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Olivia frowned but didn’t respond

"Don’t worry, I’ve learned to live with rejection I know you’re not sleeping with me But, seriously, you want to turn into soot to sleep with soroaned and let her forehead fall onto her desk "Please, guys, could we have a little decoruet up Mama Cheever’s on the way I could tell the click, click, click of that wo to their separate desks Olivia returned her attention to her notes Sandra poked her head in "The boys are here, Olivia Sydney has theear for the day They’ll be ready as soon as you are"

"Just finishing a report on Matt, for his dad"

Sandra frowned "You’ll let me see it before you send it?"

"If you wish"

"We need to be very careful these days, you know"

"Yes, I know I’ Matt’s acco the truth, either"

"People will believe in us or not, Sandra," Mariah said "We can’t sugarcoat everything and we can’t constantly be vigilant about e say We just have to move forward And the rest of uswell, eren’t addicts so we can’t fall back"

"Some people think that former addicts are the best therapists They knohere their charges are cohed "We’re here to help everyone who coh equine therapy Not all our guests are addicts! Brent’s not, for God’s sake! We’rewe are" She turned briskly to Olivia "I’d like to see the report Aaron wants oes out"

Olivia punched a key on her computer She smiled sweetly "On its way to you now, Sandra"

As she walked toward the front door, she realized that the floor was dirty She paused, looking down It appeared to be the sa with Dustin the night before

She bent down to touch it As she did, Aaron ca, sunshine"

She straightened "Good , Aaron"

"I have to talk to you later, if that’s okay"

"Of course Anything in particular?"

"I want to rent Marcus’s house from you"

"Okay"

"Okay, you’ll talk? Or, okay, you’ll rent et the house, Aaron You know that"

"It’s okay, Liv Marcus really loved you"

"And you, Aaron"

"He left an to leave, she was certain that she heard someone snicker behind her back

When she turned around, Sandra atching her, arms crossed When she noticed Olivia’s scrutiny, she acted as though she’d been waiting for Aaron, i him a question about schedules

Olivia hurried over to the stables and the paddocks She could see that the boys were already there, talking with Dreho held Trickster, ready to go out

Brent turned and saw her "Livia!" he cried, co toward her The other boys looked her way and s Trickster today!" Brent said, giving her a hug

As she walked to join the group, Sean was telling Matt, "I told you it was Bruce Willis in that old etically "I can look it up on the couys are on your ride"

"If Brent says so, then I believe it," Matt said He ruffled Brent’s hair "He’s our resident expert"

Brent grinned at Olivia happily He was shorter than the other boys, but he was on a good diet and in darned good shape

"I’m a resident expert!" he told Olivia

"So you are," Olivia said, s at the other boys

She reue Dustin drove out to the Horse Farm, but he didn’t pull into the drive

He passed the far land that bordered the trails; he assued to a local far out a chorus of moos now and then

He walked around the far side of the fence, heading into the forest