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"Ta da!"

"Magnificent" Flo laughed and headed out to the living roo We have company Get dressed, Glory We take Valdez with us wherever we go"

" I could do ot orders not to tear up your place"

"Glad to hear it" I shut the bedrooot busy in the bathroom Mortals say life is short, live every day like it is your last Va, live every day like it is your first So I was going out Cautiously, but I was going out So what if I had a body te It helped me live forever That and my slow heartbeat, which Diana and Derek and I had also checked last night

I’ve had a lot of years already Wasted years to hear Flo tell it Maybe it was ti Developed ive me lessons She’d love that I still wasn’t sure about the shape-shifting, but there were other things I stepped into the living room to find Lacy with Valdez and Flo

"Our first day off, boss I found someone to work days with me" She nodded toward the hall "If you approve"

"She has a new boyfriend, Glory" Flo lifted her can as if in a toast "Bring hiave Valdez a look "He’s ular folks Okay?"

"She means we must behave Got it, Valdez?" I went back to the bedroo hi but Palined Lacy with the casual type Not that he wasn’t good looking He was Even dressed like Gatsby, from the ascot down to the saddle shoes That was a plus when you wanted to work in a vintage-clothing store The slicked down hair was a little much and I swear Valdez actually smirked when he saw Ryan, as he asked us to call hilasses and looked at Lacy adoringly A little off center, but a winner if he worshiped Lacy

"You ever worked retail before?"

"Sure I’ve helped in lanced at Lacy "He owns fifty-seven SuitMasters" He and Lacy laughed like hyenas "Can you believe it?" He looked down at his own pin-striped suit ide lapels Obviously vintage "If you can’t find a suit for seventy-nine ninety-five, you’re not at SuitMasters"

"I’ve heard those ads" Flo smiled at Ryan "I don’t think you wear one of your father’s Sunday specials"

"Naw He and I don’t agree on e like" He looked atfashionin a store like yours would be invaluable" He held Lacy’s hand "I want to startchain"

"Wasn’t there a SuitMistress store too?" Flo stared at Ryan intently

Ryan winced "Yeah Not one ofhis cheap suit concept My stores will be different Quality vintage"

"You want room my competition?" I kept my hand on Valdez’s collar

"No coraduation I know the territory there That’s where I’ll start" He kissed Lacy’s cheek "Lacy and I justshe’d like Houston" Lacy actually flushed and gave Valdez another look when he ive him a try, Glory? I could really use the relief"

He was certainly qualified and as I to tra love? Of course Lacy was actually about three hundred years old, but she was enjoying Ryan Itto Houston for

"Sure You can start Tuesday Lacy, you can train hied me, then pulled Ryan toward the door "Bye, ladies" She pushed Ryan into the hall, then turned to hiss and rake her claws in Valdez’s direction

" She could do better" Valdez barely waited until the door closed

"I thought he was cute Couldn’t really get a read on hihts, like, what you call it, white noise No h" Flo tossed her can into the trash and fluffed her hair "Let’s go"

"Blade wants Glory to stay here"

"Blade is not my lord and master" I put o out, but I knehat Westwood looked like now And if we stuck together and went someplace really crowded… And as this about Ryan? I hadn’t tried to read hisdeal Still… Maybe I shouldn’t hire him