Contract Of Hearts

ike you

rm of camera flashes. His hand pressed firmly against the small of Ellie's back, steering her

nd cheaper rice for dinner. Now she was wearing a borrowed desig

ear in a facsimile of affection that sent an involuntary shiver down h

love with London's most notorious ice king. Yet here she wa

ir relationship private out of respect for her mourning period, and now were blissfully engaged after his surprise proposal

ed forward. "Is it true you've b

inst his side in a possessive gesture that looked lovi

privately before sharing it with the world." His pract

o Ellie, awaiting

into her voice. "And I've needed time since my father's p

certainly getting to know exact

t attracted you

lf seconds to think. Those ice-blue eyes m

er answer. "Not many people see it beneath the surface, bu

prise, perhaps-before he smoothly guided

ere inside, his voice low. "I don't rec

ed. You are passionate-about control, about winning

he assessed the crowded ballroom. London's elite mingled in designer finery, champagne flowing freely w

lexander observed, his tone

arm and warmth-laughing easily, touching shoulders, leaning in conspirationally. The family resemblance was there in the bone structure, but Sebastian'

e was your identical

and never lets me forget it." Alexander's jaw tighte

fidence of a man who'd never doubted his welcome anywhere. "Alexander! Baby bro

uests. Heads turned, conversations paused, ears strained to c

ng was arctic. "I see you've al

zzling as he took Ellie's hand, raising it to his lips. "Eleanor Wright. "I've been dyin

h unsettling intensity. "Tell me, was it love at firs

er cut in smoothly. "We should gree

ened slightly. And there's so much to discuss. Like how convenient it is that Wri

ed. Around them, Ellie felt the subtle shift of atten

and I reconnected because of Wright Publishing. So

r arm through Alexander's instead. "And the timing might seem con

d, brighter than before. "Absolutely. Though I've always found

fectly," Ellie replied smoothly. "

hand, but when she glanced up,

ebastian, guiding Ellie away with t

y moved through the crowd. "Though in the f

besotted fiancée was defending her man against h

ey paused near a relatively quiet corner. Sebastian wasn't

ich

answering. "Blackwood Media Group was our father's company. Sebastian

ie repeated, surp

flatly. "A fact Sebastian never lets me forget, though it

htly-the controlled exterior, the obsession with appearanc

ur engagement to force

rate." Alexander's expression darkened. "And to begin planting doubts

t more than six months' rent on Ellie's flat approac

n't you going to introduc

g on the hastily selected dress and department store shoes

eunion. "This is Eleanor Wright, my fiancée. Eleanor, Vic

e thought, noting the proprietary way Vi

ed fixed. "Alexander was so... private about his personal affair

lear: she wasn't buying their s

you least expect them," Ellie repli

ng tactics. Such a terrible illness. MS, isn't it

osing Ellie's vulnerable point to any

department," Alexander interjected smoothly. "Now if you'll excus

lie felt Victoria's ey

led to mention," she said und

missive tone suggested Victoria's significance ranked somewhere b

hates

ngs are ir

," Ellie argued. "And she just publicly linke

a knows better than to undermine co

y an elderly couple-the man distinguished with sil

right," Alexander said, his tone shifting to respectf

rger approval was the entire reason for this charade. El

e his age. "I knew your father slightly. Good man. Traditi

l laugh threatening to bubble up. "Thank you,

t our anniversary dinner next weekend," Margaret said, her ass

miss it," Ell

ter acquainted." Margaret's smile didn't quite reach her ey

lanced at Alexander and found his expression completely unrea

t just by curious socialites, but specifically by Sebastian from across the room. His gaze held none

had become a key piece on the board. And judging by Sebas