Page 70 of Halstead House

“Yes. I think so. Now I rise from my cocoon.” I’d purposely said the last part in an overly cheery tone while lifting my hands skyward, and it paid off as Ana snorted.

“The beautiful butterfly?”

“Obviously.”

She parked her car in front of a tiny salon and shut off the engine. “Well, come on out, Miss Monarch. Let’s see what Gwen can do with that mop on your head.”

Gwen chopped my shoulder-length hair to a chin-length bob with fringe bangs that swept across my forehead. Then she added a few waves to it and turned me to face the mirror. I was amazed. The cut really flattered my features. Instead of my eyes and mouth looking so disproportionately large, they fit. Until that moment I hadn’t really comprehended that by pulling my hair back every day I was making my features look bigger than they actually were. I still looked professional, but in a stylish and relaxed way.

“You look amazing,” Ana said as she stood next to me and fingered a piece of hair. “I’m glad you had your breakdown, because this is so much more you than the old you was.”

I cleared my throat and nodded in agreement. “Thank you so much, Gwen.” I turned to the friend of Ana’s who had welcomed us in and cut my hair on the spot.

She patted my shoulder and gave me a smile. “It’s a pleasure to help out a girl who needs a big change.”

I insisted on paying even though Ana said there was anunderstandingbetween the two women. The only understanding I had was that I paid for services received. They could keep their deal between the two of them.

The entire drive back to Halstead I was in a reflective zone. I kept reaching up and playing with the choppy pieces of hair that tickled my chin. This haircut made me feel more different than I’d felt over Ana making me change up my wardrobe. I wouldn’t be able to pull this short hair back, even if I wanted to. It was almost silly that this small tweak felt so enormous.

I thanked Ana again before we went our separate ways, her to her office and me upstairs to change and get ready to pick up Mother. It was going to be close, but I’d make it.

I decided to wear shorts and a sleeveless, flowy shirt to brunch with Mother. Not only would it send a subtle statement to her, but it was a beautiful island day, and afterwards we’d be working hard in the house.

As I was hustling through the garden to get to my parking space I ran into Lucas coming from the garage. He was in his motorcycle gear, and the attraction I felt for him caused me to miss a step. I stumbled to a stop. I hadn’t seen him since Saturday night, and I wasn’t sure how things would be between us, but I’d give anything to have his arms around me again.

“Hey.” A side of his mouth quirked up as he came to a stop near me.

“You’re home and you’re not in a suit,” I blurted.

“Can’t sneak anything past you.” He chuckled.

I immediately blushed and wished the ground would swallow me up. Of course, I knew that his job didn’t stick to the normal nine-to-five routine and dress code. He’d most likely been at some breakfast or something and was returning home to change for his next round.

“Stating the obvious is one of the services I provide as a good employee.” I smiled and was grateful when he returned the look.

He reached out and took a piece of my hair between his fingers. “I thought I could trust you around scissors.”

“It wasn’t me. Ana’s friend cut and styled it.”

“It’s not purple.”

“Baby steps.”

“So, should I consider myself warned that it may be purple at some point?”

I tried to casually shrug, but the way his eyes were roaming over my face and hair was making me feel out of breath. “Who knows. I’m a butterfly coming out of her cocoon.” I attempted to joke like I’d done with Ana.

“I won’t argue with that.” He took a step closer and to the side, as though he was going to pass me and carry on into the house, but he surprised me by pausing for a second and reaching out to take my hand. “I can’t wait to see what happens next in the evolution of Grace Burke.” He grinned as he squeezed my hand. Then he gently tugged me toward him and placed a light-as-air kiss on my temple before whispering, “The new style suits you.”

I managed a smile, my hand tingling and my feet trying to float to the sky. A few more of those moments and the new Grace Burke’s heart was going to find itself in even more trouble than it already was.

CHAPTER 17

You know how when you’re watching one of those documentaries about mountain goats and you think to yourself, “How does that big furry goat not topple right off the mountain?” Well, I was that goat, and Mother was an earthquake about to send the mountain plunging into the sea.

It was the day of the fiftieth wedding anniversary dinner. Guests would begin arriving in two hours. Marshall, who had finished his portion of the setup the night before, had skedaddled. Ana was making herself scarce in the housekeeping room with her office door closed. Closed! Ana’s door was never, ever, ever closed. Chef Lou, who was now speaking in his American accent at all times, had sent catering staff to ask me any questions rather than ask me himself. Worst of all, ten minutes ago Lucas had come down the main staircase and into the dining room where we were working, taken in the scene, raised his eyebrows at me, and gone back to wherever he’d come from, which had left me feeling irrationally irritated.

My plan to keep Mother busy helping me decorate had flopped spectacularly. She’d succeeded only at scaring everyone else away, and now I was wound tight as a spring, ready to snap at any moment.

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