The women chuckled softly at Beauty's reaction, but Bruno didn't move.
His eyes remained fixed on her, a quiet intensity in his gaze.
Beauty peeked through her fingers, catching his expression, and felt her heart hammering in her chest.
"Awww! She's shy," Tiffany gushed.
"Don't be shy, Beauty," Vanessa teased.
"You've got a great guy. Mr. Bruno is a keeper," Lisa added.
Bruno cleared his throat, breaking the growing tension.
"Sorry to interrupt... and thanks for the compliments. I'll make sure she comes back here. You've done a wonderful job," Bruno said softly and handed Lisa his card.
"If you could just text me your details, I'll handle the rest."
Lisa took the card, still smiling, and the other two beauticians giggled amongst themselves as they looked back at Beauty.
Their teasing glances made her blush even more.
"Thanks again," Bruno added as he turned back to Beauty, his expression softening.
He leaned to her height and whispered into her ears.
"Shall we?"
His deep baritone voice came huskily.
Beauty nodded, standing up on shaky legs. Her fingers played nervously with the edges of her dress.
The snack he bought for her, a chocolate cake, remained. She quietly put it inside her handbag, avoiding Bruno's eye contact.
"Thanks."
She told the beauticians, they smiled back at her
The women's eyes followed her as she walked toward Bruno, who was already holding the door open for her.
"She got the cake... I didn't notice at first," Vanessa whispered to the others.
"What type of cake are you talking about?" Lisa smirked.
"Definitely not the chocolate cake she had with her," Tiffany added.
The three laughed at their joke.
"I hated her at first when he came with her-out of jealousy, of course-but she's a softie," Tiffany told the others.
"I was jealous, but hate her? No... I'm rooting for them," Lisa added.
"Guys, I don't think they are actually dating. I think this is more like a one-sided crush," Vanessa pointed out.
"One-sided? Girl, those two are in love with each other!" Tiffany snapped.
"I know, but there's some denial. I can feel the awkwardness, you know?" Vanessa replied.
"I think they are just really cute together".
Lisa added.
As Bruno and Beauty stepped out of the salon, Beauty couldn't meet his gaze.
Her mind raced with a whirlwind of thoughts, still flustered by everything that had just happened inside-from Bruno defending her to him telling them she is his girlfriend!
Why was he flirting with her all of a sudden?
Again to the snack he bought. It reminded her of the secret admirer who had gifted her twice with sweet notes.
"What if he is that guy?" she thought, shaking her head. "No... definitely not. That was before he knew my house address," she told herself.
The two walked in silence for a few minutes, the tension between them palpable. Beauty tried to focus on her breathing.
When they got to the parking lot where Bruno's car was parked, Bruno stopped and turned to Beauty.
He looked like he had a lot to say.
His lips parted.
"Beauty... do you know how... hard it is for me to be around you and not say anything?"
His eyes locked on hers. Beauty blinked and swallowed tightly. She felt her legs weaken at that instant, and she looked up at him, caught off guard.
Bruno's eyes were still focused intently on her.
"I... I don't understand," she stammered, though deep down, she hoped this was going to end well. Her heart sped up again.
Bruno looked around and tucked his hands into his pants nervously.
"I've been trying to play it cool, but it's not working...." He paused, as if trying to find the right words.
"You're stunning, Beauty. You are amazing and incredibly beautiful. And not just because of how you look. I mean, that's the most important part of it, of course, but... it's everything about you. The way you talk, how you laugh, how you make me feel. You have no idea what you do to me."
Beauty felt heat rise up her neck and spread across her cheeks. Her lips parted, but no words came out. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to respond or just listen.
"Is this a confession? He is confessing to me!"
Beauty yelled in her mind, her legs going jelly.
"I don't know how to say this without sounding like an idiot, but I'm just going to say it anyway".
He paused to breathe.
"I ___want you, Beauty," Bruno swallowed as their eyes locked.