get to.” Liana laughed softly.
“Yeah, yeah. You know how much I enjoy those things. You’re the one who does “Cinderella” well. I work myself up to it and I still hate it. Now tell what you’re wearing.”
“A coral dress that’s not too revealing but not too stuffy. It’s difficult to find something decent in this town that doesn’t involve T&A display.” They both laughed. “So now I’m getting my nails done to match and then having my hair done. Not going coral with the hair though. I had to draw the line somewhere.
“The three major networks have confirmed a TV crew. Watch the news tonight and you’ll see. I’m betting cable shows up too. Your sending your movie-star friends made a huge difference. Suddenly it’s the party to attend. Even politicians and government people are showing up. The seating arrangements have been a nightmare.”
“Let Sebastian handle everything. He’s the event planner. I just want you to have fun. You’ve earned it.”
They chatted for a few more minutes and Jas enjoyed Liana’s excitement. This was an amazing recognition for something both Jas and Liana had simply needed to do for their own sanity. Opening the Hope Center for Women was possible because of Jas’ connections to the money floating around Southern California, as well as a heavy investment of her own. But running it was Liana’s baby. It was the road back to being whole for Liana.
Beautiful Liana was no longer a broken shell of a woman. Her spirit had been poured into helping other women in need. The acts of healing performed for others were the medicine that healed both of them. Jas couldn’t take back that one night when she’d promised to look after her friend and failed miserably. What she could do was make up for it. Well, sort of. It was probably a little unbalanced to need to keep fixing what had been broken so long ago.
Liana had never really needed “fixing”. Her strength was not as apparent as Jas’, but it was probably much deeper.
They’d found a way to use the experience, make it a stepping stone to changing others’ lives.
* * * * *
It was after eight in the evening when Barry pulled the door shut in the big editing trailer. It was permanently parked next to the hotel since some of the equipment in it was too sensitive for the rough ride out to location. The only people in it were Blaster, Barry and Jas.
“We need to talk and I thought this might be the most private place to do it. Jas, I asked Blaster to come out here to find out what’s going on. He’s the most dangerous man I know and we need serious help.”
Jas raised an eyebrow. She could believe that, though no power on earth would make her admit it.
“You’re ex-military. You know what a Special Forces unit is, right?” Barry directed the question to Jas. “Blaster was a member of one of the most elite.”
“Hey now,” Blaster interjected.
Jas snorted, “Right.” She sat down on one of the swivel stools as she continued. “Did Huckleberry actually tell you that? He’s obviously compensating for something. Using the term “elite” is handy that way. No way to prove he was in such a unit and no way to prove he wasn’t.”
“She’s right.” Blaster consciously relaxed. Going along with her misconception was neat and simple. He tried to appear sheepish and vaguely guilty. No telling if he managed to wipe the glazed, sexual predator look off his face.
Barry glanced between them. “I see. Then what was the designation of your unit? I’m trying to impress her with your expertise to handle this situation. Help me out.”
Blaster ran a hand around the back of his neck and grimaced a bit. “I’m ex-Special Forces. The unit is now retired. Enough to say we never trained a replacement.” Again he went for a sincere open look. She already knew way too much about his urges. This wasn’t the time to let her focus on