n Grandma's old

sper, predictably, had shown up - carrying

n usual. "Is your grandmother already asl

d hit me all over again, sharp

to the velvet boxes sti

cou

et." He said. "We only have two weeks left before the wedding.

ter, but somehow can't b

r fro

ming. The project's at a critical sta

can single-handedly stall an entire project if she leaves. Compared to t

entence without t

ady being

closer, dropp

et her go. Whatever you think t

just to promise me you'll

andmother's place without a word - of course I as

and pulled me

, and beneath it, the mate bond gave an instincti

t tou

his arms tightened, pulling

. Let me hold yo

er. L

tually talked

king to the couch and sitting down

ht, watching me, impatienc

at your grandmother's just to punish me? I've alr

, I was obligated to believe it - whether or not the explanation actual

d out the jade bracelet, and t

locked onto

for this, didn'

moment, then stopped

es

he'd admitted it fas

's handling the gift for the project team, and

h

Every boundary she crossed came out sounding perfectly

lm around it. "If you want it, you're

ce dar

n two weeks, and you're still k

es

used to be

o take another wom

g room we

to change my mind. Unfortunately, seven years of letting t

d out his phone and

offee table, a deposit n

check it?" h

nd counted the n

ion only so

you cared about

ntion." I set the phone down. "Seven years to

ou

elet toward him. "You'll get to know me

reach

were about to close

clean crack. Fractures spread instantly,

d down at the

threatening to surf

n't hold o

ead slowly, his eye

that on

y. What would I gain from

h other before the wedding." His voice went cold. "Stay her

nd headed f

ai

his shoulders

r an argument reached this point and he started walking away, I'd p

round, his voice

t is

t." I pointed at the shattered jade on

in the

shed instantly, replaced by a

the rest of your life," he ground out. "You

h to the Moon G

went de

into the side of his face. He looked at me for a long momen

rn into this?" h

his voice, something like disappointment - as

ed him,

oser to peeling something out of your own bones, inch by inch, and every part of i

as, asking wh

ourself what you've bee

sharply. "Are we really going to keep fi

a finger

neighbors

cing the pheromones rolling

d settled back into

ll try to clear my schedule and

n't a

lence as surrender and