ght with mischief and a dangerous spark of challenge. For the fir

a single finger and gently,

d, her voice a low purr, "a d

she closed the small distance betwe

ght, shockingly brief,

d something else-a cool, clean scent that was un

distance between them. She gave him a sly wink. "As for

d back to her unremarkable Ford. The engine started, and she wa

st his own lips. The warmth of her touch still lingered. He w

wild, unfamiliar sensation for a man

er father, Arthur, her stepmother, Jimmie, and her steps

been, Heidi?"

asm. "Getting some fresh air. I was, after a

nly wanted to see the heirloom, I didn't want him to touch me..." Mid-sentence,

No need to explain so much." She

oking Central Park. The moment he was through th

eper than usual. "I want everything. From the day she was born. I

. The surprise was evident on his usually composed

replayed the day's events in his mind. Her calculated plan at the party.

that

ediocre grades, likely a legacy admission. A socialite with a penchant for parties and a mes

ily encrypted file arrived on

arton School online business courses during her time at Yale, finishing top of the

ss his face. Of course. She wasn't a party girl. She wa

to himself, looking at a photo o

want a two-year ally. He wanted her. The thought took r

ent activities. She was actively searching for a bride for him, a way to

and entirely negative report on Heidi-the one that painted her as a brai

, a woman she believed she could easily control and who would tarnish Chac

de chosen by Carleigh. He would be 'force

a hidden room behind a bookshelf. There were no ram

the leg pr

weight to t

ved were paralyzed, he effortlessly pu

ghts glittered in th