or of the Wilkinson estate. The wheels rattled loudly agains

end of the hall. She pushed it

The air smelled stale, like a room th

es buckled. She collapsed onto the edge of the

tly as the tears she had been holding back finally poured out.

wiped her wet cheeks with the back of her han

case. Her fingers brushed against a worn,

anding in front of his clinic. He was smilin

Her throat tightened. As long as the clinic

wedding dress. She finally yanked it down, stepping out of the heavy fabric.

blanket back and p

door made her jump. The

ribs. She walked to the door on bar

s a mask of dark fury. His chest rose and

ge hand shot out. His fingers clampe

sped, trying to p

e turned and yanked he

r balance. Her bare feet slapped against the fre

in her tracks. It was Judi Grimes, the head housekeeper. Her eyes w

s head, his eyes narrowing into lethal

udi," he warned, his voi

gaze to the floor and scurr

umiliation of being dragged like a misbehaving ch

to the master bedroom. He kicked the door open, dragged

rambled to sit up, rubbing her red, throbbing

second later, he walked out holding a sheer, blac

on," he

looked at the tiny straps and the plunging

of you," she snapped, clutc

n't flatter yourself. There is absolutely n

o her, crossing his

over her head. She stripped out of her pants and quickly slid the cold, sli

ered, wrapping her a

are shoulders. His gaze lingered there for exactly on

des. He reached out and pinched her chin between his

tion," Carlton said, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "You

e reality of her situation crushed dow

f her skin burned him. He poin

r bed," he s

in and reached over to the bedside lamp. He clicked it off, plung