Silas (Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance) (Desired by a Dragon Book 1) by Terra Wolf, Hailey Storm Page B

was paying the price for it. Once I finished cutting this kid’s hair, I was heading to my car for the pair of sneakers I’d stashed for moments like this.
    “Almost done. Can you look down at the floor for me, please?” I asked the little boy who couldn’t be more than three. He was a sweetheart with white-blond hair and giant blue eyes, but he had a hard time following directions. I gently tipped his head so that he was looking at the ground. “There you go. Now hold real still for me.”
    “Be still, honey. You’re doing so good.” His mom’s voice was bubbly in a way that made me smile. “Such a big boy.”
    I knew the kid was little, but I still found myself wondering how old he would be before she stopped talking to him that way.
    “He’s doing better than I thought he would,” she added in a whisper meant for my ears only.
    “Yeah, he’s one of my best kid cuts yet.” I reached for the buzzer to trim the back of his neck. Two taps to his skin and I was done. “There. All finished.” I brushed the hair off the back of his neck and unsnapped the cover he’d been wearing.
    “Look at you! You look like such a big boy now!” his mom cooed as she helped him out of the chair.
    “Sucker.” His chubby hand reached out.
    “In just a minute. Let Mommy pay the nice lady first.” She riffled through her purse.
    “Sucker!” He shook his outstretched hand and stomped his foot.
    My brows lifted to my hairline, shocked by his sudden outburst. He had been such a sweet angel for me. What happened?
    His mom dropped down to his level and smoothed a hand over the crown of his head. “I said in just a minute. Let me pay first, sweetie.”
    “You did so good. What kind of sucker are you going to get?” I asked, hoping to distract him while his mother found her wallet.
    He narrowed his eyes at me, giving me the worst go to hell look I’d seen in a while, before shifting his attention back to his mother. His hands clenched into fists at his sides as he squeezed his eyes shut and tipped his head back. I prepared myself for what I knew was about to come next. I didn’t have to have kids of my own to know when one was about to be a jerk. Anyone could have spotted this little guy’s temper tantrum a mile away.
    “Sucker! Now!” he screamed.
    My ears hurt as he continued to drag the “now” out. It was moments like this that made me thankful I didn’t have any kids. I’d been torn with the idea for years, weighing all the pros and cons. Thankfully, I’d caught Jackson with Kimmy before deciding to have any with him. Now, as I listened to this kid have a meltdown over a freaking sucker he’d obviously been promised after the haircut, I was leaning toward never having any. At all.
    I glanced at the mom, seeing how she was reacting to her son’s tantrum while hoping my expression was one of understanding instead of pity.
    “I’m so sorry.” Her cheeks flushed as she spoke. I could only imagine how embarrassed she must be. “Truce, calm down. You’ll get your sucker in a minute, but not if you continue to behave this way.” Her voice had taken on a new tone that seemed to grab the kid’s attention, because he stopped his wailing.
    The woman stood and continued to riffle through her large purse for her wallet. I grabbed the broom and began sweeping the little booger’s hair into a neat pile.
    “How much do I owe you?”
    “It’s ten.”
    She handed me a ten and five before taking her little boy by the hand and heading toward the exit.
    “Thanks for coming in, Linda,” Camille called after her.
    “See you in a few weeks. I can’t wait to add more color to this hair of mine.” Linda smiled as she pushed the door open.
    The moment the door closed behind her, I heard Camille say, “As long as you leave the little rugrat at home.”
    “I heard that,” I said with a laugh.
    “Whew, that kid has some lungs, doesn’t he? I forget every time about the whole sucker business when she brings him