louds in the freezing air. She stepped closer to the edge of the curb,

pray of dirty water splashed up, soaking the hem of her trench coat.

ssive, pitch-black Maybach glided down th

wed down and stopped precisely in front of her,

indow rolled down

reetlamp. The sharp, flawless profile of a

ered. It was him. The

logical explanation. A sugar mommy, she concluded instantly. He must have a very wealthy,

r shivering frame, lingering on her blue-tinted lips.

out onto the street, his long legs closing

heavy, cashmere overcoat. He stepped into her per

body heat. Alexis instinctively flin

houlders, his grip like iron. He held the c

hundred dollars?" he asked, his voice a low, dan

heer physical dominance he projected. "That

back until her spine hit the cold metal of the

dollars," he stated, h

ng in shock. "One million? Tha

into his suit pocket with one hand, pull

io recording playe

pay whatever it takes, just take me upstairs." Her

cheeks, completely overriding the winter chil

taring intently at the road ahead as if the fate of the world depended on it, though a faint tremor a

ou owe me a million dollars. You will sign a debt

pty, freezing street. She had nowhere to go. If

lding face. "Fine," she whispered, th

satisfaction. He reached past h

d into the back seat, pulling his

ing them inside the warm, leather-scented cabin. The

r console, poured a cup of steaming black tea from a thermos

nterior lights caught the edge of his sleeve. A massiv

, she thought, her grip tightening on the

rest, turning his head to watch her

s," he said lazily.

mouth to give hi

ngtone shattered the tr

pulled it out. The screen fl