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I’d slipped into one of e bell-botto Emmie Lou approved Every time I looked down, my zipper was a little lower

"Too bad CiCi can’t be here e open She’s been a big help I had no idea she had such a head for business As far as I know she’s never even held a job"

"Could have fooledme around like she’s been a boss all her life"

"I didn’t say she wasn’t bossy But she’s right too often to ignore I’m sure she’ll be by later to check up on us She, Derek and Freddy are celebrating Freddy’s birthday tonight" I rolled my eyes "Don’t ask me how Let them eat cake doesn’t exactly work for us"

"Bummer" Lacy pulled a vase of beautiful blood red roses, several dozen of theister "Surprise!"

"Very nice" I rance… Delish The rose s, but I’d figured it was E us she was around and supervising

"CiCi again? She loves fresh flowers"

"Nope I shouldn’t have read the card," Lacy handed me a small white envelope, "but you knohat they say about cats and curiosity"

"I’ll let you know in a minute if it’s fatal this tinized the bold handwriting immediately "Success Blade"

Blade had sent flowers? I read the card again Apparently All he’d sent me before was the occasional case of Bloody Merry, because he didn’t trust me to keep a sufficient supply Now red roses? Had Mara put hihed and sniffed "I’d like to uy Blade Cool name" I smiled At times like this, Lacy made me feel every one ofon every good looking guy she saw, but, as far as I knew, never hooking up with one

"Blade likes knives, swords, daggers And kno to use the him?"

"Lake Charles He has a casino there"

"Oooh Rich and romantic"

"Usually not romantic" I read the card one more time Not exactly a love note, but I’d take it Success Wow This felt like a breakthrough

Lacy wiggled her nose "Sh" I’d told Lacy to stay out of h she was a hard worker, I’d have to fire her if she didn’t lay off Her eyes widened and she flushed

"Sorry, Boss It’s a habit"

I gave her a look

"Okay, okay, a bad habit If they made a patch for it, I’d be first in line"

"I don’t want to wasteyou, Lacy So just tune out I do it all the time"

"Maybe you shouldn’t--"

"And raine because I’d never gotten the hang of it And if Lacy was reading this thought, she was fired I gave her a searching look She was slass door "Are you open yet?" Tomen stood outside

"Ready?"

Lacy nodded, obviously relieved to be off the hot seat