Free Love at First Flight by Marie Force Page B

you guys going out?”
    Juliana smiled at the jealousy she
detected from the girl. “No, we're really just friends.” For the first time in
two hours she thought of Jeremy and their mess. If she hadn't come with Michael
she would probably be home alone crying. “I have a boyfriend.”
    “You'll have to tell me all about him. I
can't wait to have a boyfriend.”
    Hardly anxious to talk about Jeremy at
the moment, Juliana rolled a thick towel around Rachelle's hair and helped her
stand up. “Have a seat at my station.” Juliana gestured to the closed toilet.
    “Very classy.”
    “Only the best. Which side do you part
it on?” Rachelle laughed. “I have no idea. It's totally out of control.”
    Juliana grabbed a large-toothed comb and
a round brush from the chaos on the countertop. “Let's see what we can do about
that.”

    ***

    Thirty minutes later Michael came
looking for them and stopped short in the doorway to the bathroom. “Where's
Rachelle?”
    The girl giggled. “I don't know what she
did. It's a miracle.”
    The curls had been tamed into flowing
waves that softly framed her face and cascaded down past her shoulders.
    “You look beautiful,” Michael said. “Really,
really beautiful.”
    Rachelle blushed at the compliment from
her favorite guy.
    Juliana applied one last squirt of hair
spray. “You're all done.”
    Rachelle gazed into the mirror for
another minute before she gripped Juliana in a spontaneous hug. “Thank you so
much. I love it!”
    “My pleasure.”
    “I wish I had a camera. My mom won't
believe this, and I'll never get it to look this good again in my life.”
    Juliana laughed. “Just do like I showed
you with the round brush and the hair dryer. You'll get the hang of it.”
    “Will you come again?” Rachelle asked. “Michael,
will you bring her with you again? We could do our nails or something next
time.”
    Juliana glanced at Michael.
    “Sure,” he said.
    “I'd love to.” Juliana gave the girl a
quick kiss on the cheek. “It's getting late. You need to get to bed, and we've
got to get to Baltimore. I'll only come again if I hear you're being good, all
right?”
    Rachelle nodded. “I promise.”
    “Behave, brat.” Michael bopped her lightly
on the shoulder. “I mean it.”
    “Again you force me to say bite me!”
    “Go to bed,” Michael ordered as he
closed the door.
    “How'd you make out?” the police officer
in the hall asked.
    “I think we settled her down,” Michael
said. “But go easy on her, okay? This is tough on her, and our case is riding
on her.”
    “You've got it, Michael. Don't worry.”
    Michael shook his hand. “Thanks.”
    “Are they Baltimore cops or D.C.?”
Juliana asked while they waited for the elevator.
    Michael held the door for her and then
stepped in behind her. “Baltimore. They're all on special assignment, but the
District cops know they're here in case they need backup.”
    “She's adorable.”
    “I know.”
    “She's got you firmly wrapped around her
little finger. You're aware of that, right?”
    “Yes,” he said with a sigh. “I'm way
more involved with her than I should be.”
    “It would be hard to stay detached from
her.”
    “Thank you, Juliana. You did such a
wonderful thing for her.”
    “I enjoyed it.”
    “Yes, I could see that.” When he walked
in on them in the bathroom, Juliana had been totally engrossed in Rachelle. He
couldn't imagine Paige ever being so self-less. “I really appreciate it.”
    “It was fun,” she insisted. “You don't
have to thank me.”
    “I don't know about you, but I haven't
thought about any of my problems for a few hours.” She smiled at him. “Neither
have I.”

CHAPTER 10
     
    THEY HAD THE USUALLY CLOGGED
BALTIMORE-Washington Parkway all to themselves on the way back to Baltimore.
The closer they got to the city, the quieter Juliana became.
    “How're you doing over there?”
    She shrugged.
    “You should probably tell me where you
live.”
    “Butchers Hill. Collington