nd after a lingering moment

n in dark gray loungewear, he looked as sharp and handsome as ever. With his ste

shut and turned her head, d

looping her arm through his. "Why are you being so aggressive? Kailey just woke u

rebuke, but the teasing lilt i

d she couldn't shake the feeling

tle. He patted Olivia's shoulder lightly, offering a bit of comfort, and

ord, Kailey

may be her uncle, but you don't have to be so har

weren't even married yet, and Olivia w

lize Ryan had stopped until she bumped right

you so lost

er, and Kailey looked up to fin

she replied, "Don't you

f hope or just curiosity about hi

t to entertain any misguided ideas. You're about to graduate, and I'll make sure you find a suitable boyfriend, but it will nev

e Kailey had ever hear

ings, but he was determined to arr

with what Ky

she been

'd tried to put all th

lizing it wasn't as hard t

I understand,

ht off guard by how quickl

when she wanted to be forgiven after stirr

ned. "You know, Olivia goes out of her way to be kind to you. She even

uld have. Besides, food was the last thing on her mind. Still, she kept

r for a long moment, as if searching for something more to sa

irthday. Kailey had gone to the club b

as a seminar at school that ran late. I was exhausted, s

ends and quietly move on, so she saw

y patted her head. "If you ever need to talk, you can come

e, sitting down for breakfast with the man she

but realized if she was truly ready to le

would leave t

done, Ryan headed u

things. She had to meet her mentor at the univer

ile

Kailey stop i

er gloves on, leaning against the frame with effor

throat but kept her face blan

betrayed no warmth. "I heard you've always excelled in your studies, even skipped grades, rig

t Kailey could tell she wa

she replied, "I don't think

r Owen Group. The thought had thrilled her; she had imagined work

t wanted to check in on you. After all, Ryan is a man, and there ar

out anything and everything. But then she remembered that Ryan's

ley replied, he

, she offered, "You're grown now. Isn't it a little awkward, living with Ryan? M

ith lies and schemes. She used to think they were exaggerated, but now she realized they weren't so f

splinter. Unable to contain herself, she stepped closer, lock

eemed to rattle Olivia. She retreated

softened her voice. "Kailey, you shouldn't worry tha

e when she tripped over the thresh

e she could react, someone yanked her aside, hard

nd full of disappointment. "Kailey, the o