On the Prowl by T. J. Michaels

abandonment would have been really hard on her and the kids. “I’ve gotta give you credit for bouncing back after that milksop you were married to, so I’ll leave you alone about your new man. Hell, your ex is such an unappreciative pig, even I want to cut his heart out with a spoon,” Pam said quietly, dropping the subject.
    “You almost done? Justin will be here to pick me up any minute.”
    “Pick you up? What’s wrong with your car?”
    “Nothing. He gave me a ride then went shopping for dinner. He’s cooking tonight.”
    A man cooking for Delaine? Wow! “He’s cooking for you? Maybe I need to go to the professional single mingle thing,” Pam said with raised eyebrows.
    Just then, the chime on the door sounded and Pam looked up to see the most stunning, rippling muscled, well-built white boy she’d ever laid eyes on in her life. He had wavy red hair cut into a fade on the sides, a strong chin and piercing blue eyes. The man could have been the next James Bond. He held his leather jacket tossed over one shoulder, showing off solid biceps and wide shoulders. What was he doing in her shop? Whatever he wanted, she’d be glad to give it to him.
    “Hey, Justin’s here. I gotta run.”
    “Justin? Where?” Pam asked in a daze, staring at the gorgeous hunk walking toward her.
    “The man you’re drooling over, girlfriend. Snap out of it and take the rest of these twists out so I can go, will ya?”
    “Girl, that’s Justin? He’s good looking and cooks too? Lord Jesus!”
    He strode directly to her chair. Pam felt equal parts jealous and happy for her friend, even as she eyeballed the man shamelessly. He put his hands on the armrests and bent over to plant one directly on Delaine’s lips. Pam finger combed the twists Delaine often wore loosely curled down her back, and still he kissed her. Nope, the man had no shame, not an ounce. He’d walked into a beauty shop full of sistahs and put one on the woman like they were alone in the dark. If her girlfriend had been chocolate, she would’ve melted into the chair.
    Justin broke the kiss and stared at a dreamy-eyed Delaine. All his attention was focused on her as he spoke in hushed tones.
    “Hey, baby.”
    “Hey, you,” she said breathlessly, worrying one side of her bottom lip with her teeth.
    “Almost ready?”
    “Uh huh.”
    He grinned at her giddy, breathless expression and said, “I’m parked right out front, all right?”
    “Sure.”
    He straightened and Delaine visibly shivered as his fingers traipsed over her bare forearm. Then she seemed to remember to be polite.
    “Oh. Justin, this is my good girlfriend Pam. Pam, this is Justin,” Delaine said, happy she had something to concentrate on, like forming words into coherent speech.
    “Nice to meet you, Pam,” Justin said with a friendly smile. Delaine noticed it wasn’t one of the sizzling smiles he seemed to like laying on her.
    Justin shook Pam’s hand and left something in it.
    “That’s for her hair,” he said, and turned and headed back toward the door.
    Pam unfolded the paper in her hand—a crisp fifty-dollar bill.
    “But it’s only thirty-five for a wash and set,” Pam called after him.
    “Her hair is beautiful. Consider the rest a tip.” He continued right out the door without breaking stride.
    Pam and Delaine gaped after him, along with every other woman in the shop. Delaine snapped to her senses and hopped out of the chair.
    “Girl, I’ve gotta go. Later, Ms. Pamela.”
    She snatched her coat off the rack and pulled it on as she made for the door in Justin’s wake. She turned back to Pam to give her a hug and caught the strange shade of green in her friend’s eyes. She quirked her head and stepped back, her hands on her friend’s shoulders. “Girl, you all right?”
    “Yeah, sure. Go enjoy your dinner. Put you down for an appointment in two weeks?”
    “Yep. And I’ll call you this week so we can get together for breakfast too,” she said, kissing Pam on the cheek