Loose Ends (Magnolia Series Book 1) Read Free

eyebrow.
    “Just dandy. Do you want me to finish your hair?” Ava held up the comb and shears.
    “Only if you promise not to slice and dice me.”
    “I promise.” Grabbing the back of the chair, she spun it around until it was facing the mirror once more.
    “Some women are ugly when they’re pissed, but not you. You’re kinda cute when someone ruffles your feathers.”
    Was that some sort of compliment? “Thanks,” she mumbled.
    Silenced surrounded her once again as she finished up his haircut. Being around Luke was half torture and half pleasure. She needed him out of her shop before she either tackled him to the floor and fucked him six ways to Sunday, or slammed his head in the shampoo bowl and drowned him. The first option was for sure the best one, but number two was looking mighty tempting as well.
    Her fingers couldn’t unsnap the buttons to the cape fast enough when she finished with him. Whipping the cloth from his body she turned to hang it on its hook on the wall.
    “How much do I owe ya?” He pulled his wallet from his back pocket and began riffling through some bills.
    “No charge.”
    “Is it free haircut day and I didn’t know?” Luke’s attempt at a joke did nothing to lighten Ava’s mood.
    “No. I just figured since I called you an asshole I wouldn’t charge you. Again, I apologize.”
    “Sweetheart, if that’s the worst thing you ever call me, we’ll be just fine. Here.” He held out a fifty dollar bill.
    “I don’t have change for that.” She flashed an apologetic smile.
    “Keep the change.” He tossed it on the counter beside a stack of tips.
    “That’s a $40 tip!” Her voice cracked as the words left her mouth.
    “Glad to see you have math skills.” He snickered.
    “I can’t take that big of a tip, it wouldn’t be right.”
    “Jesus. Okay, how about this, you keep it and maybe one night you can buy me a drink?” Luke began to bargain.
    “Are you sure ?” Ava looked at the money and back to Luke and his magnificent eyes.
    “ More than sure.”
    “Okay. Deal.” She extended her hand for him to shake.
    Luke did the same and when his calloused fingers and palm roughed over her smoother skin, it caused a ripple effect of awareness throughout her entire body. Her hand jerked out of his almost on its own accord, her palm now feeling like it’d been singed in three thousand degree flames.
    “See ya round, Ava.” Luke threw his ball cap on his head and issued a wink in her direction.
    “Bye,” she whispered as he exited the shop.
    Watching him walk out the door was painful in a way. Yeah, he was rough around the edges in the personality department, but underneath he seemed like a nice enough guy. Everyone had flaws, right? Ava grabbed the broom and began sweeping up the small piles of Luke’s freshly cut hair. She sighed as she looked up into the mirror stationed on the wall. “Why can’t my life be normal with someone like him?” She voiced the question aloud to the empty room. “Why do I have to be on the run from criminals like this?”

 
    Chapte r Tw o
    Luke left the small salon and headed for his pickup truck. It was instinct to glance at his surroundings but nothing had seemed out of sorts in this town since he’d moved here. Using the story of a dead grandmother’s estate was working for his cover, but he knew the real reason for him being in Biloxi would eventually come to light. And after meeting that reason today, he wasn’t sure he wanted this job at all. Either way, he had a phone call to make.
    He reached for the burner phone in the console of his truck and dialed the one number that was saved.
    Holding it up to his ear, Luke listened as it began to ring on the other end.
    “Yeah,” a familiar gruff voice answered.
    “Found her,” Luke affirmed.
    “Where the fuck is she?” The guy on the other end seemed equal parts relieved and pissed.
    “What do you want with her?” Luke suddenly became curious what someone like his employer would