The Man She Thought She Owned

i event w

le drunk, more

the edges of his pain

," he mumbled, fumb

moothly to

ve you a ride. Whe

was firm,

e name of his

all smile playing on her l

n car, silence settled between t

towards her, an unexpecte

she didn't jus

your room," she s

red, too buzz

creaky elevator, the s

e turne

s searc

eaned in an

a tentat

e, demanding, li

ing unspoken we

guard, found hi

sheer surprise, short-circu

of the elevator

ense connection, a desperate s

e of nature, pullin

sheets, Isabelle whispered, "Thi

rch, something he couldn't q

, sunlight strea

ding headache and a jumb

awake, dressed, loo

edge of the bed

he said, her

g," he

dropped th

down," she began, her tone business-like.

d, her ga

e the moment. L

Marry her? He barely knew her. H

ha

ambridge City Hall.

e shock on

tinued smoothly. "A year. It gives you stability, a fresh s

Jessica's nam

amily's relentless efforts. We ca

s overw

ity. A clean break. So

for some reas

Jessica's casual

ng him a lifeline,

or her audacity, her sh

ionally raw

was what

ical

self say. "Okay, Isa

spread acro

elle