Free All I Ever Wanted by Francis Ray

director is flying down next week for a fact-finding and planning meeting. I’ll let you know.”
    Nodding, the tension easing out of her, Naomi went back to emptying the bags. She hadn’t been rejected or made to feel as if she were worthless. She hadn’t let fear rule her. She just had to keep reminding herself that she had something to offer. She almost smiled. She couldn’t wait to tell Richard.
    Finished, they folded the empty paper shopping bags and put them in the stack. They saved the bags for women to carry away their items.
    “Thanks again for the donations,” Naomi said.
    “I had fun,” Sierra said. “I have to admit, there’s also a couple of outfits in the car for me. Besides Blade, clothes and food are my two weaknesses.”
    Once it might have been hard for Naomi to imagine a woman smiling about a man being her weakness, but she’d been around the Graysons and their spouses long enough to realize that loving the right man was a good thing. The trouble was finding him.
    Watching the younger woman, who had such a zest for life and was in such a good mood, Naomi thought it was the perfect time to bring up her request. “Sierra, if you don’t mind, could you please recommend a Realtor?”
    One perfectly arched brow lifted regally. Sierra folded her arms and simply stared at Naomi. Her easygoing demeanor and smile were gone.
    Naomi swallowed and rushed to explain. “Richard said to ask you, but I can’t afford the homes you list. I didn’t know when you helped me find an apartment that you handled only upscale properties, and now you’re married to a billionaire.”
    “And you think that changed me?”
    “No.” Naomi quickly shook her head. She always messed things up, just like her ex said she did. “You’re always nice to me and Kayla.”
    Sierra’s arms unfolded, her face softening. Reaching out, she gently touched Naomi’s arm in comfort. “Then you don’t want to hurt my feelings, do you?”
    “No. You’ve been wonderful to me. Your whole family has.” Half the things in her kitchen and home were housewarming gifts from Richard and the Graysons. It wasn’t just the gifts that they gave her, it was their friendship and acceptance that counted for so much more.
    “Good, then I’m your Realtor. I need to go to the car, but I’ll be back.” Sierra headed for the front of the building.
    Naomi followed Sierra out to the reception area. She saw Aaron open the door just before Sierra rushed through. A man emerged from the driver’s side of the black Lincoln parked at the curb and opened the back door. Bending to reach inside, she emerged with something in her hand and hurried back. Aaron opened the door again and followed her inside. Naomi saw that Sierra had an iPad, her slim manicured fingers moving quickly over the screen.
    “Why don’t we step into one of the counseling offices? Aaron can watch the front, if that’s all right with you.” Sierra lifted her head and waited for an answer.
    She was giving Naomi a choice and privacy. She understood Naomi’s need to have both. Richard had been right about choosing Sierra. “All right.”
    This time it was Naomi who followed Sierra into one of the offices, but neither sat in one of the comfortable chairs. “What kind of house are you looking for? What neighborhood?”
    “Something I can afford, with a yard for Kayla to have a swing, maybe a puppy later on.”
    Sierra’s fingers paused over the keyboard. She looked up. “What about what you want?”
    “To be safe,” Naomi answered before she thought and wanted to tuck her head in shame, but Sierra’s gaze was already on the screen as she resumed typing.
    “Then we’ll look in those neighborhoods where you will be. To ensure your safety even more once you have your house, I’ll ask Rio to put in a security system.”
    As much as she liked the idea, she knew she couldn’t afford the type of system Rio would probably install. “That will cost a lot of money. Maybe I can get