cold and bath

s clicked on t

him by the

f for the winter, the stone bas

e was

to her, his shoulders h

out turning around. "Go plan t

ed three feet

k from your mot

turned

cigar glowed or

did. You played

id. "You froze my accounts, Carl

smoke curled

ked. "I thought you

k I'm tha

ore," he admitted quietly. "But

uttered. "What are

sn't exist. You're a terrible liar, Beat

the heat rise

g the subject. "For the signing. The real

lutch and pulled out a

closer, ho

aid. "City Hall

oked at th

the date ci

Monday,"

day t

us

top playing games. Do you

ut of my life

e calendar ou

landing in the d

ix ga

down to re

ve black silk-brushed

," she

e in his throat. A

ent

it," he

or her arm t

r his hand to

palm

a

oud and sharp, sn

a jolt that traveled up Beatrix

, trying t

didn't

, pulling her up until she

t wipe h

t look d

ed... e

wn at their

her knuckles, tracing t

urt," he

broken nail,"

uldn't

her-reverent, desperate-

his gaze

he pupils blown wide,

eane

s breath

oing to

ad, his gaze dro

er body leaning toward him

ir

came from

on, the

on the phone. She sa

yle

pell

x's hand like it

back, his c

her, then a

oked

like it was dragged over broken glass. "

walked away, a

alone by the

ked at

still t