Heaven, Texas (Chicago Stars #2)(54)

Gracie dodged a question about the regularity of her menstrual cycle while she worried about what was happening to her hair. If Shirley cut it too short, she’d never be able to get it into her french twist, which, even if it hadn’t been exactly flattering, was at least neat and familiar.

A heavy lock, nearly three inches long, fell into her lap, and her anxiety escalated. “Shirley, I—”

“Janine’s gonna do your makeup.” Shirley nodded her head toward the other operator. “She just started to sell Mary Kay this week, and she’s looking for customers. Bobby Tom said he wanted to buy you a fresh supply of cosmetics to replace all the stuff you lost in that South American earthquake when you were guarding the vice president.”

Gracie nearly choked, and then fought against laughter. He was maddening, but entertaining.

Shirley switched on the hair dryer and spun the chair to the mirror. Gracie gave a gasp of dismay. She looked like a wet rat.

“I’ll teach you how to do this yourself. It’s all in the fingers.” Shirley began pulling at her hair, and Gracie envisioned clumps of frizz standing straight out from her head. Maybe she could hold it down with one of those big hair-bands, she thought, with a trace of desperation. Or maybe she should just buy a wig.

Then, so gradually she could barely believe it, something wonderful began to happen.

“There.” Shirley finally stepped back, her fingers having worked their magic.

Gracie stared at her reflection. “Oh, my goodness.”

“Cute, huh.” Shirley grinned into the mirror.

Cute was hardly the word for it. Gracie’s hair was thoroughly modern. Reckless. Uninhibited. Sexy. It was everything that Gracie wasn’t, and her hand trembled as she touched it.

The cut was much shorter than she was accustomed to, barely jaw length and side parted with a wisp of bangs. Far from being frizzy, it fell in soft, pretty waves and curly tendrils that feathered her cheeks and earlobes. Her small features and fine gray eyes were no longer overpowered by the heavy weight of her old hair, and Gracie was entranced with her reflection. Was this really her?

She hadn’t even begun to look her fill before Shirley passed her over to Janine to get Mary Kayed. For the next hour, Gracie learned about skin care and a makeup application that would enhance her naturally smooth complexion. With liner, amber shadows, and dark mascara, Janine made her eyes the focal point of her face. When she was satisfied, she had Gracie do it herself. Gracie finished by dusting her cheekbones with blush, then applying the soft coral lipstick Janine handed her. She gazed into the mirror with wonder, hardly able to believe the woman staring back was herself.

The makeup was subtle and flattering. With her sweet, reckless haircut, luminous gray eyes, and spiky lashes, she looked prettier than she’d ever imagined: feminine, desirable, and, yes, a little bit wild. Her heart began to pound. She looked so different now. Was it possible that Bobby Tom might find her attractive? Maybe he would start looking at her in a new way. Maybe he would—

She reined in her runaway thoughts. This was exactly what she’d promised herself she wouldn’t do. All the make-overs in the world wouldn’t transform her into one of those spectacular beauties Bobby Tom kept company with, and she mustn’t allow herself to build dream castles.

When Grace took out her wallet, Shirley looked at her as if she’d lost her mind and told her Bobby Tom had taken care of it. Something unpleasant uncoiled in Gracie’s stomach. She thought of the long list of people Bobby Tom gave money to and realized he had added her to his charity list.

She should have anticipated this. He didn’t see her as a competent, independent woman at all, but as one more lost cause. The realization hurt. She wanted him to regard her as his equal, and that would never happen if he was picking up all the bills.

It had been easy to promise herself she wouldn’t take anything from him, but now she realized that the reality wouldn’t be simple at all. He had expensive tastes and he would expect her to look as if she belonged with him, but how was she to do that on her limited income? She thought of the small financial nest egg in her savings account that was her only security. Was she prepared to jeopardize it for the sake of her principles?

She didn’t have to think about it for more than a few seconds to know this was too important for her to back away, and her jaw set in a stubborn line. For the sake of her soul and everything she believed in, she needed to give herself to him with a free and loving heart. That meant she could take nothing from him. She would leave him before she became another parasite in his life.

Politely, but firmly, she wrote a check to cover the hefty bill and asked Shirley to return Bobby Tom’s money. The gesture exhilarated her. She would be one person in his life who wasn’t bought and paid for.

Suzy arrived moments later. She admired Gracie from every angle and was effusive with her compliments. Only after they’d left the beauty shop and were settled in the Lexus to go clothes shopping did Gracie notice that she seemed a bit distracted, but perhaps she’d had a restless night.

Gracie hadn’t slept all that well herself, despite her comfortable bed in the small apartment above Bobby Tom’s garage. The bleached wood and contemporary royal blue and white color scheme of the rooms made it obvious they hadn’t been decorated by the same person who’d done the house. Although the quarters were compact, they had turned out to be far more luxurious than she’d imagined. Or that she could afford, she realized with dismay, as she added a mental figure for rent that would compound her financial difficulties.