at stare was still branded ont
barbecue. The lights inside the Holmes mansion were dimmed to a moody glo
but her nerves were stretched taut. Her eyes scanned every room, every cluster of people, search
confirmed: he was dangerous. The kind of dangerous that didn't announce itself with loud threats but with quiet, absolute certainty. Every hushed mention of his name-his business deals, his reputation, the way even p
om champagne, grabbed Alexa's hand and dragged her
lights strobed across the room, making it hard to focus. But t
look
m, leaning against the ornate railing. A glass of amber liquid-whiskey, pr
ssessive. Like he had al
he stumbled, pulling away from Jeri
get away from that look. She didn't go to the main powder room, which had
nd her. At the very end, near a door she assumed led to a st
l, closing her eyes, trying to
t out of t
ength, yanking her off her feet and deeper in
oat as a large, warm han
whiskey and the faint, lingering
ma
immovable cage. His height, his sheer presence, consu
trapped animal. Hot tears
mble, right beside her
her skin, sending a shiver
cally, a pathetic, muffle
slowly removed his hand from her mouth, but only to slide it down and cup
it?" It wasn't a question.
arful nod, too t
roking the soft skin beneath her chin. "Walking up t
ounded like a threat. A predator admiring its prey's spirit before the kill
k finally spilled over, tracing
ed on hi
n a flash of defiance. Not this silent, broken weeping. A flicker of frustration crossed his
lnerability only sh
ri's voice, faint but clea
d broke
a step back, melting into the sha
voice once again a cool, calm
e she could even
ped her arms around her knees, her heart feeling like it was trying to
/1/114321/coverbig.jpg?v=210d6d35fbfd379e8fb3480249a5bc4a&imageMogr2/format/webp)