and fresh basil filled th

collapsed onto the worn fabric sofa, pulling her t

he kitchen, wiping flour off hi

t private club in Manhattan, Ac

sat on the table. Next to

grandmother's ultimatum echoed in

ed up the phone and press

hone vibrated against the couch cushio

and pressed the phon

le

His throat tightened. He didn't know what to say to th

he said, his tone dropping into

nny speaker of her phone. It lacked the controlled, polished resonance of her CEO's voice in the quiet of his office. The loud jazz music playing i

who is this?

d until the plastic creaked. She

ud, booming male voice echo

y! Get in here before Elva e

the phone speaker and hit

's face. The air in the pr

the word scraping against

in his tone. She turned her head toward

"Look, my roommate is calling me fo

?" Ace in

h that sounded li

ed the

marble table with so much force the screen

his throat. The alcohol burned, but it did nothing

casual intimacy, the domestic warmth. A ferocious, possessive fury ignited within him, a dark certainty taking root

call. She shrugged, tossed the phone onto the

f her billionaire husband, she had