work emails when the pe

to be back until seven, and Sophia had left hours ago. The sec

ator doo

nel suit stepped out, followe

kind of posture that suggested she'd been trained to walk with books on her head. Diamonds gli

isp and carrying. "You must be the g

ll open. "I-wha

one of the guest rooms. "I'm Elena Mercer. Leon's grandmother. And

cer, I ca

m twelve different people." Elena moved to the windows, surveying the view like she owned it. Which, Aria supposed,

was wearing leggings and an oversized sweater with a coffee

was pure mischief. "I have a key. And unlike

ing to be

teresting." Elena turned those sharp eyes on Aria, ass

that

ap." Elena moved closer, studying Aria's face like she was reading a book. "But you

ot terr

's a life raft." Elena gestured at Aria's h

lf to breathe. "Would you like some coffe

stuff, not whatever swi

"It's four in

lena settled onto the couch like a queen claiming a throne. "Besides, I'm

ured two fingers of what looked like ex

having any?"

drink in the af

roving sound. Now sit. Tell me everything. And do

of the opposite couch.

n to marry m

o

he was when you si

ame. I didn't

u love

like a punch. "I

not what

on't love him. I am not even s

a delighted smile. Per

is per

inutes of meeting him. Love his money, love his power, love his face."

'm honest. He think

mother thought everyone was lying." Elena's expression softened. Paranoia runs in the family and so

know what to

like a chess player moving pieces. The Hales. Old money, n

na.

e is

text saying she had an emergency." Aria's hands twisted in her lap. "

? What do they t

They don't know yet. I've

hy

ore Aria could stop them. Ariana is the favorite. "The perfect daught

"How long have they ma

painfully accurate, that Aria's

he make you feel

n, the way he looked at her like he was trying to solve a p

h a decisive click. That boy has been alone for too long. Built too many walls. Trusted too few

ing to contr

ous to him." Elena leaned forward.

eas

le. And for God's sake, don't let him treat you like you're temporary." Elena's vo

respond, the ele

peared. "Whose luggage is" He stopped dead when he

on and his new wife

just show up

tood, somehow still commanding despite being a foot shorter than Leon. "Besides, s

s eyes cut to Aria. "Wh

uld stop apologizing for ex

I like her, Leo

dmot

heek like he was six years old. "Now, I'm staying for dinner. I assume you were going to order something rid

is my

ailed past him toward the guest wing. "I'll be in my usual room. D

llway, leaving Leon and Ari

een hit by a truck. "I'

ike

ped toward Ar

she's not. Aria stood, gathering her laptop. "Plus sh

ompliment. It

o? You

at electricity crackled b

see the silver flecks in his gray eyes, the tension in his shoulders, the w

dinner," Aria said, her voice c

aren

e? I don't know the protocol

e messy bun, the coffee-stained sweater, the leggings. "

sound upset

not

definite

she likes you, it means she sees something in you. And if she sees somethin

what

He looked at her, and the raw honesty in his eyes stol

ion hung be

eo

y, shutting down. We eat at seven. Try not t

Aria standing in the living room with

st admitted he was

e terrifying than anythin

os in the best

chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, glazed vegetables, fresh bread, an

his right, Aria to his left. The seating arrangement felt signi

after her first bite of chi

ws my tastes. Elena turned to Leon. When was th

t at

ot a meal. That is fuel. Elena speared a piece of chi

alfway to his mouth.

for subtle." Elena turned to Aria. "T

ly local businesses." Aria felt Leon's

tellers are rare. Elena's eyes gleamed. Leon told me you saved your

toward Leon. "You

carefully neutral. "I

a corrected. Went on for ten minutes about your strategy and

shed. I was pro

our wife. Elena's smile w

ndmo

That is half the fun of being old. She turned back to Ari

ill processing the fact that Leon had bragg

eaks English properly, and

is not

ion, darling." Elena reached over and patted his hand.

y know e

in the morning. Told her to be especially kind. Elena's eyebro

sink through the floor. "You t

hild. Elena turned to Aria. "Has h

omething about

ry traditional. Very..." Elena waved her hand. "Old. But

. The emerald neckla

s will complement her

is for, Leon s

arp. "For family? She is family,

arily f

ike a slap. Aria'

"Nothing is temporary if yo

e. The tension was so thic

," Aria said quietly. Whatever Le

n. Apologetic. Diminished. She stood, her napkin dropping onto her plate

at the use of his full

hands on her shoulders. This girl did not ask to marry you. She didn't scheme or plan or manipulate. She was doing a favor for her ungrat

, you don't

aster and you swore you would never be vulnerable like they were." Elena's voice gentled. "But Aria is not Vanessa. She

one had ever defended her like this.

hispered. "It i

zed her shoulders. "But it wi

ure so maternal it broke something loose

der. "You two figure it out yourselves. And Leon

oor closed with

n sat in rin

n finally said.

oked at him across the t

ri

tood, her legs shaking but her voice steady. "I didn't ask for this marriage. But I am here. And for the next six months, I am

room, then stopped a

ndmother is right a

t's

ot the one who needs to be prot

sitting alone

read and failing, when a

e called, exp

ped insid

e'd ever seen him. His hair was messy, like he had been r

ma

talk?" h

own her bo

stantly. Cheated on each other. Used me as a weapon in their battles." His voice was flat, emotionless. "When I was twelve, my moth

eart cra

o could leave." He turned to face her. "Then Vanessa happened. And she proved I was

not Va

keep my distance and count down the days until this ends. But you are not. You are kind and stubborn and bri

caught. "What

bed, maintaining careful distance. "Because I am starting to care. And caring m

hung in the a

im time to pull away. When he did

er no one wanted. The sister who wasn't enough. And then I accidentally marry you, and suddenl

gers threading through hers

o you

handle five minutes with her." His thumb brushed over her knuckles. "And because wh

ha

y there stole her breath. "I do not

orld

eo

rted as a mistake." His grip on her hand tightened. "But maybe... mayb

against her ribs. "You

u is real or just proximity and circumstances." He leaned clos

I have felt it since you firs

ed. "Even when I w

I forgot to be small." A smile tugged

me was a praye

e to pull away. When she didn't-when she me

ve. Asking fo

his hair, pulling him

face, his thumb tracing her cheekbone. Aria's other hand fi

both breathing hard, Leon res

sane," he

ely," Ar

ld be a d

bly wi

re doing

eyes. "We are already married. Might a

eautiful thing she had ever

possib

this time. Savoring. "Fair warning-I'm not good at

ing I am

ally ar

ed his jawline with her finger. "But maybe that's the p

ed a kiss to her palm. "Six mo

ave t

days. People will ask questions. Your family will find out.

" Aria's voice was steady.

d like it was foreign. "I

to

d reluctantly. "I should go. Le

s tomo

of my family. My mother arrived in the city today. S

h dropped. "Y

emanded to meet you before the gala." He moved toward the doo

cannot drop that b

sed at the doorway

e impos

" He winked. "We are p

Aria alone with her racing heart a

to her mouth, still fe

r had just

nted to try ma

er was coming to i

to her pillows and s

m invisible to insane

terrifyi

change a si