room. Instead, low voices drifted in from the hallway as a bodyguar

up from the sofa and walked quietly across the rug to th

de. The freezing November wind whipped at her tr

Royce Phantom. The streetlights stretched the shadows of tw

t in front of him was Chastity Harper, wearing a thin white cashmere dress and shivering as she looked up at him. Since her

to a fit of heavy coughing, her body swaying as

steady her shoulders, his posture

into his chest, wrapping both arms tightly around

s no anger in her chest, only the absurd sensation of watching a cheap soap opera play out

Still holding Aloys around the waist, she tilted her he

d to move in the dim light. From where Chastity stood, she couldn't make o

t. He looked up toward the terrace, but the distance and darkness ma

red from view. Candice had already turned away and walked back

darkened. He pushed Chastity back

you back to your hotel

y pooling in her eyes as she whispered, "A

is necktie to loosen it, turned his back on

the half-smoked cigarette into a crystal as

levator chimed. Heavy, steady f

te autumn night and the faint scent of cedarwood cologne. His

her spine straight in her tailored coat,

as a tight, restless heat twisted inside his chest. He walked over to the oppo

m b

bletop, she reached out with two fingers and slid the packet of papers

oment he read the bold black letters of the Uncontest

ing room turned su

ing hard at Candice's calm f

of this?" he ground o

eyes to meet his dark gaze,

it says. Sig