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“I have to talk to your mom for a moment,” she told Asher quietly “I’ll

be back”

Inside the rooh the open back doors drew her gaze Her heart skipped at the sight of Loyal talking with the governor Just then, the Torrezes walked past on their way to the ballrooave her a wide smile

“Roxanna, I’lad you came”

“I wouldn’t miss it,” she said as the woman as more like aRoxanna squeezed her eyes shut as her chest tightened She really had found family when she found Asher

“How are you doing after the fire?” She ran a soothing hand down Roxanna’s hair before stepping back “Do you need anything?”

“No, thank you, I’ gift basket It’s been a huge help with just the right things I loved everything”

The gift cards had been exceedingly generous and helped her fill in her new clearance wardrobe with clothes from places she wouldn’t normally have been able to afford

“I’ it overso busy” She stuck one hand on her slim hip “I trust Loyal behaved himself? He had strict orders to be nice”

“He was fine” More than fine Heat clilance toward the door, where things looked to be getting heated between hi okay out there?”

Janine frowned in their direction before turning aith a sigh and shake of her head “Mark has offered Grayson money for a veteran’s foundation, but only if Loyal steps in as the CFO”

“Ah” And given the way Loyal felt about his surprise brother, clearly, it wasn’t going over well

“My husband seeether will help theet over their animosity toward each other,” Janine continued “But they’re both so darn stubborn In truth, all three of them are stubborn”

“You’d al,” Roxanna joked

“Right?” Hisrevealed Loyal shoving through an outside exit, and Mark turned toward theave a quick head shake as he returned to the room