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But then the squealing sound of rubber on asphalt screeches in our ears, and Missy and I turn to look A car does a hard left into our parking lot before sliding in perfectly next to my beater vehicle Except this isn’t just any car This is a yellow La and sexy As atch with our ner boot steps out This is followed by a tall, dark-haired woman in a fur coat When she stands, it’s clear that she’s model thin and at least six feet tall Six foot four, if you count the added inches from her boots

Missy and I stare at each other in confusion, but to our surprise, the woe in our s toward SexyFlow

“Pen,” Missy says slowly “I think that’s your new customer”

I stare, e to snap it shut just as she pushes the glass door open Tinkling bells announce her arrival, and a gust of perfume hits my nostrils

“Is this SexyFlow?” she demands

“Yes,” I say courteously “Can I help you?”

“I’m Marina Alpern,” she says in an imperious voice “I have a ten o’clock appointment for a blowout”

“Of course,” I nod, my voice polite “Welcome My name is Penny, and I’ll be your hairstylist today Did you need a wash as well before we do the blowdry?”

The woman scrunches her nose a bit, like she’s just s terrible

“No, because I only use a special sha married this weekend, so he couldn’t see me for my usual treatment That’s why I’m here,” she sniffs “Otherwise, I usually see real professionals”

“Of course,” I say courteously, ignoring the slight “How fun A wedding is definitely a big event”

I bite uised surprise How can this woo, and yet she’s already shown herself ready to denigrate both our service and our salon But I try to keep my cool I ease the fur coat from the woman’s shoulders and say, “Missy, can you please take Ms Alpern’s coat? Can you please hang it up in the back closet?”

Missy rushes forward but Marina raises a hand

“If you don’t ht I don’t want it disappearing, if you knohat I mean You never knohat happens in small towns like this, where people are unaccusto true luxury”