He Bought Her Truth

nd it already buzzing, and it felt as

fted all around her like a costly, phony scent. Silver trays bearing hors d'oeuvres she cou

the marble as though the sound could shatte

er clutch so

ser. Smile; peopl

avy in the air; she didn't have to look to know it was true. Who was she? Where di

smile. "I don

offering her his arm. "Th

f the room, framed in white roses and gold

s hand settled at her lower back. The warmth of

whispered, "strate

cere," he said wit

meras

d him, her smile sharpeni

own at her.

railing behind them like perfume. Someone offered

official appea

asting it. "It feels

g in this

him. "Do you

ive

-

d with precision-always just warm enough, never too familiar. Rowan nodde

exhau

to a quieter corner near the

've run a mara

d. "You're handling

not m

es lingering on h

ked awa

hum of conversation. "Ms. Har

g, eager. Too fa

"Your sudden relationship with Mr. Vale has sparked a lot of curi

oice cool. "Rowan has not

nes story," the second reporter pu

ained from R

opped. "This conv

dn't say a word until they

them. The cold air s

rning to him. "You told m

aid. "They are. S

ne lik

w clenched.

elf. "This isn't just pretend an

kno

at him. "The

ded. "

is voice made

-

e photos were taken. Rowan felt like her face would

walked barefoot into the living room, past glass wal

two drinks. "S

. I want

s anyway. "Then we

took

t, not

ccess to my rec

t matters.

at reporter know

find

glass. "I can't affo

kno

t survi

her hand. She d

alone in thi

ow what this is,

swer. Maybe he d

-

stepped into the gu

in the mirror

keup is too flawless. The woman i

lipstick, one sl

was on the couch, jacket of

u o

N

wai

she said. "What are yo

ontrol. Redemption.

e for

he glass he held. "That

o him, inquired, "Wh

't say

to me was sorrow. And embarrassmen

leeting moment, the millionaire va

ired of being told wha

should r

ed eyes

no

r, her pho

name linked. Only a

you have walked into. You

s shook as s

ai

ished from the

behind roared louder t