Page 2 of Wes

I wave the event’s proposal in front of me. “If you’ve described it here accurately, this is going to be unforgettable.”

Ana squeezes my forearm. “It’s going to be great. So many people are supporting this event, I’m touched.”

“That’s because Hidden Scars has assisted, as well as empowered, thousands of women since you guys started it,” I comment, bouncing my stare between Moira and Ana.

Moira nods. “True that. However, we wouldn’t be able to do much without people like you.”

I shrug and blow her a kiss to disguise the emotion gripping me by the throat. A sensation I’m all too familiar with whenever something reminds me of my late husband. To this day, I choose my causes based on the principles he taught me over a decade ago. Although Ken never met these ladies, I’m sure he would have done as much as I have, if not more, to ensure their foundation got the necessary visibility and the money to continue their mission.

The two women share a painful commonality in the fact both suffered in the hands of abusive men in their first marriages. Being badass though, they battled evil and won. With the encouragement of their current husbands, they decided to lend a hand to others in similar situations and created a foundation to that end. They named it after a song Ana’s better half wrote for her,Hidden Scars.

I shake my head to dismiss the painful thoughts and ask, “Is it true that the band has donated the rights to the songHidden Scarsto your non-profit?”

Before the musicians’ wives have a chance to answer me, Nat jumps in. “Oh, my fucking stars. These guys are amazing or what?” She pauses as if expecting me to share her enthusiasm for the members of Knight’s Edge. Since I respectfully disagree with her star-struck point of view, I offer Nat my best impression of Mona Lisa’s smile. She goes on stating, “They not only donated those rights but also regularly contribute with a percentage of their overall profits.”

I must admit that this information puts a tiny dent on my concept of celebrities. Just an itsy-bitsy dint though.

She adds, with a smirk, “I’m sorry. I realize I’ve just sounded like a crazy fan or something. In my defense, I’ve known half of the band for forever and Noahismy hero. He did help me through a shitty phase back when I was in high school.”

“Don’t sweat, lovely. We won’t tell Steve,” Moira assures her with an exaggerated wink.

“Good one!” Ana guffaws. When I furrow my brow, she clarifies, “Steve’s the reason Nat needed Noah.”

“But aren’t you and Steve married?” I ask Natalie.

She nods, a smile as wide as the horizon gracing her tanned face. “Yes, but that’s a long story for another day.”

“Agree. I understand you and Steve aren’t charging for your services?” I ask.

“That’s correct. Like I said, we’ve been organizing Knight’s Edge’s tours for so long. We feel like they’ve paid us enough that we can contribute our expertise to this fundraiser free of charge.”

“How about the staff you need to put the event together? Are they volunteering their time as well?” Moira inquiries.

“We’re planning to work with as many volunteers as possible to keep costs at the low end.”

I raise a hand as if I were still in school. The other women laugh, and I join them before saying, “Count me in. I’m great at giving orders and getting things done.”

Ana holds Nat’s gaze and points her thumb at me. “Don’t let her small frame and delicate demeanor fool you. This lady is tough as nails.”

Natalie replies, “Oh, I’m aware of that. I’ve had the privilege of working with Maria in a couple of fundraisers for Welcoming Hills. Those kids are so lucky to have her in their lives.”

My cheeks burn with the sudden influx of blood creeping up my neck and face. I change the subject to move the focus of the conversation away from me and the orphanage. “I’m curious as to why you guys are holding this event in Brazil. If it were in California, I could bring an army of volunteers on board.”

“You’ll have other opportunities to do that, don’t worry.” Moira chuckles. “This one is special because July marks the anniversary of Knight’s Edge first stadium concert. Their first sold-out tour kicked off with a show in Brazil.”

“Not to mention Sala São Paulo, the concert hall we’ve chosen, is considered one of the best in the world because of its acoustic and elegance,” Ana comments.

“And the band will be playing with a local orchestra,” Nat adds. “But don’t worry. We’ve got a lot of local non-profits contributing with their staff as well.”

Relief washes away my apprehensions. I sigh, “That’s good to hear.” I thumb the brochure to a page about the celebrity auction. Among the entertainers, the picture of a man with a mop of light brown hair and hazel eyes stands out. I drag my stare up to meet the women’s eyes before asking, “Are you sure this is a good idea? I grew up with a bunch of musicians around and I can say, from first-hand experience, that they tend to be such selfish pricks. Rockers in particular, like this Wes Baron.” I pause and glance again at his image, smiling at me. It makes the hair on my body stand, not in a creepy way, and blood rush through my veins. And those two things combined raise all my red flags as the alarms in my head blare. “I’m sure this guy doesn’t give a rat’s ass for Hidden Scars. He’s in this for the publicity stunt.”

Moira shakes her head. “Not Wes. He’s been a supporter from the get-go.”

I narrow my eyes at that notion.

Ana adds, “That’s right.”

Nat concedes, “I agree with Maria in the sense that many celebrities use good causes for their benefit, but Muse of Darkness and Knight’s Edge don’t. They’re really invested in this cause.”

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