Protecting You (The Boston irkpatricks #1) Read Online Free Page A

hair came out to greet us.
    “Miss Carter, I’m Franco. It is a pleasure to meet you. Come to my chair.”
    I literally just made the sign of the cross. Jocelyn patted my arm and mouthed to me that it would be okay.
    “What can Mr. Franco do for you today, pretty lady?”
    “I need to dye my hair black. I need a change.”
    He looked at me with concern. “Are you sure? That’s a very big difference.”
    “Yes. Just do it before I change my mind.”
    “You have such long beautiful blonde hair.”
    “Franco, please don’t make me feel guilty. Just do it.”
    “Sure, sure. No problem.”
    I was snapping on poor little Franco. I just needed for this day to go very quickly. So many thoughts were going through my mind as they worked on my hair.
    The first thought was how much I missed my family. We didn’t always see eye to eye, but we were very close. I probably will not see them for the next couple months because of this case. They would just ask too many questions. I’m hoping to solve it sooner rather than later.
    Then my thoughts went to Brendan. I know he’s a nice guy. I don’t really know him, but Jocelyn seems to think so. I doubt she would lie. She doesn’t look like she has a mean bone in her body. For some reason, I feel an attraction to him. I don’t know what it is. I need to fight it until I close this case and leave. Even if I did give in to an attraction to anyone, it is too soon. I’m not ready. My heart and mind can’t forget what happened. The pain goes away, but the memory lasts forever. It’s okay to flirt with someone, but I can’t get attached.
    When they were finished, I was standing there looking in the mirror.
    “Katie, what do you think?” Franco asked.
    “Wow, it looks amazing. I look completely different. I could actually fit in with my Italian family now,” I joked.
    “You’re beautiful, Katie.”
    Okay, he was starting to freak me out with all this Katie talk. I felt like a new person. Maybe this change had an opposite effect inside of me. Instead of hiding, maybe I’m actually coming alive.
    Jocelyn walked in to the backroom where I was looking into the mirror. She stood behind me.
    “You look gorgeous. What’s the matter?”
    “Oh nothing. Just taking it in. I’ll be okay.”
    “He will like it,” Jocelyn said, throwing me through a loop.
    I finally catch on to what she’s talking about.
    “Brendan?”
    “Yes.”
    “Jocelyn, no, I wasn’t thinking about that. It was something else. I don’t care if he likes it or not.”
    “I saw how he looked at you.”
    “I think you were imagining things. Come on, I need to get waxed all over and go purchase some strings to wear.
    ***
    I start to have a panic attack as we pull up to a store the size of a box. I guess it was that small since the clothes didn’t require much space.
    I’m starting to feel like Jocelyn’s my pimp. Just kidding. She has been really great and supportive throughout all of this.
    She’s holding up a piece of something that looks like it would fit my five-year old niece. It was a pink neon bra and panty set. She chose a pair of high, and I mean high stilettos. I was afraid to look at them let alone walk in them.
    “Is there an alternative, Joc?”
    She laughed at me. “You can wear flats.”
    “Oh, just give me the damn heels.”
    The old lady that runs the place came running over to assist.
    “The dressing room is over here.” She brought me over. It was one of those old fashioned dressing rooms with a curtain as a door. These old ladies must have a kinky past. If I told this story to someone they would never believe me.
    I pull the curtain closed and it doesn’t even shut all the way. You can still see through the crack. I’m a paranoid mess. I take off my clothes and I’m looking around for cameras. I keep thinking I’m going to be watching myself on You Tube in a few weeks.
    I put the string bikini on. I mean that’s basically what it is. I put the heels on. I’m going to fall,