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she asked. “You’re not going to hear
    anything about the Kendall case until next week. You need to recharge, Perry, so you can get this firm back on its feet.”
    He gave a dry laugh. “I can’t afford to take a vacation.”
    “You have a million frequent flyer miles—use them.”
    “I’ll think about it,” he promised.
    “Hey, look,” she said, pointing to the TV set in the corner of the room.
    “Someone won the lottery.”
    The volume was down, but the picture showed a group of people crowded around a
    podium. Theresa reached for the remote and turned up the sound.
    “Five coworkers of Cable One Communications who work on the popular Just Between Us
    talk show have come forward with today’s winning Lot O’ Bucks ticket to claim just over thirty-eight million dollars.”
    “We were just talking about that show,” Theresa said.
    The camera panned the winners quickly, and anyone not looking for the slight woman with
    the honey-colored ponytail would’ve missed her.
    “That’s her,” Perry said, lurching forward. “That’s Jane Kurtz!”
    Theresa gave a little laugh and went back to her fried rice. “Looks like you didn’t have to
    spring for that tire after all. Something tells me that Jane Kurtz will be buying a whole new car.”

Chapter 7

    “Are you still walking on air?” Eve asked.
    Jane laughed into her phone. “When I left this morning, my life was normal, and now I’m
    driving home a millionaire—it’s mind-boggling.”
    “I still can’t believe it,” Eve said. “Everyone is calling for an interview.
    This is a media storm! Are you sure you don’t want to participate?”
    “I’m sure,” Jane said. “I’m not comfortable in front of the camera. You guys can handle it.
    Have you decided what to do about the show?”
    “No…but a couple of days of hiatus will do everyone some good, I think.”
    Jane smirked—Cole Crawford was no dummy. Putting the show on hiatus would free up
    Eve to appear on other talk shows and raise her visibility. With the money at their disposal, he and Eve could form their own production company…the sky was the limit. “It’ll be nice to have a couple of days to let things soak in,” she agreed.
    “What are you going to do first?” Eve asked. “Something sensible, I’m sure.
    Maybe buy a new car, but nothing too fancy?”
    She knew her friend was only teasing, but the realization that people expected her to do
    something…expected rankled her. “I don’t know. I might surprise everyone.”
    “Right,” Eve said dryly. “And do what? Buy a new TV? A new washer and dryer?”
    “Maybe,” Jane conceded, then squirmed in her seat. “I haven’t wrapped my mind around
    the possibilities yet.”
    “Oh, that’s Cole beeping in. Can I talk to you later?”
    “Sure,” Jane said. “Talk soon.”
    “Okay.”
    Jane disconnected the call and gripped the steering wheel tight. The day had been surreal—
    the trip to the lottery office, signing the back of the ticket, attending the hastily-arranged press conference. She had hung back, allowing her more camera-ready friends to answer questions
    from the media. Her mind still reeled with the wonder of having so much money. Her parents,
    God rest their souls, would never have been able to grasp the concept of her share.
    “Six point three million dollars,” she murmured, testing the number on her tongue. Then
    she grinned. “Six point three million dollars,” she said, louder.
    “Six point three million dollars!” she shouted, pounding on the steering wheel.
    The man sitting in the car next to her in traffic looked at her as if she was crazy, sending a flush to climb her face. She settled back in her seat, but a smile crept over her mouth. “Six point three million dollars,” she whispered.
    She wondered if anyone else knew—and who she should tell. Most of her friends were her
    coworkers, so they knew. As far as her neighbors…
    Perry Brewer. A smirk curved her mouth. She wouldn’t have