n Wilc

his eyes flickering for a fraction of a s

pen behind me, suddenly remembering that the regional guild inspect

ency would default on a fifty-t

ng forward with his hands raised in an

to close a difficult business deal. "You're hurt, and you have every right to be angry. I should have called you from the car instead of sending

ying to rest his h

wo of us. We'll have a nice dinner, talk it through, and set a new date. I'll even buy you th

ard, putting the woode

his offer made my sto

e ice water. "Is that what you think my dignity is worth, Chalmers? Or is that what you think it costs

the muscle leaped beneath his sk

an...

less cry echoed fro

eavily against the doorframe as if she were on

ere cardigan, her right arm wrapped from wrist to elb

ink, her lower lip quiverin

otective arm around her waist. "What are you doing here? You should

a sharp, triumphant glance at me from beneath her lashes. "When you ran out of the clinic, I knew she

t effort, taking a trembling step towar

rgive him, I promise I'll leave Coldfir Creek forever. I'll go away and never speak to him again... I'll eve

tacking dog. "Look at her, Jillian! Look at how humble and selfless she is, coming here injured just to make peace! An

ing the two of them perform t

ry subtle twitch of Edla's lips and every calculate

the ego boost of having a helpless woman look at him like a

wanted the sick satisfaction of taking

y trunk, my fingers tightening

d, dangerous smile touching the corners of my