's vi

moil brewing inside me. It had been a week since I'd last spoken to him, and I'd been avoidi

hed it aside, focusing on the task at hand. "Good morning, Mr.

d sense the questions behind his eyes, b

, and assessed his condition. It was all rout

ke up, his voice low and hus

this conversation. But I nodded, steeling myself for

nd not to know him? The truth was, I was scared. Scared of the emotions that still

don't know what you're talking about," I said, my voic

hat made my skin prickle. "Don't lie to me, Kelly," he said, his

lve weakening. How much longer could I keep up this charade?

ind Kelly, I have bee

mind. You have been on my mind. The phrase sent a flutter throu

nother manipulation? I searched his eyes, trying to rea

estions. "What do you want from me, Adrian

my heart skip a beat. "I want to find out what happened between us," he said

dge of a precipice, staring into the unknown. What would I say? Wo

"I need to check your vitals, Mr. Roman,"

I couldn't let him get under my skin, not now. Not

ould sense his curiosity, his desire to know more abou

ack, my expression neutral. "Everything looks good

but Adrian's voice

eart racing. What

followed me. Why was my heart still beating for this man wh

, the tears, the moments of intimacy. But it was all built

feeling that I still cared for him. It was like my heart was

g out of the room. "I'll send in the nurse to tak

eded. Distance from him, from the emotions he stirred up in me. But as I close

wealthiest in New York, and he'd been ashamed to introduce me to the

ipulation. He'd been hiding me from his world, from th

ly one for him, like I was enough. But it was all a facade. He'd

him get so close to me. I vowed to myself that I wouldn't let him p

eep. I'd been fooled by him, a

hart one last time. Three weeks had passed since he'd b

ncounter. I'd been avoiding him as much as poss

p, his eyes locking onto mine. "Dr. Ke

nor. "Mr. Roman, you're ready to be discharged. I

could sense a hint of tension between us, but

appointments, Adrian listened intently. But I coul

is movements fluid. "Thank you, Dr.

eyes - a spark of familiarity, of intimacy. And for a moment, I f

ient and calculated. The whispers about his personality were true - he'

nt side of him. A side that was passionate, i

ulate me into falling for him. The man I thought I knew didn't exist. The man standi

ched, and I felt a jolt of electricity. But I refused

said, my voice detached. "I hope

I thought I saw a flicker of something - emotion

d away, leaving me to wonder wh