made the hairs on Maxi’s arms rise. No men were allowed inside the house, except Nick or supervised workmen. A burly stranger, badly in need of a shave and some clean clothes, stepped into the room.

The comb fell from Dora Lee’s fingers and bounced on the floor. “Dennis,” she whispered. “What are you doing here?”

The terror in Dora Lee’s eyes kicked Maxi’s instincts into high gear. Her pulse sprinted as she searched for a plan of escape.

The man curled his lip into a sneer. “What do you think, darlin’? I’m here to get my son.” The foul stench of alcohol permeated the air around him.

Anger mixed with the fear and adrenaline in Maxi’s system. She would not allow anyone to harm that precious boy. With shaking fingers, she picked up the long scissors from the table in front of her and stepped in front of Dora Lee and the boy sleeping on the couch behind them, prepared to defend her new friends if necessary.

Dennis turned his bloodshot eyes to her and, without blinking, pulled a gun from his pocket. “I’d put those down if I were you.”