pte

arrived b

one will be there. Includin

enched before she e

ains. For one stupid second she'd forgotten. Then it all c

nothing

wisted everything around. She pressed her palm again

ad from last week. Don't ruin this.

irror across the room looked pale.

buzzed a

iful. Can't wait to

r. Like a watch. Like a

ck with shak

't w

r now. She was get

*

ore pale blue because Noah's mother once said it made her

he circles under her eyes. When she was d

t like

r with air kisses that did

rling. You

Rose bushes in bloom. White tablecloths that probably c

laughing like he didn't have a

forgot h

s rolled up. Tattoos visible on his forearms. The

The kind of woman who'd never had an awkward d

wn back. Hand reaching across t

r palms. She smelled copper befo

a Ashford. Lovely girl. Landon met

come back. Right when he walked ba

g couple, don't they

Watched him give her that smile. The one that m

mile he'd

rm slid around her waist. Tigh

iring the

llowed her gaze. "Ah. My bro

ord hit her sto

look h

Good connections. Maybe

table. Closer. Close enough t

raphy," Victoria was sayin

voice was warm. Charming. Nothi

not to watch. But her eyes kept finding hi

istracted,"

t ti

u like ch

eas

l the sharp edges of watc

glass. "To my beautiful fiancée. I

The same empty smile she'd b

brushed pas

her shoulder.

" Landon's

e enough that she could smell his co

to get to

te. Normal. Like t

ed down. His mou

You're embarras

ke glass. Sharp.

Walking away lik

hed over the rim of her glass. It pooled on

Her voice didn't soun

od. "Do you w

N

efore anyone could

arble sink. Her knuckles went white. The face in th

You're embarra

repeat. A song she

. Maybe I imagined everything. The

eally am

ith something hot on her cheeks. She wasn't cry

side, Victoria's laugh c

een thinking about what you said earlier

feet stop

t it?" Lan

eir place. They convince themselves they're

na grabbed the back of

n purpose. "It's pathetic when a woman can't take a hint.

fe. Precise. Delibe

tening. Knew she co

conversation

a message

*

like a museum. All crystal and china and pol

h. His hand covered h

irectly acro

d barely

s. White roses. Red roses. Passion

hink, Sienna?"

best," Sienna said. Her

edding, dear. You sh

story of her

your ju

she was perfect. Never argues. Never dema

landed l

l. Like a dog th

d. His fingers gripped his wine glass h

uietly. But it sound

The perfect woman to complete me.

Contract. Everyt

said suddenly. His voice was casual but his eyes wer

le went

ce darkened. Noah's hand tightened u

ah's voice was

ut completion and legacy. You're

" Eleano

ormance reviews? A

went red. "H

hing lasting," Noah snapped. "You w

n leaned forward. "Because from her

the chest. True. God h

d, standing. His chair scrap

ting her. I'm

ard said. "T

was t

anding now. Shaking. "You're jealous. Jealous that

ook at her, Noah. Really look. D

t exposed. Raw. Like they could se

ppy," Noah said. Bu

on asked her di

the air. A grenade

Sienna

to answer that,"

raid of what

OUG

ble. Wine glasses jumped. The

you have humiliated this family long enough. Noah i

ed through the

Just for a second. She saw pain there. Ol

d. His hands cu

he threw his nap

chair back so ha

voice was hollow. Empty. "I am wasted

Walked towa

. The sound was l

tter. Noah squeezed Sienna's hand. Everyon

hear the conversation. All she could see wa

e doors. Wondering where

hinking abo

's voice. "You

y. Ti

l it an ea

m help her up. Let

left, she

oors that slamm

focus on Noah and their future

as the ache of wan

ds were true. That she was bei

reason, against p

rp enough