Beautiful Outlaw by Emily Minton Read Free Book Online Page B

don’t think so.” I say, with a shake of my head.  I’m getting casual clothes.  I plan to never wear anything with a designer label on it again, but I think that shirt is a bit much for me. 
    She goes on and on about how good it would look on me, as my eyes wander across the store.  Settling on the doorway, the salon across the corridor catches my eye through the storefront.  I watch as a woman walks out running her hand through her hair.  My own hand mimics hers, pulling my hair forward to look at it. Seeing the bright red strands against my skin, I make a decision. 
    “I want to go to the salon,” I whisper out, not believing I’m about to do this. 
    Her eyes move to mine. “What did you say?”
    I straighten my shoulders and say it again.  “I want to go to the salon.  I need to get my hair cut and colored.”
    “Spa day,” She squeals as a smile spreads across her face.  “We’ll have to get our nails done too.”
    Without giving me a chance to respond, she grabs my hand, for the hundredth time today, and rushes us out of the store.  Walking right into the salon, she smiles at the receptionist.  “This is Shay; she wants the works. I just want a mani and pedi.”
    The woman looks over her shoulder and sees an empty chair.  “Just a sec.  Valerie had a cancelation, so she can help you.”
    The words barely leave her mouth, before a pretty brunette walks up and motions for me to follow her. “Come with me, please.”
    My legs feel boneless as I follow her to the chair.  As soon as I sit down, she reaches for my hair.  “What are you thinking?”
    “I want a cut and color.”
    She continues to run her fingers through my long locks.  “How would you like it to look?”
    Not giving myself a chance to question my decision, I smile.  “I want to look like me again.”

Too Damn Good
    Bowie
    Walking into Nina’s, I see her sitting on the couch reading a book with a half-naked man on the cover.  “Hey, Mamá .”
    She smiles, when she looks up from her reading. “ Hijo , what are you doing here so soon?  The way you left so quick after dropping off Shay, I figured it would be a while before I saw your handsome face.”
    I walk over to her and place a quick kiss on her cheek, before settling in beside her on the couch.  “I have to ride to Alabama on some club business.  I’ll probably be gone for a week or two, so I figured I better check in on your houseguest.”
    She gives me a look; one that says she doesn’t like me doing this shit.  If I’m on the road, she knows I’m always one stop from heading to prison.  Even worse, one bullet from being six feet under.  “Shay’s not here.”
    “Where’s she at?”
    “She started her new job today.”
    What the fuck?  She hasn’t even been here more than a week and she’s already got a job? “Where’s she working?”
    “She’s a receptionist at one of the salons in the mall,” She says proudly.  “Rachel took her to the mall, the morning after you dropped her off.  They went into the salon, and one of the girls said something to her about it being the receptionist’s last day.  Her replacement had backed out at the last minute, and no one else had been hired yet.  Shay applied for the position and got the job the same day.”
    “She didn’t need to do that shit,” I grumble out, not liking the idea of her working. 
    Her eyes narrow, reminding me that I’m in her home not the clubhouse.  In other words, watch my mouth.  Trying again, with less profanity, I say, “She didn’t need to get a job.”
    “Yes, she did.  That girl’s not one for sitting around letting someone take care of her,” Nina says with a nod. “She begged me to let her give me some money for staying here. I wouldn’t let her, of course.”
    “I already got her covered.  Didn’t you tell her?”
    Nina throws back her head and laughs, a laugh full of joy.  “Oh, I sure did.  That’s when she marched out the door. She came back