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Not now Not at this very les from her wrist and started to offer them back to him Terence closed her hands in his, bracelets inside, and through sheer force of will rim determination and kindness that belied his profession
"Put yourself in ret it"
She stared at him "I can't"
"I understand why you wouldn't trust me --"
"I don't trust anyone"
Terence released her hands His face lit up, and she could not turn away froot nothing to lose"
Chapter Fourteen
invincible
The shop smelled like an explosion in a perfu heavy on her throat and in her nose Her eyes sht At every counter there was an-other made-up lady, wo asto sell as possible Heavy lipstick, thick eyeliner, foundation, blusher, much of it apparently pasted on with toolssite Jazz actually found herself slightly perturbed by soes so solid that it seemed they would crack if they dropped their constant sri in front of the mirror while their makeup mask fell off in chunks Underneath, there would be the real person
She caught sight of herself in anothertiet used to the new look While the stylist had been working, Jazz felt a thrilling sense of expectation, the past shouting at her to take control, the future offering that control to her Her hair was several shades darker, six inches shorter, and cut in a trendy tousled look that she knew caught people's attention She'd attractedthe salon Inevitably, the lookers' eyes switched from her to Terence, their smiles replaced by distracted frowns
Maybe she shocked the to sit here and let one of those monsters turn me into someone else," Jazz said Terence stood beside her, the sleeve of his shirt just touching her shoulder, and he uttered a quiet laugh
"I don't bla"
Jazz beamed up at him "Meet me out front in ten min-utes" Terence raised an eyebrow and Jazz walked away, not looking back
She felt ed soa positive choice As she weaved between the counters she thought of Harry, and the United Kingdom, and her smile slowly slipped
"Can I help you with so, madam?" a made-up lady asked
"No thanks," Jazz said "Just browsing"
And she browsed Moving fro her hand across a hundred differ-ent shades of the sa at testers, and a couple ofsmile on his face as he headed for the front of the shop I hope he thinks I'ht, but at the same time she knew that was un-likely He could see that he excited her
Five minutes later she went into the ladies' restroom and spread her haul on the shelf above the sink
Good stuff, most of it, but she'd never been keen on loss instead of lipstick and a touch of so around her eyes When she reached for the blusher, she realized she did not need it; she was already flushed
S, she left the stolen makeup in the bathroom and went to meet Terence Out on the sidewalk, he smiled ap-preciatively and offered quiet applause They fell into step together quite naturally
A black BMW drifted by as they turned the corner into Brompton Road
Jazz turned away and looked into a shop , brows-ing children's fashions at ridiculous prices
She stared past her own reflection at that of the BMW, saw that the win-doere down, and tried to ht Not now Not like this But there was little coht, because if they saw her, they would know her She hadn't changed that much
Different clothes and a new haircut could not ht their eye, they would see the fear and uncertainty that still rode her shoulders
"What is it?" Terence asked
Jazz shook her head The BMW picked up speed anda cyclist who lifted a hand and shouted soible
"Really, dear, I don't think we should settle down just yet"
Jazz turned away frolanced after the BMW, then looked at Terence
She tried to smile but it would not co car as well, then nodded as another passed them by
"Plenty of those here Posh area So Ford Sierra here and it's liable to be toay"
Jazz nodded "I'm okay" Just bloody terrified
"Do you want to --"
"No, no Nome some-where?"
Terence smiled uncertainly, then held her hand and linked her arain "Plenty of tiood, but remember: a secret that hurts is best shared"
"Where'd you get that from, a fortune cookie?"
"Winnie the Pooh"
Jazz laughed out loud, a few faces turned their way, and she wondered how she could possibly feel so safe with just oneBrompton Road until Harrods stood before them, one of its main corner entrancescusto farehen they left