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Not ten ed to push Caleb’s silent presence out of herinto her office He ant confidence of aand enjoying the view Lana’s stoer and disgust--anger that he’d coust that she hadn’t come to know him for the selfish man he was before he broke her heart

He was just as handso her sophomore year at MU With his perfectly triood looks, he’d swept her off her feet She’d been too young then to realize that she’d only land on her ass a few years later

So htened his power tie and gave her a disar for the press after a successful trial

He gave Caleb a speculative glance as he strode over to her desk "Lana," he greeted, taking her hand froers were cold and a little clammy, as if he was nervous, which was ridiculous, because Oran hadn’t been nervous a day in his life He fed on pressure, bloous

Lana puled away fro away her dislike for thestep forward She gave Caleb a srim, he stayed on his side of the room

"Who’s your friend?" asked Oran with a nod toward Caleb

"He’s notto do"

Oran’s smile widened, and a touch of victory lit his eyes

"What do you want, Oran?" she den contributions for that lofty political career you’ve had your eye on?"

He gave her a handso blue eyes "Nothing like that, darling I haven’t heard from you since Easter Why haven’t you returnedto say to you Mom never should have invited you to dinner"

"She’s worried about you"

Nothing new there

He continued, "She told me how strapped you are for cash these days I wanted to discuss what I could do for you"

Warning bels gonged in Lana’s head Oran never did anything outside of his own self-interest "No, thanks," she said and sat down, dis him without explanation

"You didn’t even hearup a chair too near her own

"Don’t need to Whatever it is, I’m not interested"

"Not even if I told you that I’ to fund your foundation for the next five years?"

Lana’s hand stiled its scribbling and she looked up He wore that saive her heart away to hio The sa sounded too good to be true Oran was not a generousIf I actualy believed you, I ht listen, but I know better"

He reached out toward her, and it was al she could do not to flinch away and draw Caleb’s attention She hated having an audience for this It was hard enough without one

His fingers settled against her cheek in atoo hard, Lana I kno much this place means to you, and I want to help"

"Why?" she asked, knowing she’d regret being puled into his world--a world where nothing else mattered beyond his political aspirations She had to remember that

"Would you believe I want to help because I care about you?" he asked, sounding sincere

"No"

He gave a self-deprecating s hours of practice in front of a s didn’t end wel between us, and I just wanted you to kno badly I feel about that I should have been "

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Caleb watching theive theh aardness today

"You told ood to you in a wheelchair, Oran You told ive you children just wasn’t an option for you Tel "

Oran threw a quick, questioning glance at Caleb, then lowered his voice "I was an ass I’m sorry, Lana I want a chance tofundus another shot You and I were good together"

"Apparently not good enough for you to stick around You dumped me before I was even out of the hospital!"

Caleb surged to his feet, and frolare "You stay out of this It’s none of your business"

"Who is he?" asked Oran "Can you send him away so we can talk in private?"

"Send him away?" she nearly screeched "That is so like you, Oran Everyone is your servant to be ordered around as you please"

"I’rowl His dark eyes were fixed on Lana, daring her to try to get him to leave As if she needed to cause any more of a scene than she already ith Oran

"Just ignore hiainst you"