His Forbidden Heiresss

a brief, hopeful moment, she thought it might all have been a nightmare-the long flight, th

in her chest when she opened her e

utside the library door once more. Her hand hovered over the polished brass handle. She could almost fee

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is head lifted at her entrance, eyes cool and sharp. Papers were spread across the desk lik

" he said wit

clock on the mantel

rless smile. "Punctuality m

r. "I had my investigators compile a comprehensive report on your father's

ts, copies of emails she had never seen before. Each document felt like a blade slicing

pered, voice barely audible. "He

ers, unflinching. "Belief

ving in, Devon? One where your family is innocent

ed. "This is

et go of the past. You're obsessed with

ring figure looming over her as he braced his hands on the desk.

squarely. "Just

ith a heat that frightened and excited her

lyster board meeting this afternoon," he said briskly. "If you're going to c

. "I don't want t

sement?-crossed his eyes.

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ts logo a silver H glinting against the sky. Lola's heart hammered in her chest

versations hushed as Devon Holyster strode across the floor with Lola at his side. She could f

conference table gleamed under modern pendant lights. Around it sat a dozen men and women, most middle-a

o sit. "This is Lola Gareth," he announced. "The rightful heir to the Gareth estate

red his throat. "Mr. Holyster, you can't be serious. The Gareths

room. "What's serious is the law. Her inheritance is tie

'm not here to cause trouble," she said, forcing her voice to sta

rectness. One woman with steel-gray hair and s

omething unreadable in their d

-

ered a breathtaking view of the city. The space was spare, masculine-dark wood, black lea

said, swirling the amber liquid in his gl

hin. "I don't ne

ched. "No, you don't. But

x of sandalwood and something darker, more dangerous

point. You could have kept me out of sight and settled the trust quiet

ng there. "Because I need to know who you ar

father," s

air from her cheek. His touch was electric, se

-

r mansion, drawn to the grand staircase like a moth to flame. The silence of th

elow, head bowed, hands clenched at his sides. The soft glow of a single

nt, he loo

he ancient wood creaking under her

pping into place so fast it almost made her flinch.

loser. "Neith

something raw in their de

since she arrived. "What really happened between our fami

w tight. "The trut

licate it,"

made risky decisions, gambled with borrowed money. When things went bad, he disappeared. Lef

face. "That's w

es almost touching, his eyes

to make him see. "Documents can be forged.

then fell to his sides. His voice was

-

ut wire. He turned abruptly,

ouldn't.

Don't you understand? I don't know what to d

etween them in two long strides. His hands cup

chest, but instead of pushing him away, she pulled him closer. His arms wr

orehead pressed against hers. "This is

unding. "Then why does it feel

ecause it is," he said, voice bare

-

ing as she raced up the stairs to her room. She slammed

d just

te him, that she should be planning her escape. But instead, all she could think about

but sleep still wouldn't come. Every time she closed her ey

-

hrough his hair, cursing under his breath. He could still taste her on his lips, still feel the softnes

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f lavender and the expensive detergent of a house that wasn't hers. Every time she closed her e

of weakness born of anger and exhaustion. But deep down, she knew it

sole, she slipped from her room and padded barefoot through the darkened hallways. The silence of the

to glowing embers, casting the room in a warm, flickering light. Shelves towered around her, stuffed with leather-b

throat. Her eyes fell on the folder Devon had shown her the day before, left

idence of hidden accounts, transactions tied to shell companies, notes written in her father's unmistakable hand.

er father was planning to steal everything, why hadn't he vanished com

he didn't hear the door unti

ldn't be

he sharp angles of his face. He wore dark lounge pants and a black T

wly. "I coul

rate, his gaze locked on hers. "So y

s defiantly. "I

her, his jaw tight. "

. they don't add up. If my father was going to betray you,

ut in, voice cold as steel. "He th

rising. "And you refuse to see it because y

f soap and scotch on his breath. "You think you know me?" he growled. "Yo

whispered, eyes locked on his. "Afraid that everything

ful. His eyes bored into hers, fury and something de

pounding. "Then what, Devon

slid from her shoulders to cup her face, his thumb brushing the corner o

you," he admitted hoarsely, voi

ed into him, her arms winding around his neck as his hands tangled in her hair. His lips tast

t, they stood breathing hard

mistake," s

k into her eyes. "Yes," he said,

-

d- of her father teaching her to paint, of nights spent reading by candlelight when they were too poor t

t by her hospital bed, of boardrooms full of vultures waiting for the Holysters to

he said quietly. "It kept me go

d his hand.

ething both precious and dangerou

-

stood abruptly. "You should go back to

ted. "What

said, eyes shadowed.

exhaustion weighed her

ight,

g back once to see him standing by th

-

ck. The maid entered, eyes carefully averted. "Mr. Holyste

disheveled it still felt from Devon's touch. She found him waiting in a sunlit room filled

ured her coffee befor

The intimacy of the night before

gal team," he said briskly. "They'll go over the in

o look up. "And what

ate, you'll get what you're owed. If you fight me, I'

d. "So it's

es glinting. "And you should learn that

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it at her cheeks, the sky a pale, icy blue overhead. She found herself near the old

d carried distant sounds of traffic, a faint reminder that

t it?" Devon's v

g behind her, hands in his po

continued, stepping closer. "She sai

lian?" Lola

g his eyes. "She grew up in Tusca

stoppe

way, jaw ti

ulse, her fingers brus

ntle but unyielding. "Stop apolog

of emotions rising inside her. "Then

nd intense. "Because you're the onl

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through the thin morning mist. Devon dropped her hand as

urtly. "Time to find out

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s laid out the terms of the Gareth trust, their voices droning as they described the requirements: Lola must remain

ant forfeiting the i

?" Devon asked, vo

glasses. "And per the original contract between the Gareth and Holyster f

m fell

ola. "Your choice," he sa

neatly beside them. Signing would mean staying here, tangled in his world. It w

er the resources she nee

pen, heart hamme

almost imperceptibly

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ttling heavy on her shoulders. The lawyers packed up their files and lef

d shakily.

es hooded. "Yes. Now we f

f last night's kiss simmer between t

a faint, dangerous

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