the white fabric.

?" she asked, her voice

ing the handkerchief fall bac

man projects like he is trying to be heard in t

body away from him, her boots scraping against the concr

ow her. "Let me buy you a drink. Consider i

e whipped her head

ion," she snapped. "And I def

re of surrender. The streetlights ca

a shared misery. My date was a disaster too. Tiffany spent forty-f

on in his eyes looked real. The tensio

ine said flatly. "We ar

n's face. His dark eyes locked onto h

ve a way for both of us

wned. Her b

He lowered his voice, forcing her to le

You and me. Strictly busines

ropped. The air

e breathed out. "We

arriage certificate to satisfy some family trust cla

e out on the back

ng the phone hidden inside. Her heart ha

she demanded, taking a step

the restaurant. It is none of my business, but you looked like you needed help. I am a project manager. I make a stable

pavement felt like it was

. But the image of her father's pale face

ne said, shaking her head.

f his coat. He pulled out a crisp, whi

said. "I am not forcing you. But

ngers trembled as she rea

aid 'Cullen Preston' and a phone

er word, her phone vibrate

showed an incoming video call

swiped t

as frantic. His hands moved in rapid si

oed from the phone speaker. "Emaline. Dad disch

aline's face. Her stomach plu

ped, her voice crac

"He is home. He looks awful. He is coug

aline could not breathe. The e

maline shouted at the scre

n with a loading circle. No cars available. She looked up at the street. The Manhattan t

e terror cras

n's voice cut t

open rear door of a clean but unremarkable dar

ooked at the stranger holding the door. H

was dying in th

gripped the business card so h

n and slid into the b