. maybe I'll transfer. Luche is stealing all the att

ster's false indiffere

. "I'd never." He gave her a playful w

his every w

sa put on fancy clothes and we'll make dinner reservations at

d as Toni's eyes cleared, her cheeks stret

hin. "Some situations call for special exceptions. What

bounced with enthu

ve fun. I think I'm going to res

ster's entitled to s

help. "Thank you, Jamie." He nodded. "Come

ve, Isadora sighed as Shamus

e sometimes?" her sister's raspy voice

mus is Irish, but the Englis

told him. "And I pref

entary ease faded. She wandered the silent halls questioning

hollowness she felt on the inside. The problem with formidable men, she deci

on that wasn't her own, and trapped in a life she never inten

nse of home. This was her home. It was all she'd ever known, but the desire for more still lingered. The yearning to feel lov

ont. She lifted the scotch, cradling it in her lap, and brushed her thumb over the label, never quite able to tell if it was brown or red. Her color blindness was ju

ed times but never took a sip, always worrying-or perhaps hoping- her f

on the subject. Toni was the most indifferent to his absence. But Lucian, who recalled his cruelty well and knew exactly what sort of cold-hearted person could jettison thre

and those bitter, flammable memories fueled so much of his unyielding drive for su

ss the abnormalities of their family life. Once he finished college, she had no doubt he'd

she raised the aged sc

p until he's

asp as the fiery liquid scalded her throat. Taking a lo

he drink t

eir children left, their purpose obscured by years of subservience and little chance left t

ral rites of passage and the luxury of a degree. But she had other

in the large leather desk chair. "One day

ado

prise. Her eyes widened, but no one was t

e masculine voice c

bottle in her lap. Her face heated, as she feared someone might

she calmly answered

d long- time family friend, gazed into the room. His eyes re

hought I heard you

for the small accent lamp poised on the corner of the des

te went to the hotel for di