guest who couldn't unpack, always watched, always polished. The staff smiled with practiced warmt

ut something in the atmosphere had shifted since that dinner party. Tension hu

dang

her suite feeling hollow. She peeled off her gown, stepped out of her heels, and dropped onto the chaise

fe. What's it like to

ause she didn't know. An

ng softly against the cool tiles. The house was a maze-dark, silent, too large for one

a corner

in black lounge pants, a glass of scotch in hand, silho

t in thought, jaw tense, the lines of his shou

to leave unnoticed,

ned. "

ted. "Coul

er cou

why her heart was suddenly hammering.

the ghost

. "You don't stri

don't kn

the glass. She

ollowed wasn't awk

t him. "What ha

tead, he leaned against the wall

d in equal measure. He built Sinclair Industries from the ground u

herited the

rited t

e. "That's why you

t you

ere soft. B

d. "Do you

to hers. "I marri

not th

ence stretche

dmitted. "

I'm not your father. I'm not

kno

cting like I

moment, then set the gla

rotecting myself. But I ca

laration. But i

"Good nigh

brushed a strand of hair fro

, Aria received

asked, entering the drawing ro

velvet settee was a woman

ul

d leapt to her

n. "You're impossible to reach! No texts, no calls?

erwhelmed. "It's

ed a billionaire, and didn't even i

" Aria hesitated. "It w

narrowing. "You okay? Is

t's complicated

lked, caught up on everything from old inside jokes to new worr

id, "So what happens

nked. "Y

ou think I can't rea

n you know I don'

d in. "Do y

a said to

raised

peated, softer thi

k like your chest hu

ad no

ibrary, curled in an armchair with a

ft," he said, s

I'm in ove

e y

im. "Are you wor

nch. "That's a da

rrying a

. "I'm not a st

hispered. "

locked. Nei

e been alone for a long tim

the fe

. And when his hand reached f

was something precious. "If we're going to play this gam

agreed, her v

like he was afraid she'd vanish. It was

hanged e