The Assistant Who Claimed Her Heart

echoed in Ethan's mind, each

her tone had b

made her

, her voice s

is kind, he's considerate. He needs a place, a

guely around th

eaky faucet you've be

s of their smal

ree of them in their apartment

boundaries, were dis

apparently less valuable than

, needing to put physic

w, staring out at the

ng over Liam, offering him a drin

h, yet it scr

at no longer i

d him, her vo

then. Liam will ta

question. It

behind Chloe, ever th

where else. I don't want to cau

oft, laced with

ged a small,

eassuringly, her eyes sti

It's no trouble at all.

f Ethan's feelings were a min

cold and suffocati

just ang

found, chill

was

, the joint grant proposal that was supposed to lau

er. Not professiona

cided

fight for th

cede the

er ha

r have

, his face car

, his voice dev

can

h, quickly masked,

aving, that he still loved he

still hers

was

ed a sacch

lly appreciate it. I'll

n't ackno

bedroom, the one they ha

a suitcase from the

m, a frown creas

re you

," he sa

movin

aw dr

don't be ridiculous!

ression shift

c, the one she always used

, Ethan. A kind man. Liam saved my life, m

mo

r, a woman Ethan had respected an

how to twis

wn values a

laugh esc

ssion,

ht in the eye, his v

compassion. It seems to extend to helpful research

iled, her

cker of uncertainty, of s

poken to her l

clasps snapping shut ech

rawn the attention

oked her head out, her e

r doors cr

ers s

of appearances, shot a

rs quic

ess, she could st

than at his carrel in the

of the boy wa

ocusing on a dense monograph

n't take

up, feigni

I need to t

as low, con

l night. She said... she said

ven lower, "She told me... she told me thin

ged to squee

in his demeanor, a

han. We talked for hours.

a cynical smile p

w this

ned concern, all designed

it,

ed, feigni

m just worried

sh of his t

houldn't treat

alize his presence, h

s a brother, you kn

is chest ou

a wave of

p, grabbin

lea

ed to wa

lock him, his h

t, E

acticed clumsines

ng his ankle, his fa

ookshelf, books tum

shouted, his voice f

ssault