Thorne estate had never

. Tall white candles flickered between centerpieces of pale roses and cold marble.

is posture quiet but curious as he po

t to look uncomfortable in her soft lavender dress-th

end sat E

lipstick. A stem of

, tie loosened, shirt collar open. His presence, even

I heard you're back at schoo

her, then down

ntly, dabbing at Leo's chin with a na

ithout warmth.

let like it had personally offended him,

id, shifting her gaze to Emery. "I imagine the mans

eyes. "It's mo

gine i

. "Elena, maybe n

. "The nanny's had quite an impact. It's only fai

ot Emery. No

Leo's pretty easy to care f

na said, sipping her w

looking at her from across the table. But he loo

her water glass, her phone

anced

as

contact yet, but she

across her lips befo

he said, risin

up. "Is it

d softly. "It

an eyebrow.

d out into the hallway, her

wered with a smile stil

said. "You'

ng," he teased. "I just wanted to c

"You're really pullin

lace you drank your first wine cooler

n draining from her shoulders for the

you up. No backup

even b

smiling when

the dining room, Jaxon's

su

n tryin

de something. Like her smile was a messag

id, sliding bac

ena said smoothl

smile

ld fr

aid again, slo

st be nice to have someone from the real world to escape to.

didn't

eted in

l hadn't s

aken up to bed by his night guard, and Emer

econd-floor corridor toward her

urself very com

y tu

, wine glass in hand again.

yself useful

xactly what

nked. "Ex

vulnerable. He pretends he's not, but he is. Especially now.

suggestin

esting anything.

her chin. "

down her body, then b

pause, lon

again?" Elena asked

mery said. "And

ned. "We'll see ho

fice, Graham stood at th

ll frame. "Lucas Hart. Pediatrician. School friend. No known

ared at

rms crossed. Luca

cl

didn't know any

Graham said. "He invited

said n

to run

idn't r

red at the

er s

hadn't smi