of water in hand, the light from his ceiling casting shadows that highlighted

er a glance before

as if he was taking in every detail-her slightly disheveled hair,

ather hitting the cushions with a dull thud. "Fantastic. Just what I neede

"Let me guess...your father proposed another ridicu

d falling with uneven breaths. "You c

, like what, the third time

hair before collapsing onto the couch. Her body ach

ched tone, the way he had spoken about her future as if she weren't even in

ened around the glass, his once lazy amused eyes changing

os Ro

s reaction. "Why do

ple. "Carlos Romano isn't just s

ter, her pulse qui

e no for an answer. And

st her back all morning solidifies beca

ld-saw everything as a transaction. And transa

rejection. It would be a challenge.

So my father's basically

ith a quiet clink. "More like a viper. One

prised her. Her father had always treated her

ifferent, this

to the couch's armres

o his trouser pocket, a slow smirk pulling at the corner

shaking her head. "Like what

s twitching into amusement. "I

at him. "Are

. If he thinks you're already 'claimed,' he'll hesitate to make a move. And

to ignore the way her pulse

..It was insane.

Carlos would expect her

ne," she murmured, tilting her head slightly. "Then I

with an amused smirk. "And here I

store, the hum of several bottles of vodka and a thirty

the aisles, rows of instant noodles and ch

lips parted in quiet contemplation. The fluorescent lights buzzed over

she s

h

shelves with a furrowed brow, one hand casu

into a slow, m

years," she said, stepping toward hi

lickered with confusion, scanning her face, taking in the slight s

ha

expression unwavering. "Thre

" he muttered,

s tightening around his skin, her gr

her's, like he was waiting for her to

few hours ago. Why the sudden prop

ver been more serious, and I thin

re looking for a weapo

grip still firm. "

rough his hair, his frustrat

hrinking. "You're the only person I know who doesn't p

ing his head. "You have no idea

meeting his gaze witho

them moved. The air between them pu

g under his breath, "T