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"I already talked to Percy," he said "He’s going to feed Dyna tonight and spend some time with her Taryn knows you won’t be back until tomorrow"

"What did she say when you told her where ere going to be?"

He took her hand and laced his fingers with hers "She said I was going to get into more trouble than I could handle"

"Did you believe her?"

"Sure Taryn’s never wrong"

Larissa laughed

They drove into the city and the driver dropped them off at the wharf She and Jack walked around for a couple of hours before getting lunch in a waterfront restaurant After they’d eaten, he excused himself to make a few more calls Larissa sat at the table, content to stare out theand enjoy the warm sunny day in the beautiful city

Toularly scheduled life Tomorrow she would have to face the consequences of what she’d done today But that was okay--the price would be worth it She loved Jack--of course she wanted to spend time with him

He returned to the table and paid the bill, then they walked out of the restaurant and he hailed a cab

"Where are we going?" she asked

"To the hotel"

Already? Her toes curled in her athletic shoes

"The Ritz," Jack told the driver

The Ritz? As in the Ritz-Carlton? "I’m not dressed for a fancy hotel," she said, aware that while she’d brushed her teeth that , she hadn’t showered And that her jeans were a little frayed at the he to rescue dogs, not go to the Ritz

"Don’t worry," he said and took her hand in his

Good advice she couldn’t follow Not only did she look as if she didn’t belong, they weren’t checking in with luggage That couldn’t be good

"I’ to need a toothbrush," she told hiht"

"Not to worry It’s all taken care of"

They pulled up in front of the ed wo and smiled at Larissa "Ms Owens?" she asked

Larissa nodded

"I’m Francine If you’ll come with ?"

"You’re going to have to go with her to find out" He leaned in and lightly kissed her "You’ll like it I pro hatever had been planned She was in the Ritz-Carlton It wasn’t as if anything bad could happen here

Francine led her through the luxury hotel to the spa Once she was there, she was checked in for an afternoon of relaxation and pa to the very perky attendant There would be a facial followed by a et her hair done

"It sounds wonderful," Larissa said, grateful Jack hadn’t booked her for a e There were only a few people she trusted to do that

She spent the next couple of hours relaxing in a treatment chair while her face was steamed and wrapped and smothered in various concoctions Later she had a wonderful manicure and pedicure By the ti relaxed and pa s the color "perfection" and the length "a disaster"

"How much do you want to cut off?" she asked warily

"Trustto happen"

"It’s hair It will grow back" He fingered the ends "Maybe a few inches It will still be long, but you’ll have layers and style"

She’d never been h for all her friends Still, it would be nice to be glamorous for once

"Okay, do what you think is best, but not short"

José nodded "You’ll see"

He whipped up a hts When her hair et, he went to ith a razor Strands went flying When he was done with the cut, he used a big round brush to blow out her hair, then put in a few hot rollers During the entire session, she wasn’t allowed to see herself in the mirror

After José, a woman came over and applied ave advice The last time she’d tried to conquer the sotten in an accident

When the makeup artist was done, José reappeared He pulled out curlers, teased, finger-coh hair spray to turn her into a plastic doll At last he spun the chair so she was facing the nize herself She was still a blue-eyed blonde, but instead of looking like the fresh-faced girl next door, she’d been transfor soft curls that shifted every tis that softened her features and e Or maybe it was the expertly applied e She couldn’t decide Either way, she loved it

"Wow," she said "Just "

José patted her shoulder "You’re a swan now A beautiful swan"

Francine aiting when she left the spa "Ms Owens, did you enjoy your tiical"

The older wolad Now just one more stop"

They went into what looked like a conference roo tables and plenty of chairs, there was a rack of fancy dresses, boxes filled with shoes and a ht outside," Francine said "Come out when you’re done"

Larissa stared at all the clothes They were in her size and froners she’d only ever seen Taryn wear She reached for one, then pulled back her hand No way she could wear any of these

"Oh, good You’re here"

A petite brunette walked into the rooht cocktail attire, along with everything you’ll need to ith it" Holly was beautiful and wearing a siuy said the trip was impulsive and you didn’t even have a toothbrush" Holly winked "He sounds like my kind of man So what do you like?"

Larissa felt overwhelmed by too much input "I’m not sure"

"Reach for one and let’s see what it is"