ays prided her

ing her emotions locked away, on never lett

ckwood was not

s a f

as far mor

car as they rode toward the investor meeting. He was revie

sn't looking

ooking at

bsent precision. There was something unsettling about the way h

ze away, exhali

Adrian remarked,

kirt. "Just reviewing the

pa

't suit you,

him. His eyes were still on the pape

k

rse, h

n thickened with every passing second. By the time they a

d the room, watched the way investors listened when he

re time, she was

his presence

rush of his slee

ooth cadence

s were not

ful men before. But Adria

nstead, Adrian placed a hand at the small of her back-a fleetin

ng for lunch,

ated. "I did

d

at was

-

– Anot

nd dim lighting. It wasn't the kind of place

Blackwood

l talk. Instead, he

ignore it, but i

, Miss Locke?" His voi

her posture straight. "That

d. "And yet,

delibera

follow order

d. "I don't follow o

is head slightl

, taking a slow sip of wat

, watching her. "I

ad opt

ne of them would have enter

eath h

time, Adrian

it. She

f them moved

tween them

n't sure she w