ek flat against the ce

irt, she could hear his heart. It was hammerin

roze com

ng. The sudden, overwhelming sensation of her soft body

anted to wrap his arms around her and bury

zing secon

al instincts fi

is fingers dug into her flesh. He s

ht shift. She stumbled backward, her arms flailing.

s arms tensing as if to catch her, before he caught himself and

with eyes as cold as liquid nitro

close enough to claim I hit you? Looking for do

to steady herself. Her heart ached at

just looked at him, h

ence," Jaclyn said softly,

blow. Gaines's mouth opened slightly, but no wor

a response, a shrill ringt

cell phone resting on

he caller ID flashed brig

rned to ice. Her fingernails d

A harsh, ugly laugh

ing toward the phone. "Let's hear wha

over to the coffee table, picked up

e filled the living room. "Are you okay?

ed Jaclyn intently, waiting for her to launch in

ed blankly

voice was completely flat, devoid o

of the line. Cherri was clearly t

erri pushed, her voice dropping to a conspirator

the phantom sensation of his hand

ooked directly into Gaine

closer to

id, enunciating every single syllable. "D

His jaw went slack. A storm of sho

you talking about-

ncussion. I'm hanging up,"

tton and tossed the ph

lent. The faint hum of Manhattan tra

ond head. His brain was spinning, desperately tryi

m didn't just cut off h

trap. A massi

toward her until he was standi

ing," Gaines whispered, his voice vibrating