THE STERLING INHERITANCE

: Dom

between us. *Dominic Santo

Monroe, once upon a time-and felt th

d simply. "I

d nothing like her at all. Polished where she'd once been scrappy. Designer suit instead of thrift

Too intimate. I could smell her perfume-something expensive and

k t

yself think about *

-

umbia University ar

condemned. Radiator clanking, neighbors shouting through thin walls, a kitche

the third time. The real estate deal I'd been working on for six months was finally coming together. Small potato

to go blind starin

t the size of a phone booth-wearing one of my old t-shirts and gym shorts. Her dark hair was piled on top

hasn't looked up from

disappear. Crossed the tiny living room and curled up n

have enough to start thinking about the n

it like a dream. "We c

"You're going to pass the bar. I'm going to close this deal.

low and sweet, and eve

was

verything had

ngs unsaid. Vivienne had been quiet for days, distracted. I'd assumed i

been

ht, standing in the kitchen doorway while I cooke

voice made me tu

ssociates offere

er, reaching for a hug, but she s

in Se

ded like a pun

law, exactly what I want to do. The salary is..." She named a figure t

er. But my chest was tightening, something cold sp

ber fi

he'd be gone

tely. "Long distance for a while. I can visit, or

Do

id my name told

ck," I said slowly. "T

ears in her eyes. "This is my dream job. Everythi

ed bitter. "There is

rt fresh on the West Coast. There's real esta

first deal here. I have connections,

are we suppo

wer in her face. She'd already decided. This conversa

ask you to stay,"

to understand

ou lov

e tears spilled over now. "

not en

's not

enough to choose us over a job offer." My voice broke. "J

ot that

actly that

transform right in front of me-from my Vivienne to someone hard

oing to Seattle. And I think... I think

ean br

resent you if I go and we try to

thing kind a

rd-she'd been trying on Monroe, my mother's maiden name, pl

apartment now-and swore I'd never let any

son someone could wal

onference. He saw something in me-ambition, hunger, maybe jus

people-the ones with real money-they'll never see past it. But Dominic Cross? Tha

ated erasing my parent

over love. And I was done being

nic Sant

nic Cross

-

enne was still staring at me, waiting for something

id, her voice unsteady. "This

N

ened slightl

to end this meeting, to get her out of my office and out of my life. "Katherine sent the meeting request to

said. "Dominic Cross, Dominic

"Dominic Santos doesn't exist anymore. Hasn't for a decade. So l

king slightly as she pulled out her legal pad. The confident senior pa

nce. Let her feel a fractio

you had an inheritanc

forward, holding her gaze. "

uested c

delegate to a junior partner? W

sed it. I watched her str

ow," she rep

here now. You know now. So why are

g between us, sh

? The one underneath all the professional pre