ht, arms crossed, staring at the untouched pasta

pped wine and stared at her

aid. "Was it the money? The mansion? The fact that he's pr

t the money,"

ys about t

d a cookie. That kid looked haunted

you should say yes. You're the first perso

r scares the h

to her glass. "

cally frozen. You should've seen the way he

you ten grand a week to bre

w the first thing about raising a

. You just have to care

d, rubbing

dded gently. "But I already k

n't show up to the address Jaxon

shoulders had slumped in relief when he sat down in her bakery. Th

f black iron gates taller than most build

buzzed when s

a voice

m here to meet

reaked open like somethi

on itself looked like it had been dragged out of a billionaire's Pinterest board-sleek s

t of her car before t

vest, shirt sleeves rolled up, and the kind of exp

u c

aid yes," Em

r, assessing, unreadab

foyer big enough to host a small wedding. Th

re's

m. With his

She paused.

. "Do you always ask abou

who run away

lip. Not a smile. Ju

n an art museum-black-and-white portraits, sharp lines,

ooks. Whiskey decanters. A single leather chai

our price,

gree to any

ne has

for sal

in his eyes. "Ever

met his gaze. "What ha

stopp

y. Jaw tight.

going to be

t your c

supposed to

omething amber, and stared out the windo

sor

mpire at war with itself. And vultures circling

d another guard. Maybe he needs someone who

"He needs someone who can

should ask him i

her

ntly: "He asked if y

rt caught i

ve-in. You'll have your own quarters. I

f it d

eave. Pai

"I want to me

ied her, t

a set of thick oak doors. A guard opened it and

a picture book, his therapist politely s

dn't l

gged across from h

he said softly.

ded. B

you. Make sure you wer

her

g here. Your dad said you

ll no words. But his eye

u don't want me to.

d forward just enough to

y bl

ok about ba

hest

whispered.

droom, staring at the city lights and wondering how her l

heets were silk. The floors heated. There was even a

ike anoth

r, the do

, sleeves rolled up again, the top buttons of hi

asked, nodding

s fi

hat

tiful. Jus

rd the window, eyes scanning t

most

didn'

his eyes. Tension in his shoulders. A man haunted by fail

ike I was the first breath of ai

"You know I d

kno

es. And I

o a compliment she suspect

you always walk into your

out windows like they'r

t far. Your house is built

hat's th

them suddenly felt smaller. Electric. H

a wire pulling ti

steppe

ght, Mis

e was