Wild for You (19 page)

"I had a restless night, but today is a new day filled with new possibilities."

"Glad to hear it." He seemed on edge as his deep, unswerving gaze watched her from across the table.

She stood up. "Okay, well... I have to get ready. Can I use the bathroom first?"

"Sure, I'll read the paper while you shower."

Marisol hurried through her shower and styled her mousse-dampened hair with her fingertips as she blew it dry. She wanted to get to the salon as soon as possible and have time alone to sort her thoughts.

When they were dressed and ready to leave, Clay followed Marisol's car to the salon. "I'll be back at seven to escort you home," he said, before driving off.

"I don't think that's necessary now that you've arrested Gabe."

"Wait for me at seven," he said, undeterred.

Marisol was anxious to leave. "All right. Go to work and stop telling me what to do."

"Be careful. Call me if anything comes up," he said before driving away.

Marisol entered her beauty salon and felt a surge of pride. The pink-and-black-neo art-deco look pleased her clients who often commented about the beautiful surroundings. In the center of the main room was an island counter with a large mirror surrounded by flattering studio lights where Kyla, the makeup artist, did makeovers. Marisol had a special room set aside for waxing and facials to the right of the main salon, where Trini worked when she wasn't doing manicures.

At the back, next to the supply room, was a small kitchen where the cappuccino and espresso machines seemed to be in constant use. Marisol strongly believed in pampering her clients so they'd keep coming back.

Her business was booming and she was thankful for that. She had hired top hair stylists and designed a state-of-the-art beauty salon. Many of the area salons were already competing with her success by trying to copy her marketing ideas.

Feeling energetic, Marisol worked tirelessly all morning. Her schedule was relatively light in the morning, but booked solid in the afternoon. She made good use of the time before her first appointment to check the cleanliness of the kitchen, the changing booths and the bathroom. She reminded the shampoo girl to make sure there were plenty of clean towels and to restock shampoo and conditioner supplies in the morning before the first customers arrived.

When Marisol checked the cash register, she was shocked to find it empty. She scanned the drawer beneath the register where they kept small change and found nothing. Even when she made bank deposits, she always made sure there was enough change in the cash register for her morning clients. Puzzled, she remembered she had shut off the burglar alarm that morning when she'd entered, and there had been no sign of forced entry. She briefly wondered if she'd been robbed. Marisol felt apprehensive as she dialed Trini's apartment because she had closed shop last night. She was surprised to hear a man answer and say that Trini had just left.

Marisol postponed her next appointment and dashed to the bank next door. She withdrew one hundred dollars to have change for her patrons and returned to the salon to cut and style her client's hair. She decided to question Trini before calling the police to report the theft.

Moments later, Trini walked in, sporting a black eye and Marisol suspected it was Ray who answered the phone when she'd called Trini earlier. A few months back, Ray had introduced himself as the owner of a beauty salon in the same area and had made a move on some of the hair stylists. Marisol couldn't see what attraction Ray held for Trini, who had started a relationship with him right away. He was burly with an abrasive personality and bulging eyes that gave him a bulldog appearance. Marisol had been turned off at the outset by his sexual innuendos and sexist remarks.

Trini had eventually moved in with Ray, hoping he would marry her. She'd once confided in Marisol that he only beat her when he drank a lot. Shortly afterward, he battered Trini so viciously that she landed in the hospital emergency room. Marisol hadn't been able to convince Trini to press charges against Ray, but she succeeded in getting her to leave him and temporarily move in with her.

"We need to talk," Marisol said to Trini. "Let's go to the supply room."

"What's wrong?" Trini asked, looking anxious.

When they reached the supply room, out of everyone's earshot, Marisol said, "What happened to your eye?"

"I tripped last night and bumped my face against the dresser."

Yeah, right
. "The last time you had a black eye was when Ray beat you up. I called you this morning and it sounded like Ray answered. Are you seeing him again?"

Trini shuddered and made the sign of the cross. "No way. I have a new boyfriend now."

"I hope you're telling me the truth. Especially after Ray's last beating!" Marisol took a deep breath and tried to calm down. There was no sense in getting mad at Trini over her personal choices.

"I am telling you the truth," Trini insisted, offended.

"There's cash missing from the register. It was empty when I came in this morning. Did you take it home with you to make a deposit?"

"Yes. But I only deposited the checks this morning before coming in." Trini looked panic-stricken. "I'm sorry, Marisol. I had to borrow the money because I needed groceries. You can take the hundred dollars out of my next paycheck."

"Trini, if you needed money, you should have told me! If you don't get your act together there won't be another paycheck."

"I'll get it together, I promise," Trini said, her voice filled with dread at the possibility of losing her job.

"I can't believe you'd do something like that. How am I going to trust you now?"

"Please give me another chance," Trini pleaded. "It won't happen again."

"See that it doesn't or I will have to let you go."

"Thanks for the second chance," Trini said, relieved.

"There's something else I wanted to ask you. Why did you mention I'd be at Mack's Saturday night in front of Gabe? I told you I didn't want to see him."

Trini's face reddened. "It slipped out. I didn't do it on purpose. I'm so embarrassed. I've really screwed things up."

Witnessing her anguish, Marisol sighed deeply. "Listen, it wouldn't be so important if I wasn't dealing with a stalker. We all have to be extra careful."

"You're right." Trini looked scared when she asked, "Are you going to fire me?"

She would have to be heartless to fire Trini, looking the way she did with her puffy, bruised eye. "No, but don't ever help yourself to the register again. Now go and do Anne's manicure. She wants a full set of tips. That should bring in at least sixty dollars. I'll start deducting what you owe me from that."

"Thanks, Marisol. I appreciate it." Trini put on her sunglasses and sat down at her station.

The only highlight of the afternoon was the return of Marisol's good friend who also worked at Villabella, Vivian Ramos.

"Vivi, you look great!" Marisol exclaimed. "How was your honeymoon? You're positively glowing."

"It was
amazing
," she said with a dreamy smile. "You're looking pretty good yourself. What have you been up to?"

"Lots of things. But first tell me about you. How was Aruba?"

"Awesome." Vivi flashed a grin. "So was Omar."

"I'll bet," Marisol said, chuckling. "I'm glad you're back. I missed you! Why did you come in a day earlier than expected?"

"Because of you!" Vivi exclaimed.

"Me? Why?"

"You know I'm a bit psychic. I got this weird feeling on the flight back that you were in danger. I tried calling you and only got your recording. Then I drove to your apartment, but you weren't there, so I decided to come in early and check on you."

"I'm sorry I worried you. You're a good friend."

"Is that anonymous guy still bothering you?" Vivi asked.

"Unfortunately, yes." Marisol moved closer to her and dropped her voice, "I think Gabe might be the stalker."

"Gabe?" Vivi repeated under her breath. "I've suspected him all along."

"Marisol, there's a call for you," Laila shouted. "It's the landlord."

Marisol spoke to him briefly and returned to Vivi's side with a satisfied smile.

"What did he want?" Vivi asked.

"Good news. Ivan said I could renew the lease and that he's not going to raise my rent as high as he said last week."

"You can thank me for that," Trini said, walking in.

Marisol turned to stare at Trini. "Why? What did you do?"

"I told him that you hired a lawyer and were thinking about suing him," Trini said.

She was totally clueless
, Marisol thought, staring at Trini. "You shouldn't have done that, Trini! I was going to get Clay to use his legal knowledge to help me, but I haven't gotten around to discussing the lease since we got married," Marisol admitted.

"What?" Vivi interrupted, throwing her hands in the air. "When did you get married? And who's Clay?"

"It's a long story. I'll tell you about Clay later," Marisol whispered. "About Gabe—"

"Forget Gabe," Vivi cut in. "Tell me about Clay. When did you meet him? What does he do?"

Marisol noticed Trini's ear cocked eagerly. "This isn't a good time. I'll fill you in when we have more time," she said, ignoring Trini's disappointed groan.

"You better! Now, put me to work," Vivi said.

"You mean you're staying?" Marisol asked hopefully.

"I've been lying on this round behind all week at the beach. It'll do me good to stand and work."

"Great. I could use a break this afternoon to run errands. I'll call my customers and tell them you're back from your honeymoon. I'm sure they won't mind switching their appointments to you."

"Call them now," Vivi urged. "If you want to take the rest of the day off, I'll close shop for you and make the deposit."

"Thanks, you're a lifesaver." Before leaving, she filled Vivi in on her problems with Trini and warned her to keep an eye on her. After calling Clay to tell him she'd meet him at home, Marisol left, feeling like a load had been taken off her shoulders. With Vivi in charge, the salon always ran smoothly. She was well-liked by all and Marisol was glad to give hard-working Zara a break from having to cover for her.

* * *

Clay drove home from work, his jaw clenched in disgust as he remembered Gabe's reaction when he'd released him that afternoon due to insufficient evidence. None of the latent fingerprints Clay had lifted from Marisol's apartment had matched Gabe's. The AFIS report hadn't confirmed anything either. Gabe had no previous record of arrests, and his statement that he'd arrived in Miami the previous week was corroborated by Mexicana Airlines.

The only conclusive information that had come in today was that the red satin handcuffs and the Barbie dress had been custom- made by an expert tailor.

Clay gripped the steering wheel, remembering when he'd warned Gabe not to go near Marisol again. He'd had to restrain himself from hitting him when Gabe had sarcastically replied that Marisol wasn't worth the effort.

Clay's compulsion to stop the stalker went beyond his loyalty to Marcos. In his mind's eye, he kept seeing Marisol's desolate expression as she'd stood in the bedroom doorway last night. Guilt gnawed at him that he couldn't share her dreams of having a family, but he wouldn't give her false hopes.

Marisol had said she'd never worry about having a mentally handicapped child, but Clay knew it was human nature to worry about such things. He didn't want to see anxiety in her eyes and wonder if she dreaded the outcome.

Chapter 10

When he arrived at the condo, Clay unlocked the door and flung it open. "Good thing you're still here," he said, pulling Marisol into his arms and holding her against his chest as he smoothed her hair away from her forehead and kissed the top of her head.

She stepped back from his tight embrace. "Where else would I be? Has something happened that I don't know about?"

Clay shook his head. "Ever since you went on that little excursion to the beach, I've worried about leaving you alone, even for a short while."

Marisol sank down on the sofa. "Gee, it's nice to know you trust me. I told you I wouldn't do it again. Please don't bring it up anymore."

"Fair enough," Clay said, his lips twitching."How was your day?"

Marisol shrugged. "Good and bad. The good part is that Vivi returned from her honeymoon."

Clay joined her on the sofa. "Who's Vivi?"

"My closest friend. She came in a day earlier because she couldn't reach me and was worried something had happened."

"Sounds like a good friend."

"She is. I left Vivi in charge of the salon and came home early. When she's there I know things will run smoothly. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about Trini."

"Why not?"

"Trini did the dumbest thing over the weekend while I was away. She borrowed all the cash from the register without asking my permission."

Clay's brows drew together, forming a stern line. "Borrowed is a pretty mild word for stealing," he observed caustically.

"I don't think she was stealing. Sometimes Trini doesn't use her head."