Songbird (Songbird, #1) Read Online Free

gave a little cheer and turned toward the change room to gather up the outfits I’d tried on.

T WO HOURS later, we were sitting down in the crowded food court, enjoying our coffee and taking a much-needed rest. We were surrounded by the spoils of our shopping expedition when Kelli looked up, head slightly tilted to one side, appraising me.
    “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you really need to do something with your hair.”
    My long, straight hair had been pulled back into a ponytail, my usual no-fuss hairstyle, and I was now pulling the length over my shoulder, examining the ends.
    “What’s wrong with my hair?” I asked a little sullenly. “I thought it was my best feature.”
    “There’s nothing wrong with your hair. It’s thick and healthy—I’d kill for your hair, it’s just a little, well … plain. When was the last time you had it cut and styled?”
    I tried to remember. Apart from a quick trim to neaten up the ends, I hadn’t been to the hairdresser for a full treatment in more than eighteen months.
    Frowning, I looked up at her. “I can’t remember exactly. A while ago, I guess.”
    “Well, that settles it. Finish your coffee and let’s go, I’m taking you to Jason, my hairdresser. He’s fabulous!” She emphasised the word fabulous with a flourish of her hands and I laughed heartily, not the least bit apologetic when the elderly couple at the next table scowled at us.
    Jason’s salon was on the main street, set amongst some older shop fronts that mainly had For Lease signs in their windows. With the introduction of the undercover mall, the smaller boutique businesses couldn’t compete, and one by one, they had closed their doors and moved on.
    As soon as we stepped inside we were transported to another place. The music was pumping as the five hairdressers, all dressed in funky black outfits, flitted around the salon. Two of them were cutting and talking animatedly to their clients, one was washing a teenage boy’s hair at the basins, and the other two were tidying up and sweeping.
    The salon wasn’t busy, but it had a real buzz about it that made me feel a little excited to be a part of it. I looked at the hairdressers more closely, wondering which one was Jason.
    Well, obviously the two girls weren’t he, and I guess the young boy with his bright orange Mohawk who was sweeping was probably not him either. As I studied the faces one by one, I reached the man bent over the basin, efficiently washing the boy’s hair. He turned as I looked his way and I was struck by how attractive he was. Could this be Jason?
    “Kelli!” he exclaimed and strode over to us, leaving the boy leaning back in the basin, shampoo still in hair.
    Yes, this was him, and while he looked fabulous, he didn’t look fabulous! He was tall and well-built, with blond, spiky hair and sparkling blue eyes. He reached us and proceeded to hug Kelli and then kissed both of her cheeks, before transferring his smiling eyes onto me.
    “And who’s this vixen?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye.
    “Hi, I’m Tara. You must be Jason.”
    I extended my hand in preparation for a handshake but he ignored it, instead pulling me in and bending down to kiss my cheeks with the same warmth that he had greeted Kelli.
    He stood back and crossed his arms over his chest. “Let me guess,” he said taking on an instantly professional tone. “You need a makeover.”
    It wasn’t a question, more a statement. Okay, so maybe I did need to do something with my hair.
    Jason led me over to a vacant seat in front of a mirror, then asked one of the hairdressers to finish washing the teenage boy’s hair at the basin.
    “Do you need to finish doing that?” I asked, indicating to the boy at the basin. “I don’t mind waiting. We don’t have an appointment.”
    He flicked his hand in the air in dismissal. “Don’t be silly. I can’t wait to get at your hair.” He ran his fingers through it and examined the roots. “Beautiful! Just