Beneath his shadows

reer from her daze. She had been staring at the lease term

tion Date:

than

ng its edges. How was she supposed to s

mel

r, stood by the counter, peering at her over the

, Mrs. Turner. Just... thinking a

, unconvinced. "Change

his c

k had already rejected her loan request twice, and every investor she'd reached out t

uffocating-she ha

time, the presence that entered

oked up a

ng the air from the room. He was tall-easily over six feet-with sharp cheekbones,

s Va

dlines, whispered about in hushed, fearful tones. He wasn't just rich-he was powerful.

he was looking

ce was deep, smooth, y

owed. "Mr

g over the wooden bookshelves, the old cash register, the

at her. "I assume you

d in her thr

know what

ed over her. He was here to e

asn't ready

but she forced herself to meet his gaze."This store-i

hly. "You have no investors, no financial

eath h

eliver bad news-he had d

ing her voice to stay steady. "If the decis

moment, something unreadabl

suit jacket and pulled out

it on the counter in front

the document. As her eyes skimmed the fi

age Co

ped up. "What

lightly, his expression

lence fill

that, Amelia's life

GEROUS

act. The words blurred together, but the bo

age Co

, her heart pounding.

e said, compl

any things-ruthless, intimidating, and dan

y you?" she asked, voic

one y

us laugh. "Oh, well, in that c

rcasm doesn't change you

he demanded. "You could have any woman in this cit

is expression remained unreada

"It is if I'm the one

e of a predator. "Your store is days away from being taken. I'm offering you a way out. If yo

had prayed for, everything she had despera

t wha

asked, her voice ba

s next words. "In return, you'll be my

at him. "No

darkene

sn't just about convenience for him. There was s

she have

hard. "And a

apped out every detail of their arrangement. "You walk

ou need?"

dn't flicker. "That's

nce settled

away from whatever mess this was. But reality hit harder

er chest rising and fal

ully, as if he already

ia let out a

time t

, but he nodded. "You h

walked out of her bookstore, leaving behi

her co