't plan to

nstincts, maybe a warning sign taped to her chest that read DO NOT GET ATT

pt in

remembered she hated artificial sweeteners but tolerated honey. The way he nev

erself it

kind because they

s, she caught herself smiling at her screen for no reas

computer and leane

, she thought. This is

of sneaking up on girls w

iced the c

ced eve

the Blake household, silence was power and information was currency. His father, Richard Blake,

onally. But now? He expresses his emotions

ontrol. At twenty-one, he inherited responsibility instead of freedom. By thi

loved h

pected h

asked if h

he met

Didn't flatter

eside him, no

t was d

ing cracked ope

Thursdays were usually bor

e and several pep talks to her bathroom mirror

cally. Not

hon

her first paycheck. He'd once said, casually, "Red suits

he stepped out of the

phere fel

o executives whispered near the glass

ne s

nt is official,"

er replied. "Her father fi

stopped

irst continued. "I thoug

esn't care w

d in her chest l

vies who overheard half a sentence and ruined their own lives

erved t

ndow when she entered, phone

uietly. "I under

the call

didn'

ced imm

" he asked. His tone

fter than she expecte

that follo

iffened-not in surpri

he said

m felt

Rowe?" Sel

es

ightened arou

ded quickly. "It's no

ugh. "That's funny. Because it

len

e asked, the words bu

ed of color. "

d. "So it

"I don't know what she

teppe

ng in a room with a man who

, dragging up memorie

kitchen table years ago, hands shaki

ne night, promisi

fi

ence af

trust me had

said quietly. "Men like you

s not

t him then,

't you tell me

ned hi

wer ca

was the

the building without

t the n

the other side of the city, where no one knew

ant in Sydney. It smelled like oil and burnt

on forced her to sit st

nment office, signing papers that made her official

herself from

ld do i

nraveled

dals. No drama

acing sleep. Guil

er, Victoria

the rest of the family-too sharp to

one evening over tea. "And for o

Austin repli

ed an eyebrow

the way other women carry handbags. If you d

t his a

know about Di

ed into a thin line.

realized, was no