rk'

me, and the house return

ng the look on Alex's face when I'd told him to use the kitchen

't have sta

driver the address of the office out of habit. Sydney blurred past

, this gr

, it d

ght reg

rence. Just confidence. As if wealth didn't impress hi

don't inti

e exact words but I'

-

. Assistants moved quickly. Executives straightened whe

ed it. I

I corrected mistakes before they were spoken. I dismissed excuses

the versio

n agenda points,

easy s

nce on earni

in my kitchen like

presentat

estions?

one

eeting ad

quickly. My as

About the graduate analyst po

"Leave it o

ere's... an additio

ready

she continued

er, expression

a. Strong academic rec

on the lis

itism. No

dded an

ed at t

dangerous

-

se smelled like garlic and herbs, dinner in progress. Laug

without

get a job soon, I'll start chargin

already eat enough

d into th

ed first.

ain. That smile.

vening,"

ready," Mary sai

d, meeting his gaze. "T

Alex said. "From

eyebrow. "Why

eem like the type wh

. "Only when peop

between us, a qu

wed easily, laughter punctuating the space in a way it rar

ary excused h

aid pointedly. "You two

roaned.

ve me warm, knowing and fo

t at the same time

ect

oth f

" he sai

eplied, though my

e for a moment lon

t. "So... you're really no

"That's not what

eyes with that stubborn confidenc

re i

ken

d him. Reminded him of

found myse

ate to think my wealth was the

ion softened

us thickened, cha

ped bac

night,

night,

stairs, shoulders relaxed, unaw

study, one thought sett

h didn't s

aw th

e dangerous than inti