rain upon the floor-to-ceiling,
p
anxiety. She hadn't slept. Not one wink. How was she supposed
ok from a vi
te
wasn't read
e voice was male.
e blockage in he
d your presence in t
st
d still have people re
ders. This wasn't perso
on over the tank top, and twisted up her hair into a sloppy
opened
n she remembered. Maybe
d out. Each shad
se was n
a tastefully
She On
dy sitting whe
glass of something dark and pricey, the o
ked. T
deathbed. Not like a man who had j
t annoy
king this early?" sh
ot even look up. "You
hard. Good God,
to see me?"
n he lo
d that her b
had that ability
setting the file down with i
't part of
is n
azed. "I swear
somethi
ered. "Ex
asing a slow breath. For the
t in a way that seemed
al, Clara. I want s
rashed off
N
la
ng her head. "You don't have the r
new what he r
ed artw
heart painte
n't do that a
ened, but he
t
his drink instead. "Fin
ext to his words that ind
n you
per of
r reached
d room. Bre
pelled her towar
her refuge
ver the threshold, h
like tha
d been wilting
life. Full. It now r
petal with a fingertip, som
Alex had ever
isn'
d, turning t
the doorway, arms cr
's s
ho had li
blood
ed herself
la
silence dropp
d have anti
di
k," Olivia
row. "Didn't know I
ps. "Oh, you didn't. But I wa
wrist, turning once more to examine the flowers.
s smile
," she said, h
hich she said it caused Cl
ng the other wom
aw it
a's posture. The war
ng suddenly
ow did you?" C
ace set. "
. About his
was si
h
itted. "But no. He neve
wed. Of cour
equired assistance. Nev
en his
t
e was he
think the worst
Man's
e, his hands curled over th
htly smudged, but th
er's dyi
ad kept to him
are now
Clara Monroe again, tell
jagged breath,
la
ready kil