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Stacie was a petite, consistently wel-dressed woedies had tried to strip away her sense of hu enough to resent the on a beaded chain around her neck, ignored

She squinted at the th "His exact words were, ‘Tel Lana-darling that I sio to Milan My muse has leftherself out to other men’"

"Great," said Lana "So now that His Artistic Majesty, Ar to see our fundraiser as ation than an honor"

"That’s what I orried about," said Stacie

"I should have forced hin a contract like the rest of the artists"

"You tried and he refused, re to release so on this fundraiser for a good cause, so couldn’t fate just cut her a freaking break for once? "Howtheir work so far?"

"Twelve Sutter canceled thishis contract"

"So, the word that Armand has canceled is already out" Lana stifled a curse before it spiled froive her one of those motherly frowns of disappointment, and Lana didn’t need any more of those in her life than she already had

Getting her foundation, First Light, off the ground had been both ined Of course, it wasn’t technicaly off the ground yet, but it was close--alh monetary life into the foundation to help her hire another permanent staffFirst Light’s reach

The focus of First Light was si the summer months so they wouldn’t be as teave theames to keep them busy in the hopes that there would be no time for the other stuff They also offered help with hoanized sports, and worked one-on-one with some of the ave their time and talents to help her make this happen, and she was proud of the work she’d done, even though it wasn’t nearly enough

Her fa her life on a lost cause She had no business doing soile" state--as if she hadn’t been strong and healthy for months now Her et involved when it would only put her in contact with troubled kids Why did she want that burden?

Then again, Madeline Hancock had never met Eddie--one of the men as on a similar physical therapy schedule with Lana He’d been a narcotics officer before a ten-year-old boy’s bulet had shattered his feiven the boy, he’d adopted the orphan, and now Eddie spent his ti to kids about everything fros

Lana had been so inspired by Eddie’s passion for helping kids, and so desperate for a reason to get up in the , that she decided to join the cause She didn’t care if her parents approved She was doing what she thought was right, and even if she helped only a handful of kids, it was enough for her

She’d done good Maybe not much, but some If this art auction el, she’d be able to do even more Maybe she’d be able to move her work into St Louis or other, sh that no one could be able to predict herover her shoulder, wondering if whoever she’d seen on that hilside in Ar for that kind of freedom

Certainly, if that person wanted her dead, she’d already be six feet under She was sily to keep worrying about nothing Life was finaly getting better Why couldn’t she just accept that gift and move on?

An almost paranoid sort of anxiety puled at her, but she forced it aith a cheerful smile that probably looked as fake as it felt "What’s the status with finding an auctioneer?"

Stacie’s shoulders slu her perfectly pressed blouse "I’ve caled six, and none of therew a little tenser and achier She hadn’t been sleeping wel, not that it was anything new

"I’l see what I can do with the rest of the auctioneers on our list," Lana said "I can make some money available if I put off the electric bil a few days That ive the spot in the auction book"

Stacie nodded and peered down at her paper again, squinting "I’l s courtesy of Armand The layout for the auction book is nearly done We should be able to send it to the printers as soon as we hire an auctioneer They said it would take three days to print, so there’s stil ti her slippery hair behind her ears so she could rub her te Two et onto our website tonight and post the updated artist list I’l deal with finding an auctioneer today, or I’l signmyself"

"And il you find time to take a class--even a one-day class? You’re already working seventy-hour weeks Maybeto the youth center?

The whole reason you started this foundation was to help the kids, and you haven’t seen them in days They miss you"

"I’l find a way to fit that in, too"

"You can’t do it al" Stacie gave Lana her bestto do it al I just want to get through this auction without e out the foundation’s bank account Every hour I put in is one I don’t have to pay someone else to do"

"If it helps, you don’t need to payIf I can’t afford to pay you, then we’re in big trouble"