Page 12 of Wilder Ever After
“I’m with Alice on this one,” Sylvie agreed. “I mean, unless I can do the time travel thing, maybe let’s clean those babies up for the trip.”
With a grunt, Marge glanced between us and then sighed. “I don’t want to wax. That sounds painful.”
Lifting a brow, I sat up. “Are you saying you’rescaredto get a wax, Marge? Big, brave Marge is frightened of a little itty bitty pain? Pain thatIcan endure over and over again?”
Marge sat up straight, looking me square in the eyes. “Are you calling me yellow?”
I held her gaze. “If that’s what it takes to get you to agree, then you’re a canary sitting on a banana floating in a big tub of mustard you’re so damn yellow.”
Her lip stiffened. “I dodged bullets in ‘Nam without breaking a sweat. I’m not yellow.”
“Come with me now, and let’s wax those babies and prove it,” I challenged. “Or ... you could pass, and I’ll always know you were too scared to handle a wee amount of discomfort. The kind I can endure while sipping on a margarita.”
Marge tightened her face. “I’m in.”
With a satisfied smile, I stuck out my hand, and she grabbed it, giving it a firm shake. “Deal.”
The server arrived holding a small tablet to take our order. “What can I get for you, ma’am?”
I narrowed my eyes. “First off, I’m not a ma’am. My mother was a ma’am. Second, I will need to hold off on drinks because we have to run down to the salon quickly. I’ll give you a hundred dollars to ensure no one takes our seats while we’re gone.”
The server’s eyes went big. “Yes, ma—” She stopped and swallowed. “I mean, yes, I will. Consider them saved.”
“Thank you.” I grinned and stood. “Okay, ladies. Let’s go to the salon and see if they have a wax strong enough to rip those babies out by the roots.”
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Marge grumbled, then followed behind me.
“This is gonna be fun! I should have them do my mustache,” Sylvie said. “I forgot to have it done before we left.”
As we strode across the vast deck, I exaggerated the sway of my strides to draw attention to my award-winning legs ... the properly waxed ones. The young men who had been filling the bars and seats all took notice of me while I moved past them, and I took notice of them, rating them in the order I wanted to meet them.
“See anything you like?” Sylvie asked as we left the pool area.
“Oh yes.” I grinned. “I’m going to tear my way through each and every one of them.”
“Oh, heavens,” Doris whispered.
With a smirk, I gave one last seductive glance to the twenty-something with the abs I intended to trace with my tongue, then the widows and I made our way to the salon.
“Hello,” I said to the attendant working the desk.
“Welcome to Serenity. I’m Ashley,” she answered with a smile. “How can I help you?”
I leaned onto the desk, the floral smells of massage oils and scented candles permeating every molecule of the air around me. “I don’t have an appointment, but I do have an emergency. Can you please squeeze us in for a quick leg wax?”
She pursed her lips. “Hmm. Our estheticians are all booked up for services today, but I could maybe squeeze you in tomorrow.”
“Works for me,” Marge answered, but I lifted a hand and stopped her.
“Well, itdoesn’twork for me.” I pulled out a fifty and slid it across the sleek counter. “This is yours if you can just wiggle things around a bit. Just a leg wax. Shouldn’t take long at all.”
Her blue eyes moved over the money, then she reached forward and slid it out of sight. “I suppose I could squeeze you in, and our next client can just wait a little.”
With a wink, I touched her hand. “Smart girl.”
Or not. Should have held out. I’d have gone higher.
“Just have a seat, and I’ll have someone get you shortly. Can I interest you in some cucumber water?”