“I think this one will do,” Phoebe said.
“If you say so. It looks good on you even if it is a little big. I like that color blue, it brings out your eyes.” Peanut was watching her with his head tilted and his eyes searching. “Anyway, I came in to tell you that Jazzy’s appointment for her hair is in twenty minutes, so we need to get whatever you have and go. We can come back after if you’re not finished. I just don’t want to miss the appointment and have to wait for another one.”
“Okay, this was the last thing I needed to try on anyway. I will be out in a second,” Phoebe replied as she headed back into the room to change into her clothes. Once she was dressed she grabbed the three pairs of cargo pants and the sundress and headed out to where Jazzy and Peanut were waiting near the register. Peanut smiled at her as he took the clothes, laying them on the counter. He frowned and picked up one of the larger pairs of cargo pants.
“You grabbed the wrong size in these. I’ll go get the rig—” he began.
“Don’t worry, I’ll go and grab the right size,” Phoebe said, grabbing them from him before he could finish, hoping he wouldn’t notice that there was another pair in that size. She was shocked he’d noticed at all. He was much more observant than Johnny had ever been. She rushed over to where the cargo pants were and made a show of looking for the correct size while switching them for the larger size ten again. She grabbed another sundress on the way back to the register, this one red and in the same size as the blue one to hide the pants under as she smiled and handed them directly to the cashier, who rang them up without looking. She was too busy watching Peanut like he was going to jump out and grab her by the throat at any second. The fear in the store clerk’s eyes had seemed to follow them throughout the mall. People moved out of his way and eyed him warily when he entered stores. It was strange. Even though she’d only met him yesterday and she had trust issues, she was comfortable with him. She didn’t dare admit that she felt safe with him.
“One hundred and seventy-five fifty,” the woman said, and Phoebe frowned.
Peanut was digging out his wallet and was about to hand his card over without questioning the total, but Phoebe knew it should be less. Even with the dress she’d added at the last minute, she had done a mental tally and it should only be one thirty-five. She stopped him from handing the woman his card by placing hers on top of his scarred and rough hand.
“It shouldn’t be that much. Did you use the coupon?” she asked.
The woman glared at her before grumbling and pulling it out from beside the register to scan it. The clerk told him the new total, which was around what she’d guessed. She let Peanut go and took her purchases from the irritated woman with a sweet smile. She had watched the woman give that discount to everyone she’d rung up since they’d entered the store. She had no sympathy for her lost commissions or whatever. She was being a bitch because Peanut was in a biker gang. It was uncalled for and she didn’t like rudeness. He was still a person despite his choice to be a Devils Arms member.
They walked out into the mall’s long corridor, heading back to the salon where they’d made an appointment for Jasmine’s haircut. Apparently she was getting bangs. Phoebe smiled as she thought of the excitement the little girl had over that endeavor. Jasmine was holding her hand as they walked, and Peanut had already taken her bag from her and was carrying it along with the two for her and Jasmine from the other store.
She had protested his taking them at first, but he’d insisted that it would be easier if he carried everything because then she could shop. She was beginning to realize that Peanut was a true gentleman like her father had been. She felt a tiny pang in her chest when she thought of the father she’d lost when she was ten. He’d died in a car accident when he was hit head-on by a drunk driver in their hometown. She could still remember the way he’d treated her mother. To her dad, her mother had always been made out of spun glass even though she’d proven more than once she was made of pure steel. They’d been such a happy family back then. It bothered Phoebe that she hadn’t seen through Johnny like she should have. She’d forgotten what having a gentleman around was like after being with Johnny for so long.
Phoebe turned to check where he was and noted that he was a few steps behind them watching her and Jasmine. He smiled gently at her and she jerked her gaze back around as she continued to walk. He was confusing to her. It was strange how she felt connected to him and his daughter even though she’d only known them a day. She shouldn’t feel so sheltered with him after such a short time. He was a biker for shit’s sake. She should be running in the other direction like any other sane person would.
As they entered the salon for the second time that day, a woman with bright orange hair and a nose ring who hadn’t been there earlier smiled at them. She looked at Jasmine and winked.
“You ready for some bangs, Jazzy?” she asked.
Phoebe realized
