Truly Madly Yours

Delaney hated to admit it, and certainly would never cop to it out loud, but she missed finger waves. Actually, she missed Wa

She removed the clips from the bib of her lederhosen and set them on her work station. On both sides of her, stylists cut and combed in the upscale salon in downtown Boise. Alis Salon was located in a renovated warehouse, and everything about it was trendy and new. The kind of salon shed always loved working in before, but it was different now. It wasnt hers.

She reached for a broom and swept up the hair of her last client. For the past ten years shed lived in places where she had no past, no history, no girlfriends whod lived through the agony of junior high with her. Shed lived in four different states, always looking for that elusive something, for the perfect place to grow some roots. Her life had come full circle, and it was ironic as hell that shed found the perfect place exactly where shed left it. She felt like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz , only she could never go home. Not now.

Boise was a nice city and had a lot to offer. But it didnt have a cross-dressing Santa or parades every holiday. It didnt have the same pulse and heartbeat as a small town.

It didnt have Nick.

She finished sweeping the hair into a pile, then reached for a dustpan. Not having Nick in the same town should have made her feel better. It didnt. She loved him, and she knew she always would. She wished she could move on and forget about Nick Allegrezza, but she couldnt even force herself to leave the state. She loved him, but she couldnt live near him. Not even for three million dollars. The decision to leave hadnt been all that difficult. There was no way she could live through the next five months seeing Nick with other women. Not for all the money in the world.

The bell above the door rang as Delaney emptied the hair into a trash basket. She heard a collective intake of female breath from the other work stations and the thud of boots.

“Can I help you?

“Thanks, said an achingly familiar voice. “I found what Im looking for.

She turned and looked at Nick an arms length away. “What do you want?

“I want to talk to you.

Hed cut his hair short. One dark lock curled and touched his brow. He took her breath away. “Im busy.

“Give me five minutes.

“Do I have a choice? she asked, fully expecting him to say no, so she could then tell him to go to hell.

He shifted his weight to one foot and shoved his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. “Yes.

His answer threw her and she turned to Ali, who worked at the next station. “Ill be back in five minutes, she said and walked toward the door. With Nick right behind her, she walked into the hall and stopped beside a pay telephone. “Youve got five minutes. She leaned back against the wall and folded her arms over her breasts.

“Why did you leave town in such a hurry?

She looked down at her new suede platforms. Shed bought them to make herself feel better, but they hadnt helped. “I needed to get away.

“Why? You wanted all that money pretty bad.

“Evidently I needed to get away more than I wanted the money.

“I told Max about you and me. Angel Beach and Silver Creek belong to you now.

She hugged herself tighter, fighting to hold it all together. She couldnt believe they were talking about some stupid property she didnt care about. “Why did you tell him?

“It didnt seem right that I inherit everything.

“Is that what you came to tell me?

“No. I came to tell you that I know I hurt you and Im sorry.

She closed her eyes. “I dont care, she said because she didnt want to care. “I told you I loved you, then you called Gail to come over to your house to have sex.

“I didnt call her. She just showed up, and we didnt have sex.

“I saw what was going on.

“Nothing happened. Nothing was ever going to happen. You saw what I wanted you to see, to think what I wanted you to think.

She lifted her gaze to his. “Why?

He took a deep breath. “Because I love you.

“That isnt fu

“I know. Ive never loved any woman but you.

She didnt believe him. She couldnt believe him and risk her heart again. It hurt too much when he broke it. “No, you love to confuse me and drive me crazy. You dont really love me. You dont know what love is.

“Yeah, I think I do. His brows lowered, and he took a step toward her. “I have loved you my whole life, Delaney. I cant remember a day when I didnt love you. I loved you the day I practically knocked you out with a snowball. I loved you when I flattened the tires on your bike so I could walk you home. I loved you when I saw you hiding behind the sunglasses at the Value Rite, and I loved you when you loved that loser son of a bitch Tommy Markham. I never forgot the smell of your hair or the texture of your skin the night I laid you on the hood of my car at Angel Beach. So dont tell me I dont love you. Dont tell me— His voice shook and he pointed a finger at her. “Just dont tell me that.

Her vision blurred and her fingers dug into her arms. She didnt want to believe him, but at the same time, she wanted to believe him more than she wanted to live. She wanted to throw herself into his arms as much as she wanted to punch him. “This is just so typical of you. Just when Im convinced youre a big jerk, you trick me into thinking youre not. A tear spilled over her bottom lash and she brushed it away. “But you really are a jerk, Nick. You broke my heart, and now think you can come here and tell me you love me and Im supposed t-to forget everything? she finished just before she lost control and burst into tears.

Nick wrapped his arms around her and held her against his chest. She didnt know it, but he didnt plan to let her go. Not now. Not ever. “I know. I know Ive been a jerk, and I dont have a good excuse. But touching you and loving you, and knowing you were pla

“A mini-van? Do I strike you as the mini-van type?

It wasnt exactly what hed hoped for, but it wasnt a bad sign, either. She hadnt told him to go to hell yet. “Ill buy you whatever you want if you tell me you love me.

She looked up at him. Her eyes were wet and her makeup was ru

Relief flooded him and he closed his eyes. “Thank God, I was afraid youd hate me forever.

“No, thats always been my problem. I never could hate you as long as I probably should have, she said on a sigh and ran her fingers through the side of his short hair. “Why did you cut your hair?

“You told me once I should cut it. He brushed her tears away with his thumbs. “I thought it might help win you over.

“Its nice.

“Youre nice. He kissed her gently, tasting her lips. His tongue entered her mouth and touched hers with a soft caress meant to drug her while he reached for her left hand and slid a three-carat diamond solitaire on her ring finger.