IRE'

ander Hayes." Eleanor's voice carried across the

nds had just been on my waist, whose bus

" I said, my voice s

yebrows shot up. "Have you now?

kin tingle. "Eleanor, you're always trying to play matchmak

idened. "M

ld friend. "Well, if you did not go around Manhattan breakin

sent warning bells through my hea

alled from across the

ander will take excellent care of you." She fixed him with a pointed look.

ing away, leaving me alone with the m

ost," Alexander observed, his gr

all after her, but she had alr

re so desperate to

to him, my he

s reputation preceded him, and Eleanor's obvious matc

come here t

o admit it, still belonged to Richar

ord, every dismissive glance, every moment he

regret choosing

o give my heart to anyone else. My love for Richar

would b

eared at my elbow, holding

esit

er offered me dr

ence once he got caught up in busine

attention, he had scolded me so har

ory stil

ted nothing to do with me, and the men... well, they listened

hrough my mind. A man had grabbed my wa

ng me, Richard had

ssed in the car afterward. "Acting like a

th after that. Called me names.

exander's voice pulled

champagne, taking a ful

" His smile was approving, and

the room, I noti

whisp

e glaring at me openly, one mouthing

veloped thicker skin. But the truth was, I had c

eans necessary, even if i

s I got wh

brought Richar

discomfort because he glanced ar

is wrist, my fingers trailing along his skin i

ws shot up

doing this. Reall

I asked, my voice barely above a w

e turned predator

me. Maybe he was that easy. Or maybe he was

ring the whispers that followed in our wake. Alexander s

he could hear it. I had no plan. No idea

s quickly, hadn't expected him to

lashed across every society page. Richard was

with the story of the devoted wife who

they wouldn't be laughing when

Everyone was busy at the party-no one would think to

fit

ander watching me. My reputation was alrea

I have lef

ide, Alexander following close behind. The

en strong hands gripped my wrists, p

ound and pressed down onto the plush couch

inning them above my head with one hand while the othe

type of woman, Claire," he murm

circles on my skin, mov

his wasn't what I had plann

struggling against hi

ittered in the dim light. "Suggesting a private

s stuck in my throat a

had brought hi

continued, and the word hit me like a physical blow

swayed. "

smile was sharp as a bla

ooded m

kind David who had tried to comfort me d

is feelings for me when Ri

s was no

was happening, Alexander's

ad been waiting for this moment. His tongu

w many stepbrothers

the family? And why did it feel li

essive. My heart was breaking because I could fe

ll Richar

monster? What was so good about Richard that

d make him pay, even if

ipped down my cheeks as I surrendered to the k

t as Alexander's hands roamed

like a beautiful night

fingers traced patterns that made my breat

s hunti