rm, intimidating glow over everything. Esther's wet sneakers squeaked on the polished floor, leaving a trail of dark foot

r suitcase and walked toward

an I help you?" Her tone was professional, but her eyes scanned Esth

here," Esther said, her voice trembling sl

keyboard. "Davenport, you said?" The name seemed to cause a flicker of

looking

and steady. It cam

It was him. The sharp line of his jaw, the dark, unreadable eyes-it was undeniably him. He

the cold, the hunger, the raw, overwhelming emotion-it all converged in that s

ees bu

d around her, catching her and holding her steady. She was pressed agains

eadable. He felt the icy cold of her skin through her thin jacket, the violent shiver that ran throu

ked away in an alcove. The plush velvet armchair felt like heaven. He spoke quietly to a p

, the warmth slowly seeping into her bones. She

whispered, not

esting on his knees. He wasn't looking at her with pity, but with a

reached into her pocket and pulled out the wrinkl

aper. His eyes scanned the report, lingering for a moment on the words "12 we

ne?" he asked. His vo

n and met his gaze directly. "Yes," she said, her voice stronger n

ut. "I didn't come here for money. I just..

flicker of something unreadable passed through his own. His gaze drifted to the raw scrape on he

y test. Instead, he asked a differ

n't thought that far ahead. Her only plan

honestly. "A better one. I

be weighing options, running calculations in his head.

nd unwavering. His next words were quiet, bu

u need a home. We

had misheard. The words made no se

d. "Why? We don't ev

other is pressuring me to settle down. A pregnant wife-my pregnant wife-would be

a contract. A marriage of convenience. We would live separately under the same roof. No emo

isbelief. It was insane. A crazy, desperate

ght of the deadbolt clicking shut, of her mother's cruel face, of the terrify

ht in her gut. It was heavier than her fear of the unk

, his voice softening almost imperceptibly. He pulled a pen from his jacket po

ut a thick fold of cash. "Here. Find a ho

er the money

were hot. Her pride, the last thing she had

ll piece of paper wi