Page 56 of The Stone Family Warrior

The look on Trent’s face told her he wasn’t happy. “No way, Luce. We have plans.”

“Hey!” Cheryse stepped out of the car, not to be left out. “Twice in one week.”

“Yeah.” Liberty let Cheryse sweep her into a quick hug. “Back in South Port is crazy.”

Cheryse looked them up and down. “You guys weren’t planning on going to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, were you?”

“Cheryse, we have to get in there.”

A man stepped out from the driver’s side of the car. Liberty figured that this was Roger. He gave all of them a curt nod. “Hello.” He put his hand out to Liberty. “I assume you are Liberty. I picked Cheryse up from your place the other night.” His tone was more than a little familiar; Trent and Hunter had been spot on when they’d impersonated him the other day.

She put on a formal tone. “Hello, and you must be Roger.”

He gave her a funny look. “Do we know each other?”

Liberty tried to dismiss the memory of them making fun of him. She cleared her throat. “No. I was just …” She glanced at Trent, who was staring at her curiously. “Remembering something.”

“Oh,” Roger said, eyeing Trent with a bit of disdain. Blatantly, he gave him a sweeping look. “Are you coming to this?”

Cheryse swatted him on the arm. “Roger, you look like such a snob right now. What if he is? Does it really matter if they aren’t dressed up?”

Roger didn’t move his gaze from Trent.

All the teasing and fun vanished from Trent’s face, and he looked at Roger like the Navy SEAL he was. “I think I will go,” Trent said, his tone formal.

Roger hesitated.

Lucy laughed and put her arm around Liberty. “You are coming to my Christmas Eve party tomorrow, aren’t you?” She nodded to Trent. “I told him to ask you.”

There was some kind of standoff going between Trent and Roger, and Liberty thought about how Cheryse had revealed all the horrors of her ex-husband. She imagined Trent and Hunter were very protective of her. Liberty focused her attention on Lucy. “I think so.”

Lucy clapped in delight.

“Hey there.” Matt Townsend strolled over and put his arm around Lucy. “Wait, Liberty Grey? Wow, it’s been forever.” He hugged Liberty too.

“It has.” She was happy for Lucy and Matt.

“We have to get in there,” Roger said, taking Cheryse by the hand.

Cheryse and Trent were having some kind of wordless conversation. “Fine,” Cheryse said, turning from Trent and putting out her arm for a hug from Liberty. “So we’ll see you tomorrow night then?”

Liberty hugged her. “Yes.”

“Nice to meet you,” Roger said, tipping his head toward her. “I’ll look forward to talking more tomorrow.”

She didn’t know about that, but she nodded politely. “Sounds good.”

Lucy gave her an exasperated look and wagged a finger at her. “I’m so glad you’re back.”

“Are you back for good?” Matt asked.

“Selling the place.” Liberty grinned at him. “Your guys are doing a good job, too."

Matt was about to respond, but Roger cut him off. “Selling, are you? It’s a good time to sell.”

Liberty slowly turned to Roger. She didn’t like the way his eyes gleamed like he was concocting a plan. “Is it?”

“It is. Have you thought about donating some of it to a good cause?” He snapped his fingers. “You could divert the money for tax purposes.”

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