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Autu reat idea," Charmaine said as she took her scissors to ether, and I had to agree "It really suits your face shape"

When she was done, I marveled at the difference a haircut could make

I’d boldly asked Charmaine to cut most of it off Now my hair was cut short at the nape and fell in an A-line cut to just below my chin It felt healthy and full, sharp and ive it more diles of my face

"All done" Charmaine held up a mirror so I could see how she’d cut it shorter at the back than at the front I loved it

"It’s great, thank you" I gave her a genuine smile

"Let’s show Autu excess hair off my nape, and then I followed her out into the front where Autulanced up and immediately froze

"Is that a good or bad deer-in-the-headlights look?" I asked

Autuot up to stride over to htened before she broke out into a huge s a little shy about it "I justI wanted a big change"

"It was the right reat bone structure"

"Doesn’t she? I love when so to take a risk like this It usually pays off"

"You did a great job," Autued "Thank you Killian will be pleased"

Char to please Killian"

"Ugh" Autumn made a face "Charmaine, please"

"Your brother is sexy Deal with it"

She rolled her eyes and looped her arh mine to lead me out of the salon "I’ll tell him you said so"

"Please do!" she called after us

I waved at her overabout payot in her car

"Oh, Killian will pay for it Char to Autuush over my new hair and the outfits she could now see me in because of it When she finally took a breath, I asked, "What did you do for a living beforethis?"

"Oh" Her face fell "Well, I tried to set up a catering company with e all the business stuff, and I would do the cooking and baking But he stole my money and created an investally what the money was for when I authorized the transfer of funds to him, I have no proof that he stole the money I could have taken hithy and stressful Killian was mad I didn’t do it"

"No wonder I’htly "I’ soh and through We’ve gone on three dates and he hasn’t even pushed for sex yet And he has lad" And I was Autumn eet She wore her heart on her sleeve She deserved soentle with it

"Plus, Killian took care of Barry My ex," she explained

"How so?"

"He ruined him I don’t know the hows and I don’t want to know" She shot et youwell, if you treat ets you"

An ache streaked across ood hand to soothe it away It was jealousy, I realized, shocked What must it be like to have someone care about you that fiercely? To have someone like O’Dea, as cold with everyone else, treat you like you were all that mattered?

Once upon a time, my mom had been that person My fierce protector

I closed h

"Talk about so"