Unforgettable Embrace by Joanne Clancy Read Free Book Online

you.”
    “ Maybe not too sexy,” Rachel said, “I almost suffocated in that corset last night.”
    “ You need to g et out of your comfort zone, Rach,” Liz piped up. “You need to shake things up a little. I know it's not easy, but you ended it with Tony cos it was all too comfortable, well you need to make more of an effort to get the rest of your life out of that zone too.”
    “ OK, OK, let's do it,” Rachel said.
     
    Several hours and several pretty outfits later, the girls were finally all shopped out. Liz took Rachel's bags from her as they stopped outside Toni and Guys hairdressers.
    “ We have a treat for you,” Jen said, ushering her friend inside. “Lorraine,” Jen greeted a very slim, very tall hairdresser who was walking towards them, “this is my friend, Rachel. She would like a whole new look. Can you take care of her for me?”
    “ Her wish is my command,” Lorraine grinned.
    “ Right, Rachel, text me when you're done and we'll come back to see the results,” Jen instructed a somewhat startled Rachel, and with that she and Liz were gone, leaving Rachel all alone with the very cool Lorraine.
     
    “ So, did you have anything in mind?” Lorraine asked as she started to brush Rachel's long hair. “Well, I was thinking maybe a bit shorter, with a few highlights,” Rachel replied, “or maybe you have some suggestions?”
    “ Well, you have a perfectly oval face, so technically most hairstyles will suit you. She gazed at Rachel for a few minutes, and held several swatches of hair colour up to her face.
    “ You are quite pale skinned, so I'm thinking a cool-toned blonde shade would look great on you. A fringe would bring out your eyes, and if I was you I'd cut your hair much shorter. This long mop doesn't do much for you, to be honest. It just drags your face down and makes you look quite drawn.”
    “ I could do with something radical, I think,” Rachel said, suddenly feeling brave, “I'll leave it up to you.”
    Lorraine's face lit up. “Really? This will be fun,” she said enthusiastically.
     
    She gave Rachel a pile of magazines and a trainee hairdresser brought her a coffee and washed her hair while Lorraine whisked colours and gathered her scissors and combs together. Rachel thought it best to keep her head down and wait to look in the mirror until Lorraine was finished. Several hours later and Lorraine whipped the gown from Rachel's shoulders.
    “ Voilà!” she said, rather dramatically. Rachel looked rather tentatively in the mirror. She couldn't believe the face and the hair that was staring back at her in the mirror.
    “ Oh my goodness,” she breathed. Her hair was cut into a very symmetrical, dark blonde bob, interspersed with platinum highlights.
    “ Is that me?” she asked disbelieving her own eyes.
    “ It sure is,” Lorraine laughed, holding the mirror behind her head so she could get a three hundred and sixty degree view of her new hairstyle.
    “ What do you think?”
    “ I love it!” Rachel couldn't stop beaming at herself in the mirror. “Wait 'til the girls see me.”
    “ Speaking of the girls, here they are, right on queue,” Lorraine said as Liz and Jen pushed the door open.
     
    They looked around the salon, not recognising Rachel at first, and then they squealed in unison “Rachel! Is that you?!”
    “ I can't believe it's me,” Rachel said, still staring at herself in the mirror. “Wow, you look fabulous!” Liz said, “fabulous enough to hopefully meet an equally fabulous man at the blind date evening they're having at The Boardwalk café tonight.”
    “ We're all going, by the way missy, and we're not taking no for an answer,” Jen interjected. “I'll be there,” Rachel smiled at her friends, “I'm really looking forward to it.”
    She was genuinely looking forward to meeting new people, and of course to flaunting her hair and clothes at The Boardwalk. She felt full of confidence and was very much liking what she was seeing in the mirror,