e sheer curtains, casting a warm,

lled of wet grass from last night's rain. She set up a portable wooden easel sh

picked up a charcoal pencil and began to sketch the sprawling, perfectly

lip on the easel snapped. The sheet of paper tore loose, fluttering

rcoal and sprinted back through the bedroom, ou

r the door that led to the terrace. As she rounded a

by the shoulder. In his other h

d navy-blue suit. He had striking features, dark hair neatly styled, and a warm

arrera, Gabriella

avion said. His voice was smooth a

he reached for the paper. Her fingertips accidentally brushed against his cold silver

This is fantastic work. The shading on the oak trees is i

n," she said, clutching

th an elegant movement. "Welcome to Crestwood.

e family has," Annabelle replied, ge

eared at the end of the hall. "Mr. Davion,

ure meeting you, Anna." He gave her a polite nod

He was polite, handsome, a

-a secure VoIP call via the estate's Wi-Fi. She had sent her cousin Cordell Jenkins an encrypted message the

red. "Hey

in New York. I received your authorization. The trust agreement has been activa

encil. She looked out over the estate.

ive amount of power. But to the outside world, he is the public face-the one frequently seen in financial magazines

. A gentleman. Impeccable manner

just met in the hallway. The tailored suit, th

on Barrera?" Annabel

thick stone walls of the mansion

rough, slightly distorted, referring to the entire family's dynamic,

her hand flying up

l me later," Cordell sai

e chair. Her mind was spinning. She had run away from a nightmare

rill bloomed in her chest. If she had to marry a stranger to secure her safety and her

e to see Davion's sleek silver Aston

playing on her lips. She would keep her identity a secret for