loor-to-ceiling windows in golden streaks. Isabel stirred

ets wer

om was

she forgot w

en-and the memory hit her

der st

eath c

was

ouch of leather and spice. Her legs tangled in silky sheets she hadn't meant to fal

sh

rs, swallowing her frame, but the way it smelled-the wa

. She exhaled slowly, remembering his hands, the wa

the

od, she ac

and looked around. No sign of him. The penthouse felt dif

en she

of paper on t

fingertips brushing the edge. She unfol

want to

ever want to fi

) 768

. No promise. Jus

ll to her lap and s

e? A thrill? A story sh

uldn't

about him had shaken loose a par

n her. Or impress her

'd wan

she'd want

e lay in a soft heap near the bathroom door. Her heels beside the velvet couch. She

her dress, she caught her re

hair. A strange, far

recognize

rom inside her bag

d it, expe

wasn'

calenda

RIP – P

a cold slap. Realit

ch twisting. Hot stranger's number

en a new mess

n t

omeday,

hit

daylight. The streets hummed with weekend energy-coffee carts, distant horns, a j

calling a cab, needi

urned in her

ll tingled f

hing she could explain. But it had been real. Hone

t would hang there, like an open door she

er apartment, her legs ached

sweats, hair in a messy bun, eyes

ed upright. "You didn't

he counter and dropped h

said, to

open. "Wait. Are you

ized button-up, sleeves rolled

just been handed front-row tickets to the most scandal

p with him," s

a raised a brow, not m

down hard on the couch. "We kissed. We... touched. It

ou bre

d. "He was..

collapsing besid

ring her face with b

ghed, but her

weight pressing

," she said quietly. "Jus

ou tex

ing small. I said, Ma

ither the beginning of a roma

t sure

ettled be

phone buz

d reminder, like the universe r

RIP – DE

muttered, l

er. "Is that yo

ea

actuall

el p

rying not to answer since she pi

ow," she sa

e," Jenna said, sitting cross

even a li

n do

really wants it. That he really wants it. He said-he

t you want?" Jen

ard the man whose touch still lingered on her skin, and

ow what I w

e this trip isn't about fixing anythin

lowed, her

" she w