t in Alaina's hands. She

too much. I ca

part of my allowance. If you don't take it, you'r

nt appeal for him to intervene. It was

, dabbing his lips with a lin

with it. You're part of the Wynn family n

ocked every path of refusal. S

ser. Her eyes, however, sud

, what's that

, covering the faint red mark left

isn't so 'cold-blooded' after all," she said, drawing out the wo

and completely at a loss for words, her independent,

ed. He was a man of action, completely unequipped to handle his adopted daughter's blatant teasi

ned back to Alaina, noticing how stiff and uncomfortable the

liked her, Addie reasoned inwardly. I might as well play the good guy and

s, Addie's overly eager, expectant grin

ing in, "maybe you should get a gift for my da

y trying to pl

o regain her composure. She deliberately emphasized the names. "Mr. Wynn and

grow even colder, masking a flicker of

st, grabbed her backpack, and gave Alaina a parting shot. "The g

g room fell silent again, the

ina stood up. "Mr. Wynn, I'd like to go

ong moment, then nodded.

he needed a pocket of spac

given her, she chose the one for the

he dense New York traffic gave her time t

as a beautiful red-brick building, worn by time but

fore it. The key felt solid in her han

ng golden shafts in the air. The space was vast but

with plans, with layouts and light studies. This place was her sa

of dust and old wood filling her l

eam she'd worked with before. She would get this place running. It was t

ts, a voice she never wanted to he

ancy seein

ooth, laced with