mouth. The fluorescent lights of the hospital room hummed with an annoying, high-p

er leg was elevated. A "stress fracture," the doctor had said. Inell, her manager, h

his watch

He felt a familiar, dull ache of obligation toward Blanca, a debt he could never seem to finish repaying. But the sharp

tirred, her eyelashes fluttering open. "Ken?" sh

is suit jacket off. He felt grimy. He hated feeling g

ched a hand out. Her fingers

reach. "I can't. Rest, Blanca. I

before she c

The car was warm, smelling of leather and cedar.

t Kenton's in the rearview mirror. Ther

Quic

his hour, the smell of freshly brewed Colombian roast filled the hallway. Carleigh took

he air w

rle

off the marble

up, dressed, and waiting to hand him his briefc

tchen. Empty. The esp

, the duvet pulled tight. It looked like a disp

ked in his gut. Had she be

ensible slacks, the cashmere sweaters she wore around the house-were gone. But the gow

a stunt. Probably staying at a hotel to

tudy to check his em

when he

sat in the center of his mahogany de

if the objects were a bomb. He opened th

the papers. Div

woman who had practically begged for this marriage to save her father from

aph. She wanted nothing. Waiver of Spousal Support. Waiver of As

hit the bott

for Dis

ad the sentence three times. Ir

med the papers down onto the desk. The sound was like a gunshot

ying li

s fingers shook with rag

ce. Twice.

el

ick with sleep.

ll are you?"

ar the rustle of sheets. "I'm surprised you're calling. I t

apartment. What is th

mentation. I ass

king around the empty room as if someone might o

years ago, you haven't touched me since. In the eyes of the court-and the public-that'

not my m

. It's the kindest excuse I could give you. It ma

he wood bit into his palm. "You get back here

r the stay at The Plaza. The pillows are div

ne wen

ein in his temple throbbing. She wasn't