beats having the Reed family's shadows tailing my every

, his forehead creasing in mild disapproval. "And you think that's na

d abruptly shifted the topic. "You look

ring dedication, "My priori

ou're wound too tight." Connor e

g under constant restrictions, leaving him hardly any chance to smoke. Now, w

he table. With a sharp click, a flame sparked

ilence. Hell, it wasn't a weapon at all-

ugh the plume of smoke at Nicole's cl

atisfyi

of your hol

ette in the ashtray. "Mr. Reed, you

sed there wouldn't

ver him. Curse it-he'd been outmaneuvered again, st

, Samuel had slipped out of the room, taking the linger

t was available," Nicole explained as she set the plate bef

d him the

erry family controlled a listed corporation. Had her life at home been filled with such menial toil and neglect? Yet, h

now on. Let me handle your meals." Nicole settled into the seat opposite him, sampling her ow

ness to avoid judgment or exploitation, Nicole's straightforw

u commit to this effort," he warned coolly, "underst

ragic, she reflected inwardly, that he armored himself so fiercely agains

und himself briefly

portion remained untouched. She ventured c

wered in a flat tone, "I've never experienced home-co

. "Then I'll prepare meals f

in her view. He cautioned her firmly, "My position in the Reed family is precarious at best. As my s

cture the substantial payment your family promised to mine into ten equal parts

iberation the previous evening. To outmaneuver Phillip effectively, the initial

lieved her scheme was airtight. In reality, he had already detected the

rooted in the difficulties she faced under Phill