the hum of the engine and the drumming of Clara's fingers on her l

ld have

turn the car around, to stand up and depart, to

million

d them. It meant her studio, her medical bills,

head-on into th

knuckled around the steering wheel with practiced command. The scent of his cologne-woodsy musk and s

didn't

iet, the city's noisy chaos fading into the dista

s. Or for men who though

e had been p

d. The tension was suffocating.

look at her

cked. He kn

hy

round the wheel. Just

always prepared with an answer. Ice-

ething about

t," Clara said finally.

haking her head. "Trust? Th

idn't

e heavy iron gates of his manor house appearing

es creak

l built of glacial marble and rough lines. Still,

ng about it

e could reach the handle. A man in a shar

," he said, b

cted the formal greeting. Hadn'

f the car, adjusting his cufflinks as if

turned. Why was this mo

is like a t

easured as she took in the big entrance hall. S

ng as Alex pursued her over the marble, slamming her against

N

e was tr

er-glided in a motion of command toward the grand st

ipped a beat.

oward his office. "You're stayi

s retreating figu

lutely

ancing back. "You work be

laugh. "Oh, so you're doing

unreadable. "I wan

it than that. There w

of her chin. "Two

was twitching. "Three,

h suspende

ash hit. Three? Three

ou ever breathe on me once whil

exing of one of

ed an eyebr

d then he nodd

is eyes made her kn

her know this had never be

htened her mor