She held the dress up against herself and the cream color made her skin look less ashy. She smiled and took it to the dressing room. After she pulled out of her jeans and sweater, she slid on the dress and turned around in the mirror, liking the look of it. She let out a satisfied sigh.
It made her more curvaceous and hid the prominent bones in her shoulders and hips. She hoped that Grayson didn't mind that he was dating someone who'd forgotten to eat for two years. But she couldn't put on thirty pounds overnight, so she had to be satisfied with what she had right now.
She pulled out of the dress and put it back on its hanger. After dressing in her street clothes, she went to the counter and paid for the dress in cash.
“I’ve got a date at the resort tonight,” she told the girl behind the counter.
“Oh, this is perfect for that,” she cooed.
“It's with my fated mate,” Donika continued, not knowing where this giddy, over-sharing schoolgirl came from.
“You were matched with a shifter?” the girl asked.
Donika shook her head like a little kid with a secret.
“Lucky you,” the girl cooed. “I hear shifters are insatiable when it comes to their mates. I wouldn't mind having one myself.”
The clerk folded her dress into a bag and put her receipt inside with it, handing it across the counter to Donika.
“Insatiable?” she asked.
“You know what I mean,” she said with a wink.
Donika felt a shiver of excitement roll down her spine. She bit her lip. Grayson was so muscular and big and handsome. She just imagined what it would be like for him to show that side of himself to her.
“My shifter’s been nothing but a gentleman,” she said.
“Oh, well, they try to be,” the girl said. “But that's all an act.”
“I'll remember that,” Donika said, feeling nervous about her date.
Was he going to try to jump her bones or something? Her literal bones, she thought to herself as she caught sight of her reflection in the window of the shop. She went back to her car and threw the dress in the backseat. She stopped off at the cellphone store and grabbed a new smartphone, tired of using the outdated model she’d bought on the road. Some things were just worth the money. She then made her way to the salon.
The hairdresser she found standing behind the salon counter looked incredibly familiar.
“Donika Devon?” the hairdresser said. “Is that you?”
“It's me,” Donika said, trying to remember the woman’s name.
“It's me Stacy, Stacy Smith.”
“Oh, right, Stacy,” Donika said.
Then it all fell into place. Stacy had been a cheerleader back in high school and was the girlfriend of the quarterback. She looked at least ten years older than Donika. It was hard to recognize the once pretty, athletic cheerleader who had been so popular in high school.
Donika had been what was known as a geek. But back then being a geek wasn't as cool as it was nowadays. And people like Stacy and her crew used to tease Donika relentlessly. Donika had had terrible braces and worn glasses that were thick as Coke bottles. Donika wore contacts now, but back then her mother said she didn't want her sticking herself in the eye every day. Donika had not only been smart, and at the head of her class, but she looked the part too.
“It's so nice to see you,” Donika lied.
“It's nice to see you too, Donika,” Stacy said, directing her to sit down in the chair where she could examine her hair.
She pulled Donika's hair out of the scrunchy and let it fall around her shoulders. Donika's long, thick, straightened hair tumbled down her back. She really had forgotten to do much with it, considering how busy she was with work. That had just caused it to grow super long.
“You have beautiful hair,” Stacy said.
“It's okay,” she said.
She had always wished she was blonde like Stacy when she was a teenager. But now dark hair was in fashion, so she couldn't complain.
“What are you wanting to do today?” Stacy asked, continuing to play with Donika's hair.
“I was just thinking some shaping and maybe some highlights.”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
She directed Donika over to the washing station and began washing her hair. She told her all about her family and gossiped about her husband who she was currently divorcing. He was the very same guy from high school. The quarterback of the football team. Apparently, he had taken to drinking and violence in the home. Stacy had had to kick him out. There was a whole drama that reminded Donika of every episode of Jerry Springer.
“That's terrible,” Donika said.
If she had represented Stacy in the divorce, she'd never let that man near the children ever again. And she’d make him pay every cent he earned in child support and alimony. But Donika decided to keep that to herself. She was currently not practicing law and didn't want to get Stacy's hopes up.
She sat in the haircutting station. Stacy dried Donika’s hair slightly and began to comb it out.
“So, tell me about you,” Stacy said. “What have you been up to since high school? You were so good in school, I bet you did something really exciting.”
Donika bit her lip, not knowing what to say. She took a deep breath and let it out.
“I went to Harvard on a scholarship,” she started. “I got a law degree. After school I started practicing law at a firm in New York. That's pretty much it.”
Stacy's eyes turned dark and her face fell. She started combing Donika's hair too roughly as she grumbled under her breath.
“It's no big deal really,” Donika said.
“So, you're a big time New York City lawyer now,” Stacy said, continuing to yank Donika's hair.
“Well, I'm a lawyer. At least I was the last time I checked.”
“You got straight A's in high school. You always were so smart,” Stacy said. “I've never even been out of Fate Valley. And you've been living and working in New York. And a Harvard graduate no less.”
“Trust me, it’s not all it's cracked up to be.”
“Tell me about your life in New York,” Stacy continued, getting out the scissors and snapping them aggressively near Donika’s face.
“Oh, you know, same old same old. Up at dawn, work all day. That kind of thing.”
“I bet you've had some pretty exciting experiences in your life, haven’t you?” Stacy asked, beginning to trim the split ends off of Donika's hair.
“Maybe. I won some pretty big cases,” Donika said, forgetting to downplay her accomplishments.
Just at that moment, the sickening sound of scissors snapped in front of her face. Strands fell. Stacy had cut a chunk of hair halfway down to her chin. She hadn't had her hair that short since the last time she’d tried bangs.
Donika gasped, stood up, and reeled around. A loud crack sounded. Stacy's eyes went wide and then glazed over. A second later, she collapsed onto the floor. Blood spread out around her as her eyes lost their light and her soul left her body. Donika screamed and ducked. Grabbing her phone from her purse, she dialed 911. A moment later, the fire department and police arrived. She was so distraught from the sight of Stacy's body, she'd forgotten that the woman had ruined her hair.
The police were bustling around the salon looking for evidence while Donika shook in the corner, shivering in shock. Then she caught sight of her reflection and frowned.
“We found a bullet hole in the window. It must have entered through there.”
“We know that the victim had an estranged husband. She had a restraining order against him. We’re going to go pick him up for questioning now,” the officer told her. “Did you see anything suspicious while you were in the salon?”
“No, I was distracted by our conversation.” And the fact that she’d just cut a huge chunk out of her hair.
Donika felt terrible that she cared so much about her ruined hair. There was a dead woman on the floor.
She sat in the corner
hugging herself, mortified and confused. The police and paramedics took Stacy's body away under a sheet and put her in the ambulance. This was not good. Not good at all. Then she remembered the men in black suits who had been parked outside the inn earlier that day. Could that bullet have been meant for her? Was her boss trying to kill her?
It just couldn't be true. She had checked her bank accounts that morning, and all her assets were still frozen. She was expecting to be served with lawsuit papers any moment. Her life was falling apart around her ears.
She had been stupid to believe she could have something normal and wonderful like a date with Grayson. She almost cried until the police told her she should leave the scene and find somewhere else to finish her hair. She got in her car and wandered through town, looking for another salon to fix the catastrophe that Stacy had left.
She pulled up in front of the other salon in town and went inside. They took one look at her and sat her in a chair and proceeded to fix the mistake that Stacy had left. The only solution was cutting bangs. By the time they were done putting chestnut brown highlights in her pitch-black hair, cutting bangs, and shaping her hair in layers, she looked so beautiful and feminine, she finally let her tears flow.
Maybe it was because she had just witnessed a murder. Or the fact that her life was falling apart. She wasn't quite sure. But she decided to think that it was because of how beautiful she looked.
“You’re going to knock your date dead tonight,” her hairdresser said.
“I don't know how I can ever repay you for fixing my hair,” she said, more tears flowing at the mention of knocking her date dead.
“Ah, hun. You’re going to be fine. We specialize in hair emergencies.”
“Thank you,” she muttered, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
“So, who is this man you’re dating?”
“His name is Grayson Baxter. He’s a shifter.”
“Oh, I know him. He's part of the Shifter Community Association. I'm a fox shifter myself. I know Grayson well. It's about time he found his mate. And such a beautiful mate too. He's a lucky man.”
“Thank you,” Donika said again, looking at herself in the mirror one more time.
She bought several bottles of hair product and some cosmetics from the salon. When she returned to her car, she felt a little more confident in her looks. She wasn't going to let the trauma of the day ruin her date with Grayson. Although she couldn't shake the hollow, empty feeling of panic inside her gut from witnessing Stacy's death. Grayson was the only thing that made any sense right now. When she arrived at home, she told Adele and Pearl what had happened.
“You look so beautiful,” Pearl said.
“I just saw a woman murdered,” she said. “I’m not entirely sure a romantic date is appropriate right now.”
“Stacy Smith had it coming,” Pearl said. “She was a horrible woman. You shouldn't have gone to that salon.”
“I'm sure she had her reasons for her attitude. Her husband was an alcoholic and he hurt her.”
“That's no excuse to cut someone's hair off,” Pearl snapped.
“She didn't deserve to die for being a terrible hairdresser.”
“Of course not,” her grandmother said. “But what’s done is done. Her death shouldn't interfere with your life.”
“I just feel like I should respect the dead, you know?”
“You can go to her funeral and send some money to her children.”
“Those poor kids,” Donika whimpered. “They’re left with an alcoholic and abusive father.”
“Stacy's mother is a wonderful woman,” Adele said. “It's terrible what happened to her, but her kids will be okay. You don't have to feel guilty for going out tonight.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“We'll start a fund for the kids,” Adele said, brushing Donika’s hair out of her face. “I know that you feel bad. But we in Fate Valley have a way of coming together to support our own. If they’ve arrested Stacy's husband, like you told us, then justice will be served. It's shocking and appalling that she's gone, but I think that you should still go on your date with Grayson tonight. You need some love in your life.”
“I just don’t want to be insensitive. I saw her die.”
“It's not being insensitive to go out with your new beau,” Pearl said, patting her on the shoulder.
“Okay ladies,” Donika said. “You talked me into it. I'll go out on the date anyway.”
Donika went back to her room and looked in the mirror at her new hairstyle. She pulled the dress out of the bag and held it against herself in front of the mirror. She couldn't wait for her date with Grayson, to wear this pretty dress with her new hair, and see his reaction.
Then she remembered what the clerk at the dress store had said. Shifters were insatiable with their mates. She took a breath and let it out. She wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing right now.
Chapter 14
Standing at the door of the inn with a dozen roses in hand, and a pecan pie for her grandmother, Grayson was nervous as he'd ever been. He knocked and Donika's mother Adele answered.
“Why Grayson, it’s so good to see you. Come on in.”
“I made this pie for your family,” he said, handing it to her.
“Oh my goodness. It smells delicious,” Adele said.
He clutched the flowers as he followed Adele down the hall and into the kitchen. She set the pie on the table. He nervously fiddled with his tie, gripping the roses in his fist.
“Aren't those lovely,” Adele said. “And you look so handsome in that suit.”
“Where is Donika?” Grandma Pearl asked from the kitchen table, sipping a cup of tea.
“I'll go get her,” Adele said.
Her mother scuttled off and knocked on a door in the hall. It opened and she peeked inside.
“Grayson is here,” she said, her words muffled.
Donika’s muted voice replied, and Adele headed back down the hall with a funny look on her face.
“She says she's coming,” Adele said.
A moment later, the door opened and Donika stepped out from behind it, looking like a princess straight out of a fairytale. His jaw dropped and sweat erupted on his brow. He pulled the handkerchief out of his pocket and dabbed it dry.
She wore a beautiful white lacy dress with a full skirt that billowed out around her like clouds. On her feet were black patent leather pumps that matched the belt around her slim waist. The dress accentuated her curves in just the right way.
He gulped and loosened his tie. He couldn't believe how beautiful she was. He had to grip the back of one of the kitchen chairs to keep from falling over. She walked in with a blush in her cheeks and glanced down at the ground before their eyes met.
“These are for you,” he said, handing her the roses.
She accepted them, cradling them in her arms, and brought the buds to her nose to deeply inhale of the scent.
“They're lovely,” she whispered.
Her hair looked different and her face was rosy and bright.
“Let me get a vase for you,” Adele said, looking through the cabinets.
Pearl sat at the table, eyeing the pie.
“I brought this pecan pie for your family to share while we’re out. I hope you get a piece.”
“Oh, how nice of you,” Donika said.
“I would make you a pie every day if I could,” he said. The words spilled out of his mouth like a bucket tipping over.
“You're so thoughtful,” Donika said.
Her mother took the roses and began snipping the stems to place them in the vase. She set them in the middle of the table, and they brought a romantic air to the room.
“You should put these in your bedroom,” Adele said.
“It would be nice to smell the scent when I wake up in the morning.”
“You need as many flowers as you can get. Gotta bring some life back into those cheeks of yours,” said Pearl.
“You look so beautif
ul,” Grayson said, taking her hand.
“You should make her pastries every day, Grayson. Our girl is so skinny. We need you to fatten her up,” Pearl said.
“Grandma,” Donika said.
Grayson chuckled. “I'll do my best.”
“I know I've lost some weight, but I don't need you all conspiring to fatten me up.”
“Yes you do,” Adele and Pearl said at the same time.
“Fine, fine, fine. Whatever. Come on, Grayson. Let's go.”
She took his hand and led him out of the kitchen and down the hallway, where she grabbed her coat and pulled it on.
“Don't mind them. They're just a couple of busybodies,” she said.
“I don't mind them at all. I like them a lot actually.”
“Do you think I'm too skinny?” she asked.
“I think you're perfect just as you are.”
They went outside, and he took her hand in his. Her skin was warm against the cold air, and he opened the door of the truck for her. He helped her step in with the support of his strong hand.
“Thank you,” she said with a smile.
“I love what you did with your hair. Did you cut bangs?” he asked, turning the key in the ignition.
“I did,” she said, touching her hair. “Thank you for noticing.”
“Of course I noticed. It's a big change.”
“You would be surprised how many men don't notice that kind of thing.”
“Well, I'm not many men. I'm Grayson Baxter, your mate.”
She giggled, and he chuckled along with her as he pulled out of the parking lot and drove out onto the street. A black SUV was parked on the opposite street. It started up and began to follow them as soon as he started down the road. He looked in his rearview mirror but couldn't see through the tinted windshield of the car behind him. It was probably nothing, but it still made him nervous.
At the resort, Grayson brought Donika to the entrance of the restaurant. He told the hostess his name and the time of his reservation. She checked her book and grabbed two menus, escorting them through the dining room. She placed their menus on a table by the window, overlooking the lake. The hostess asked if they would like something to drink. Grayson ordered the best bottle of champagne in the house.