The Wolf's Gambit: The Heiress's Revenge

white tablecloth. Vanessa Sterling stared at the stone, watching the way the cand

nine-

ting, Miss

d by professional courtesy. This was the third time he had filled her water glass.

ized her epigastrium. It wasn't just nerves or emotion; it was a cortisol spike triggering a vascular constriction in her stomach lining. The physiological cost of five years

inst the table made her jump. She snatched it

a notification

and walked out. She didn't look at the waiter. She couldn't bear the confirmation in his eyes that she was exactly

he called an Uber, her thumb hovering over the address for the Sterling esta

g happened. Ma

. He looked at the wet hem of her dress, then at her face. "Miss Sterli

id, pushing past him before he could

sucked the air from her lungs. Her palms were sweating. She w

ors sl

the kind of music you played when you wanted to drown out the

room were slightly ajar. Through the gap, she saw the fir

t undone-the way she liked it. But his arm wasn't draped over the ba

d her head. Bea

Beatrice. The cousin of the man who ruled Wall Street. The woman wh

eck. It was a devouring, hungry kiss, filled

ver her mouth. Tears blurred her vision instantly, hot and stinging. She backed away, he

Close

just as the lau

her ribs like a trapped bird. She needed a drink. She needed

w the awning of a luxury hotel across the street. She pushed through the revolvi

. Double

ll of fire. She ordered another. Then another. The edges of the world began to so

ouldn't go back to her unc

ning heavily against the wall. The doo

esidential Suite level. Why not? She had her unc

interjected. It was a large hand, long finge

rs boun

step

om the night sky, tailored to perfection. He didn't look at her. He pressed the button f

but even through the haze, she could see the sharp l

cedarwood. It was a c

Caleb was with Beatrice. Caleb was happy. Why

tep toward t

olished steel doors, his eyes were not indifferent. They were sharp, assessing, like a

e slurred, her voice

t over her wet dress, her messy hair, her tear-stained cheeks. There was a flicker

s voice was a deep rumble,

fingers grazing the sleeve of his jacket. The fabric w

oked at her hand on his arm, then back

nge," he stated. I

playing a dangerous game, one she didn't know the rules to, but the adrenaline was better

The doors opened to

he said nothing. He just studied her, like a pr

s mouth quirked up. A

you wish for

pulling her flush against his hard body. He guided her out of

. She let the d

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