per bag containing three stale donuts in her h
ce. The e
the donuts rolling across the st
eart hammering against her ribs. She ran down the length of the ope
is head out of the offi
abbing his shirt. "Have you s
ing with her phone, her vision blurred with tears, when a bea
wed by Riley and Mila. They saw her and broke
am
fierce, desperate hug. Relief, so intense it was painful, washed over her, followed by a wa
. A pair of expensive leather
a loo
l, powerful frame seemed to suck all the air out of the space, a stark,
ing pleasure-crashed over her. Instinct took over. She pulled
a knife twisting in his gut. He stopped a careful ten f
na's legs. "Mama, we found him!
hter, then whipped her head back to the man, her eyes b
ce, adopting the persona of a weary, put-upon employee. "Ma'am,
A man who can afford a penthouse suite at the Grand Hote
s out of town. As for the car-" he gestured at the dented Honda with a self-deprecating shrug, "-the company provides good benefits, but
t the fear and suspicion remain
is voice was calm and logical. "Grandma nee
e desperation was a fresh wave o
a folded document from the inside pock
t it, refusi
t's a contract," he said,
she asked, her voice
marriage of convenience. I need a wife to get my famil
left her speechless. She stared at
hem in half, and threw the pieces at his feet
en back up at her. "The hospital will discontinue your mother's treatme
eaving her exposed and vulnerable. The strength
her arm to steady her. His touch was warm and firm
paused, letting the silence stretch, and when he spoke again, his tone had shifted-da
er cheeks flooding wit
glint of something far more dangerous. "Most arranged marriages fail
ged on Benedict's pant leg. "Mr. Ryan
son. Benedict's composure cracked for a fraction of a second-a twitch at the corner o
a hissed. "Th
e conviction of a child who had witnessed something and refused to be
e decency to look mildly embarrassed, tho
o protect you," he explained, his vo
peated, her voice
n," he said. "They d
d, her small hands clutching A
she looked at the stranger whose touch burned her skin, the man o
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