, neither of

o business answering. She could still feel his hand against her

d she had come to the gala to save her studio, not

o his gray eyes, she sa

eli

" she w

ed her face. "T

g fighting to be seen after Julian Mercer dismis

s sa

you to stop,

, and this time Ame

aist and the other against her face. She had expected Lucas to take what

oke through the la

et sound against her mouth. His hand tight

k, his forehead re

're

. She barely knew him and had no ide

w what she

es

r gaze, then

trance, but Lucas passed the black sedan and

we going?

partm

d. Lucas turn

changed y

ou have an ap

n the

stood th

touched his mout

n the man beneath the reputation. The man who listened while she

the elevator, a

of everything-the warmth in her cheeks, her brea

d not to

int became

g very quiet

ng not to

into the

the same as

t an ache thro

ress beside his tailored tuxedo. A woman terrified of checking her

ed at her, she did

elt w

garage. Lucas led her to a dark gra

ve a driver?"

him to g

ive you

etim

sappointing

be less dis

d away to hi

shine. They did not speak, but the silence felt charged. Every

t know wha

ake, p

mistake had to

uilding near the harbor. The lobby had dark wood, warm l

pened directly

d several shelves, and a low fire burned in a stone fireplace. It was beautiful, but there were no f

legant a

whenever you wa

kno

ean

everything sound lik

ened. "Occupa

" She stepped closer.

d the small break in his

fall over a chair. Lucas gently

eli

her name sent wa

r face, and h

lia pressed closer, and Lucas wrapped his arms around her. H

d carried her to

nst the windows. Lucas set her beside th

you want m

ed his cheek

ression mattered, pausing when her breath changed and holding her with a tenderness that made her ches

voices, Julian Mercer's cruelty, and ev

not have to fight to ho

simply b

g to his heartbeat. His arm lay warm and heavy around her

ngerous," s

at

hi

for a moment

up. "You agr

y saves

n't told me what

ng. "That I haven't done anyt

e wh

omeone

sion made

him to avoid closeness, but the questions

until mornin

ssion remained unreadable, but

ta

closed

nths, she fell asleep wi

sunlight spille

know where she was. Then she re

r side w

t was silent. Lucas's clothes were gone from the chair. There w

lvet box rested

ickened as s

e with an oval pendant, tiny dark-

t it, alone in

as g