Crossed lines

Chapter two

Then she turns.

Her eyes meet mine.

Fuck.

She catches me staring.

I should look away.

I know I should.

But I don’t.

And when I glance at my brother, I discover that he’s still looking at her, too.

Oh, I’m so f****d.

she turned back to the woman attending to her.

We both watched her for a moment.

Then Bruce spoke again, quieter this time.

“We can‘t “

I laughed , I knew that already but yet here I was, standing in my own establishment, completely transfixed on a woman I’d never met who had somehow managed to occupy every corner of my mind.

I watched her for another moment, then forced myself to look away.

This was nothing.

It had to be nothing.

I knew better

Joan’s POV

I looked away first, turning my attention back to the hairdresser as she continued working on my hair.

I try to focus back on the conversation with the hairdresser but I keep thinking back to the strangers

The handsome , tall strangers

Im confused at my reaction, I usually have boys fall for me and not feel anything for them

But this time I’m curious , curious about them

The hairdresser is done now

I tilted my head from side to side, admiring the finished look in the mirror.

I picked up my phone to take a few pictures. Obviously, I had to document the occasion. What was the point of looking this good if I couldn’t remind people?

After taking what felt like fifty pictures, I finally climbed out of the chair and grabbed my bag. and I’m getting my massage done next , in this same building but another wing

I thanked the hairdresser before heading towards the other section of the studio.

I was halfway towards the reception desk when I spotted them.

Oh.

My.

God.

The two men from earlier.

They were standing a little distance away, talking to another member of staff. One of them had his hands in his pockets while the other gestured as he spoke, looking far too entertained by whatever conversation they were having.

I tore my eyes away and continued towards the reception desk before I could embarrass myself by staring too long.

The woman behind the counter greeted me with a smile.

“Good afternoon. How may I help you?”

“Hi! Please I’m here for my massage appointment.”

“Of course. Can I have your name, please?”

I gave it to her, then watched as she checked something on her computer.

While she typed, I glanced over my shoulder.

Bad idea.

One of the brothers was now leaning against the counter beside his brother, listening to something the other man was saying. His expression was relaxed, and every now and then, he’d throw in a comment that made his brother roll his eyes.

I turned back to the woman attending to me

“So,” I began casually, watching her type on her computer , “those two.”

She glanced up. “Who?”

I gave her a look.

She followed my gaze, and her expression changed with the sort of recognition that told me I wasn’t the first woman to notice them.

“Oh. Them.”

I waited.

She smiled. “They’re the owners.”

Well, that explained why they seemed so comfortable walking around the place like they owned it.

“Here you go,” the receptionist said, sliding a clipboard towards me. “Just fill this out, please.”

“Thank you.”

I took the pen and started filling in my details. All the while, I kept sneaking little glances at the two men.

Not staring.

Admiring.

There’s a difference.

Unfortunately, one of them turned his head at exactly the wrong moment.

Our eyes met.

Shit.

I looked down at my form, pretending to be deeply invested in my signature.

A few seconds later, I looked up again

Two of them were looking .

Oh?

I raised an eyebrow.

They didn’t look away.

Neither did I.

We stared at each other for a few seconds, neither willing to surrender

I bit back a smile.

Well, well, well.

So the boys wanted to play.

I finished signing the form, handed it back to the receptionist, and turned towards them with the sweetest smile I could manage.

If they thought they were going to make me uncomfortable by staring, they had another thing coming.