The price of desire

walks into rivers. Lydia Cole hunched beneath her umbrella, her boots splashing through puddles as she power-walked t

stairs. The station was packed, the storm slowing trains and raisi

g in her chest. The rent was due tomorrow

een suits and umbrellas. She kept her head down, holding her bag close. It was ju

th his arm. There was something off about him. Not in a dangerous way. More like...

her, like a string pulling tight. When the train lurch

next night, when she saw him again. Sa

ight, it ha

, he appr

ride this li

devastatingly handsome. Clean-shaven jaw, dark hair, watch

carefully. "Wor

"You're a

fened. "Ho

er & Co. You work ther

cked in. "Are y

rprised. "No. I'm Jaden. I

eyes. "Right. J

And I work

urse y

d in his gaze. Amu

," he said. "I promise I

in her chest fluttered-against reason, a

mpty save for a couple studying. Jaden

t by th

ding his hands, "w

inked. "

at were a normal fi

rate art that actually means something. Not just w

ds no

d. "What a

narrowing slightly. "I'm

ll figured out? Finance guy, expensive su

reach his eyes.

t why a guy like him was riding the subway like t

you to yo

a handshake. It ling