e

pounding ins

nything I had ever owned. Warm light spilled across my cl

. Br

cracke

thrown wide to a balcony and a bright morning sky. The ceiling abov

n't my a

ain on the ceiling and a wi

the room swayed. My h

hispered. "

me in slowly, t

my waist, dragging me toward the door. Julian'

st his chest.

wled up

d. A glass of water pressed into my hands. His quiet voice asking, aga

re. That was

ulling him closer by his collar, and the way his breath caught, and how the w

," I b

was on f

I turned

his waist. Dark hair falling over his forehead. A sharp jaw, rela

n Sin

e man who nearly ran me over.

be signing Jordan's pa

up in my throat, and I cl

had I

e. Just get out be

cool under my bare feet. My black dress lay in a crumpled heap near the ar

as my u

carpet. A strap by the bed. No, that

en beneath a pil

down to

ng alr

fr

but there was nothing sleepy abo

ting up in bed

cold as it had been in the car outside the restaurant, when he l

from last nig

e underwear against my

ood without a trace of embarrassment, reaching for his

le clicked. The sound of a shirt being

word. Not e

clumsy. The silence in the room stretch

heard a s

y the dresser with his wallet open. He pulled out a th

ke

d at th

at

is t

tly flat. "Last night was a one-time arrangeme

ngem

into my ches

t even finish. "Do you hones

lift of one shoulder, like

care what

of it took m

nd the night with me always expect something i

s disg

proud girl who didn't want my money. 'I'd rather wear mud.' Very dramatic. But you

curled in

d you to pay

you acc

r nearly killing me!" My voice cracked.

face?" His eyebrow ro

ow the nearest

ly, tr

hroat. Because the worst part wasn't what he'd said. It was

en so, s

hating how small my voice

Something unreadable passed over hi

wallet as if I had refused a stick of g

ke that

n't apologize. Didn'

out looking up, "don't acc

ked. "

the bar, you wouldn't be standing here complaining about my mone

d hard, because

his arm around my waist, the way my legs wo

mach t

e. Part of me even wa

untouched, and the words died in my mouth. How could I

"Everyone says you're heartless.

id no

just kept fix

ehow, his silence was

was how he wan

p with trembling fingers, then scooped my

sed around

d turned back

everyone just because you

me, his hand pau

to see what

the door behind me so har

bare feet, my heels dangling from my fingers, ignoring the stares of every

the window an

partment, the smell of damp walls and old c

y and tossed it into the corner, along with th

my tiny, beat-up living

uttered. "S

board. Half a box of cereal. A jar of peanu

thought about the mo

onth of rent, pro

w tig

o

believe I had slept with him for payment. I had nothing l

less shrug. Jordan's smug face from yesterday, and Julian's f

ereal box down

"Rich or poor, th

left, then stood there with a spoon in my hand, s

t. Just eat an

d up th

hone

mp. I grabbed it off the c

rd

istake he'd made. He was probably going to b

t of me waited for

No contact name. Just

ybe? Or my landlord, calling to

t let i

econd, I swip

el

as warm and professional. "My name is Nanc

of my fingers and cl

ry,

smile in her voice. "You registered with

utoring job. I had called, emailed, even stopped by i

le right now. We

never

e, I had sto

ly dropping the phone. "Yes

your qualifications. It's a full-time, liv

ve

place to live. A real salary. A way

is why I'll be honest. There are several candidates i

afte

ck. Can yo

he clock. "Yes! Yes, of

t impression, Tessa. The

ch, I really-wait, who's

ic

ne wen

e away from my ea

I said

ge. An address. A long one, in the wealthiest part

ails. Just a ti

onto the kitchen chair

n position. Pay high enough to ma

hired a nan

at the back of my head whisper that