the white fabric.
?" she asked, her voice
ing the handkerchief fall bac
man projects like he is trying to be heard in t
body away from him, her boots scraping against the concr
ow her. "Let me buy you a drink. Consider i
e whipped her head
ion," she snapped. "And I def
re of surrender. The streetlights ca
a shared misery. My date was a disaster too. Tiffany spent forty-f
on in his eyes looked real. The tensio
ine said flatly. "We ar
n's face. His dark eyes locked onto h
ve a way for both of us
wned. Her b
He lowered his voice, forcing her to le
You and me. Strictly busines
ropped. The air
e breathed out. "We
arriage certificate to satisfy some family trust cla
e out on the back
ng the phone hidden inside. Her heart ha
she demanded, taking a step
the restaurant. It is none of my business, but you looked like you needed help. I am a project manager. I make a stable
pavement felt like it was
. But the image of her father's pale face
ne said, shaking her head.
f his coat. He pulled out a crisp, whi
said. "I am not forcing you. But
ngers trembled as she rea
aid 'Cullen Preston' and a phone
er word, her phone vibrate
showed an incoming video call
swiped t
as frantic. His hands moved in rapid si
oed from the phone speaker. "Emaline. Dad disch
aline's face. Her stomach plu
ped, her voice crac
"He is home. He looks awful. He is coug
aline could not breathe. The e
maline shouted at the scre
n with a loading circle. No cars available. She looked up at the street. The Manhattan t
e terror cras
n's voice cut t
open rear door of a clean but unremarkable dar
ooked at the stranger holding the door. H
was dying in th
gripped the business card so h
n and slid into the b
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