Chapter 5.

There were a lot of very good reasons for what they were about to do. They'd discussed those reasons, and felt certain their plan was sound. Warren Jessop, paramedic, looked over at his closest brother who was also his best friend, Edward, as they stepped outside of the firehouse on this beautiful early April day.

The sun shone in a perfectly clear Texas sky. The thermometer threatened to reach new heights for this day.

It was the sort of day on which not only temperature records would be set. A personal record was about to be set-by them. They were about to do something they had never done before.

"Our soon-to-be-cousin-in-law didn't give you a hard time when you made the appointment, did she?" Ed asked.

That his brother would ask that told him just how nervous he was. It was an entirely un-Ed-like question.

"Not at all. I guess that magazine article we read was right, after all." Warren had had his own doubts at the time he'd stumbled across the article. He knew himself well enough to understand he'd overlooked those doubts because he'd wanted, more than anything, to believe the words he read had been true.

"Huh. Who would have thought?" Ed shook his head. "I heard that men who lived in big cities had become kind of prissy, what with their salon-styled hair and even carrying 'man purses.' But I never would have believed they'd actually get manicures on a regular basis."

Warren stopped and looked at Ed. He felt his eyebrow go up and couldn't help it. "Um, little brother? You'd better start not only believing it, you'd better begin acting like you're grateful to finally have a place in town to see to your 'esthetic' needs. Otherwise, she is never going to buy this."

Ed sighed. "I want her to buy this more than I have ever wanted anything in my entire life, ever."

"I know that. I feel the exact same way."

They began walking the short distance between the firehouse and the l.u.s.ty Glow Day Spa. Warren resisted the urge to check his watch again. He'd been checking it every few minutes all morning. He'd thought the appointed time would never get here.

But it had and now they were only moments away from- "What did Chloe say when you told her that we wanted the same esthetician? When you told her who we wanted? Did she sound suspicious?"

Warren stopped. He turned to look at his brother and noticed what he hadn't understood before this very moment. Edward looked scared. Perspiration dotted his brow and his left eye seemed to be twitching, just a little.

"No. She wasn't suspicious at all. In fact, she sounded pleased that I'd called."

"Good." Edward nodded once, and then rubbed his hands down his trousers. "That's good. Right?"

The only other time Warren had ever seen his brother this rattled was just before they stepped in to the exam room to take their final certification exams to qualify them as paramedics. Of course, once the exam began he-well, both of them, really-had been able to submerge themselves and focus on the calling.

Warren Jessop knew he wasn't the first man to carry his name. The previous ones had both been lawyers, the first one in the 1890s and the other just after the Second World War. He'd never been drawn to the law. He hadn't wanted to be a doctor, either. The family already had plenty of doctors.

But the idea of becoming a paramedic had captivated him right from the beginning. It had been the same for Edward, and that hadn't surprised him at all as, despite the year between them, they often thought as one.

He'd had that proven to him again not that long ago. February eleventh was a day he'd mentally circled on the calendar. He'd never forget the day. They'd attended the grand opening "open house" at Chloe's spa, because she was family, and family supported family.

That was when and how they'd met her.

He turned his attention back to his brother. He clapped him on the back, and then nodded right back to him. "Yes, that's good. Come on, we don't want to be late."

There was a bell over the door of the spa, so that when someone entered, it jangled a light little tune. Warren supposed they needed the bell, because Chloe and her staff could all be busy with clients and not hear the door open, otherwise.

It didn't bother him to be standing with his brother in what some might consider a female domain. In fact, he knew that both his uncle James and his cousin, Gord Jessop, had been coming here for ma.s.sage therapy for their sore, achy backs. From what he'd heard, the ma.s.sage was working for them both.

Gord had told them just last week that he felt better than he had in years.

The bell hadn't even finished jangling when Chloe came into the reception area. "Hey there, Warren, Ed. You're right on time. Would you like hot packs for your shoulders before you see Carol?"

Because they were paramedics and had studied many different forms of therapy both during their certification programs and since, they both understood the value of heat as it could be applied to the muscles of the neck and shoulders. Heat, alternated with icy cold, could work wonders on strained muscles, and by itself could help to relieve tension and stress.

Warren pulled his thoughts back to the moment as he slid a glance at his brother who didn't seem inclined to say anything at all. Not because of shyness, Warren knew, but because he was so d.a.m.n nervous.

"Thank you. I think we'd both like a hot pack."

Chloe led them through the main room toward a dimly lit, smaller room. Several women were seated at various chairs and divans in the main salon. Warren had picked up one of the brochures during the open house, and so he knew all of the services his almost-cousin offered here. From listening to his female cousins talking, he knew that manicures, pedicures, facials, and waxing were among the most popular treatments.

He thought that women were exceptionally brave and resilient to undergo that last treatment all in the name of good grooming. If any man claimed that he was stronger than a woman, Warren would be tempted to challenge him to have his private parts waxed to prove it.

During their time in training, he and Ed had often had to practice their skills on each other. So he'd had chest hair removed so that the patches for a heart monitor could stick properly.

Their instructor had thought it enormously funny to remove the hair covering the spots on their pecs with wax as opposed to simply shaving it.

It had hurt like nothing he'd ever experienced before. He could not even imagine contemplating that same procedure conducted on a more...intimate spot of his body.

"I recall that during the open house Chloe called this the serenity room," Edward said.

The chairs in here were well built and substantial-made of solid wood and leather. And, Warren thought as he sat down, they were comfortable. The air conditioning cooled gently, and the dim lights helped with the impression of-well, serenity.

"It's a good concept," Warren said. "To sit and relax for a few minutes before whatever treatment you're going to have." Soft music played just faintly in the background. Warren didn't know what kind of music it was exactly but he thought he recognized the sound of a pan flute.

"Remember how Nancy used to proclaim that going into Waco to get her nails done was her special 'me time'?" Ed appeared to be taking in every aspect of the room.

His brother had a way of focusing that made it appear as if he didn't see anyone or anything else except the one thing he was studying. His reference to their sister-whom they hadn't seen in several months-wasn't all that unusual or odd if one understood Ed.

Warren looked around. "Yeah, this would begin to put a person into the state of mind she would need to be in for some 'me time.'"

"Mom's going to want to check her out as soon as she hears we've come here." Ed met his gaze. "You know she's going to understand what we've done, right? Mom totally gets us."

"That's all right. We'll file that under 'start out as you mean to go.'"

"I was thinking."

Warren didn't worry that their mother would embarra.s.s them with her. He knew she wouldn't. But she'd let them know what she thought of their chosen woman, and that was fine. Their mother's instincts were solid gold.

Chloe came into the room, carrying two hot packs. She placed one on each of them. Warren sighed. He was definitely feeling tense-this was an important moment-and the heat helped.

"Carol is ready for you. She thought you might be more comfortable in one of the private treatment rooms in the back, so she's set up in there. I'll take you to her."

"Thanks, Chloe."

Out the door, once more past the ladies getting their feet ma.s.saged and nails buffed, and down a short hall to one of the rooms, there was no time for any more talk.

Doesn't matter. Ed and I are both on the same page. Though he did wonder if those ladies would be curious just what it was he and his brother had asked for that they needed to be taken to a private room together.

Chloe stopped at an open door and used her hand to gesture them in.

Warren amazed himself that he was able to smile and say, "Good afternoon, Carol," just like it was any afternoon and Carol Ashwood was any esthetician.

Carol smiled, revealing the sweetest dimple on the left side of her face, almost a straight line down from the corner of her eye, and level with her lips. He thought she looked edgy, and he wanted more than anything to set her at ease.

That's not quite true. What I really want is to kiss that path, eyes to dimple to lips.

Ed only nodded, but then he looked down for a moment, and Warren knew his brother was very nervous.

Then Ed surprised him. He looked up again, apparently meeting Carol's gaze. "You look very nice today," he said.

Carol's smile got wider-something Warren hadn't thought was possible. "Why thank you, Edward. Come on in and get comfortable. Y'all can tell me who's going to go first. Oh, and you can either leave the door open, or close it." She giggled. "Make all the ladies out there really wonder just what we're doing in here. Anyway, it's up to you."

Warren was going to say they could leave the door open. He certainly didn't mind anyone knowing what he and his brother had come to The l.u.s.ty Glow Day Spa for-what they were saying they had come for.

Ed nodded. "Let's let them wonder, then." He stepped back, and gently closed the door.

"That's kind of mischievous. I like that."

Both men smiled, and that seemed to set her at ease some. "I have to say, I am curious. You're the first men to request manicures. I gave them to men in Abilene on occasion, but I didn't expect to get any takers here in a smaller town."

They'd expected the question and had practiced the answer. Warren nodded. "As first responders, we can be thrust at any time into life-and-death situations. Everything must work, and work well. It's essential for our own protection to wear latex gloves in the field. If our hands are rough, our nails not manicured, we could tear those gloves as we work, putting ourselves and our patients at undue risk."

Carol's eyes went wide and she gasped. "Why, I never once thought of that!"

Warren doubted anyone else had, either. He and Ed were rather proud of that story. It had taken them a couple of days to think it up.

He and his brother each took a chair, side by side, across the small table from Carol Ashwood. If he inhaled deeply, he could smell her. If I do that, I'm going to get a hard-on. h.e.l.l, who was he kidding? He'd likely get one anyway being so close her and having her hold his hand while she worked.

"Warren is the oldest. He should be the first," Ed said. "It's family tradition."

For just a moment, a look pa.s.sed over Carol's face. It was enough to make him think that as much as he and Ed had recognized her on first meeting as the woman they were meant to spend the rest of their lives with-she may have recognized them, too.

Carol swallowed and nodded. "All right then. I guess we should get started."

Warren had no earthly idea what would happen next. But he nodded, too, held out his right hand, and said, "Yes, I guess we should."

Emily Anne held back her smile and went about her business. She cleared the two recently emptied tables in her section of the restaurant and showed, she thought, remarkable aplomb. Her actions were focused and controlled, her expression serene as she acted as if she didn't know that every one of her co-workers was looking at her with speculation in their eyes. She guessed she really couldn't blame them. She hadn't exactly been forthcoming with information for the last week, at least not when it came to her personal life.

She didn't know how to explain to the women she worked with that her lack of sharing wasn't personal. She just didn't want to jinx things.

Since a week ago Monday when Mel and Connor had taken her "parking" after their evening at The Dancing Pony, she'd seen them three times.

On the nights they didn't see each other, they called her on the phone. They'd called her from their office and put her on speaker phone, so they could speak to her together.

Last night they'd taken her out to dinner and a movie in Waco and she'd had a really good time. They never seemed to run out of things to talk about when they were together. Most important, in her mind at any rate, was the way both men listened to her. They asked her opinion about-well, about practically anything and everything. She was getting to know them, and they were getting to know her.

She liked everything she'd discovered, so far.

Mostly, she liked the way they treated her. It wasn't just that they always used good manners, and that they always treated her like a lady. No, it was more, and something she hadn't even realized she'd missed in the two relationships she'd had up to that point in her life.

They treated her as an equal.

She'd never fully appreciated how she'd sold herself short, especially with Billy J. Not until Mel Richardson and Connor Talbot started spending time with her.

They hadn't gone parking a second time, but only, both men swore, because they'd been too tempted to make love with her the first time and doubted they could hold out a second time.

"Our first time-and it's going to be soon, angel eyes-will not be in the back of an SUV."

She believed Connor's words because each time they'd brought her back to her apartment and kissed her goodnight, she'd felt their erections pressing against her.

Had she already thought "Billy J" and "short" in the same sentence? My oh my, those men have impressive packages...and there are two of them!

Emily Anne headed back into the kitchen with her loaded tray, and made quick work of putting the dishes into the dishwasher.

"You know, if I came in here with an expression like that on my face, every one of you would be clamoring for the details," Carrie Benedict said.

"We would indeed," Kelsey Benedict said.

Emily Anne looked up. She blinked and said, "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."

Ginny Kendall had dropped in for a visit, and sat on one of the high kitchen stools. She picked up her coffee cup and snickered into it before she took a sip. "I think it was the lying color on her toes that did it," she said. Then she held up her left hand. "I got the same color on my nails, and boy howdy, have I been busy since." And then she winked, and grinned, and Emily Anne burst out laughing.

She really couldn't go on pretending that nothing had changed in her life. Still, capitulation didn't come easy to her.

She guessed that came from a lifetime of having to be careful what she said and to whom, for fear of being ridiculed.

Emily Anne nearly shook her head to dislodge the stray thought about her past. She gave her audience a small smile. "There really is nothing to tell. Yet."

"That's not how we heard it," Kelsey said.

"The story we got was that those two hot and hunky private investigators double teamed you right there, out on the sidewalk, the moment you left the spa a week ago Monday."

"You went off with them and have been grinning-and blushing-up a storm ever since," Carrie said.

"Details, girlfriend." Kelsey put her hands on her hips and looked to be ready to burst out laughing. "Us old married gals need details."

"Old, right. I believe that one. Old married gals indeed. I've seen your husbands." Emily Anne laughed, even though she knew they could all see her pink cheeks. She hated having such a fair complexion. "Y'all are married to the dishes labeled 'smoking hot,' 'mouth watering,' and 'slice o' heaven' on life's buffet table."

Carrie, Ginny and Kelsey traded grins. "You've got that right," Ginny said. "But just because our plates are full with five-star cuisine, that don't mean we aren't interested in seeing what other folks are chowing down on. Oh, my, that came out not quite as I intended it."