The One My Heart Craves

a Mar

ly lost. I couldn't go to the family mansion in the Hamptons, it was closed while Dad and my twin brother Marcus were still in

"Martinez Beauty Empire Heiress Checks Into Hotel Alone After Midnight,

ity I could call. One person who had always be

rs, I dialed the num

p voice answered after just on

scaped before

oice went sharp with worry, and I could hear

like broken glass. "I'm sorry for calli

re you? Aren't you supposed to

bitterly through my tears. "Turns out the surprise was a

dly. Then I heard what sounded like

w?" His voice was ice-c

the house is closed, and I can't face a hote

cut me off. "I'm a

ough me like warm

he shadows, watching rain turn Manhattan into a waterc

girl who thought love was real. Tried not to remember all those video calls over the past y

e curb. The door opened, and Alexander Kane stepped out into the storm, six feet four inches of

phi

ning thirty. The man who'd always treated me like I mattered, not just as Marcus's little sister. Th

resh tears mixing wit

aked dress was ruining his expensive suit. I buried my face in his shoulder, breathing in

pered against my hair.

gaze, I saw Ethan at the building entrance, half-dre

, opening the passenger door. "Get i

ck, warm jacket, not his suit jacket, but a soft fleece-lined one he'd obviously bro

eyes searching my face. "Did he tou

ble to speak through

blast, warm air flooding around me. Then he rea

quietly, handing it to me

pulled out a silver thermos from somewhere and unscre

ng the steaming liquid into the cap th

nd Alex steadied my fingers with his own

on't have to

mly but kindly. "We'll talk

as still standing, and I watched from the warm safety of t

already walking toward Ethan with t

he car as Ethan backed

rd the crack from twenty feet away. My ex-fiancé hit the

and whatever words he spoke made Ethan stumble backward like he'd been slap

?" I asked as he slid

sence again," Alex replied quietly, his voice carrying

sipped the warm tea from his thermos, feeling it chase away some of the cold that had settled

nt and intensely private. He'd always been Marcus's best friend, but over the years, he'd become something like a protective older bro

that reached toward the clouds. As we stepped out of the car, my le

e before I could fall, his strong arms stea

ket. Without a word, he shrugged off another coat from the back seat,

ands rubbing my arms thro

kept one arm around my waist, supporting

ice was gentle but firm as t

ook, mascara everywhere, hair still damp despite the

face with genuine concern. "Did he put his

rs threatening to spill. "

and spotless. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a view of

need to get out of those wet clothes and freshen up. The guest bathroom

be and fuzzy slippers. "These should fit. I'll

r had washed away the rain and tears, and the silk robe was surprisingly perfect, s

th a fresh pot of tea and what looked

I could see the relief i

plush sofa. "Sit. Y

d a cashmere throw around my legs and ha

y as he settled into t

, pri

question had been burning i

nd because someone needed to show him there a

ting the warmth spre

mm

to do? I feel s

eed to do anything except rest. I'm going to call Marcus and your father, let

whispered, though the thought of bein

You're family, princess. And f

g to make those calls now. Try to get some re

to have someone like Alex in my life. Someone who would drop everything to rescue m

r time. Tonight, I just needed to