Free Here Comes Trouble by Anna J. Stewart Page B

merging with the Juliano clan was the addition of youngest sibling twins Gina and Liza to the center’s roster of employees. Originally both girls had been working for Sheila, but there was a natural alliance between Gina and Morgan that mirrored the one Sheila and Liza shared. “Just glad we took your mother’s advice to keep you separated,” she called after Liza.
    She and Morgan might have had their moments of sibling argumentativeness, but they paled in comparison to the Juliano girls. And yet, they managed to work around their frustration with each other. Sheila had to admit Liza was as much a younger version of Sheila as Gina was to Morgan. Sibling rivalry aside, both girls were devoted to the Tremayne Foundation and getting the Pediatric Cancer Treatment Center up and running. They got along well enough at work that the load off Sheila’s and Morgan’s shoulders had been life changing. The opportunity to be home by six most nights? Who knew it was possible? Not that she ever was.
    Between organizing the gala and Chadwick’s art auction, overseeing the construction of the center’s entertainment facility and finalizing Nemesis’ latest job, along with the paintings she needed to copy . . . she was lucky to have time to breathe. But the center . . . a blossom of pride formed within her.
    They were so close to realizing Morgan’s dreams, their mother’s dream. Short of a cure for cancer, the center was going to be the next best thing and for the first time in years, Sheila felt as if she was participating in the process instead of sitting on the sidelines. While Morgan had learned to ask for help, Sheila had learned that she had to stop waiting and act.
    If only what had to be done on her part didn’t terrify her to the point of panic.
    First things first. She picked up the phone and dialed, ready to get her part of the center completed and marked off her list.
    ***
    A few hours later, Sheila climbed out of her car, phone attached to her ear. “No, take the search out nationwide, Liza.” She handed her keys over to the valet in front of Caprianos and scurried around the car to the entrance. The European-inspired bistro was one of the best-kept secrets in Lantano Valley and Sheila took every opportunity to enjoy their spectacular if not calorie-laden meals. That’s what treadmills were for, right? “We need a tech company willing to both supply the hardware and oversee the—”
    Head down, mind askew, she slammed into a semi-solid form and sent her phone flying out of her hand the second she walked inside. “Oh, for the love of—Malcolm.” Christopher Columbus, but the universe was conspiring against her today. “Sorry. Distracted. Didn’t see you there.” But she took a deep breath, found a polite smile. “Hi.”
    “Hello.” Was that humor she heard in his voice? And dammit, did he have to turn that smile of his on so bright?
    “Did you see where my phone—”
    “Miss Tremayne.” A uniformed server, clad in crisp black with a stark white apron tied around his waist, held out her phone. “Your guest is waiting for you at the table your assistant requested.”
    “Thank you, Jeremy.” Sheila shifted into professional mode. “Liza, sorry.” She held up a finger to let Malcolm know she’d be done in a second. “Yeah, just get me that list of tech companies and we’ll go from there. And call Gina in to help us with calls for as long as anyone’s still at their desks. I’ll stop at the office after dinner and go over the list so the two of you can go home.”
    “Problem?” Malcolm asked once she clicked off.
    She tried to wave it off. “The tech company that was supposed to supply the wireless system for the entire Pediatric Cancer Treatment Center bailed on us.” A new bout of anxiety wobbled inside her. She’d promised Morgan she’d have the entertainment complex up and running by the night of the gala. With the deep pockets that would be in attendance, they wanted to show the