The Bartender's Daughter

Chapter Twenty One

(Back to Alli's POV)

I soaked in the bath for about two hours and emerging, feeling a lot more relaxed and ready for tonight. I got dressed in some tan slacks and navy shirt and slipped on some sandals. I took my room key, purse, and phone, and went down to the front desk and asked the lady if there were any nail salons nearby I could go to. She gave me the address and called me a cab that showed up in less than five minutes.

I got in and gave him the address and watched the city around me as he drove through London traffic. I kind of lived in a big enough city, and I've certainly visited some, but there was just something a whole lot different about London. Maybe it was the small history nerd coming out of me, maybe it was the girl who had always wanted to go on grand adventures, but I just couldn't help but give a little bit of my love for this place.

"Here you are madam, have a nice day." The cabbie told me as I handed him the fare and walked inside to the small building with "Nail Salon" about it in big neon letters.

It was cute, small but still comfortable, well kept, and decently busy but there was still a few open spots at the tables and chairs for the pedicures.
"Hello, may I help you?" The woman behind the counter asked cheerfully. She was young, with a round face and red cheeks, and looked like she always seemed to have a smile on her face.
  I nodded. "I'd like to have a manicure and pedicure please. Gel on the toes, acrylics on the nails, both French." I told her with a smile. "I'm sorry if that's too much."
 She shook her head, still smiling. "Of course not, it's what we're here for! I'll even take you myself. Right this way." I sat down at one of the table and the lady who's name I learned was Debbie, sat down and began soaking my nails. "Going somewhere special tonight?" She asked as she began filing.
  "Yes, this wonderful man asked me to attend a ball with him, can you believe it? A ball!" I laughed and she smiled at me.
   "Sounds like quiet a guy if you're going to balls with him." Debbie said, her eyes focused on my nails.
   "Yeah, he's a sweetheart." I smiled, thinking of my day out with Nate yesterday and the sweet text he had sent me this morning after my reply about when he was picking me up. I blushed reading it, and felt a twinge of guilt at the same time. I had just kissed Jack, what was I doing attending events with other guys? I had almost sent him another text telling him I was going to cancel, when I stopped. I deserved another fun night out, and a ball with a guy who looked like a super model sounded much more fun than sitting in a stuffy hotel room worrying all night. I had sent a short reply saying I would see him later, and left it at that.

Debbie didn't really talk to me much after that, focusing on my nails and then moving to my toes where she gave me the deluxe treatment for half the price (such a doll). I got back to the hotel around four and the boys still weren't back. I had about four hours to get ready and a huge set of hair, so I went into the bathroom and started curling it. I was just finishing the last strand a little past five when I heard the door open and the three of them walked in boisterously.

"Well it's about time you got back. I thought I was going to have to call the police." I joked, walking out of my room.

Jack's eyes widened when he saw my hair, and Emmit just smiled, not really reacting much. "Nice hairdo Alli. Going somewhere special tonight while we're gone?" Emmit asked, plopping down on the couch.
 "I think I might go downstairs for dinner instead of ordering room service. I was feeling fancy." I blurted. I flipped a lock of hair over my shoulder and smiled, hoping none of the military trained men in the room could sense my lie, because my beating heart sure could have given it away.
  Thank god none of them had supersonic hearing as Anderson smiled at me and sat across from Emmit. "That's a good idea Alli. Buy whatever you want it's on me."
 I nodded and glanced over at Jack who was still giving me a curious yet cautious look. "Now boy's you need to get ready. We have to leave by six thirty to be there on time and blend in with the crowd. It's about an hour away." He gave Emmit a look who groaned and got up.
 "I'm going, I'm going." He mumbled, walking to his room.
  "I'm going to get a quick shower." Jack blurted, ad walked hastily into the room after Emmit.