sed her eyes tiredly. A vivid red mark circ

s Jackson spoke carefully.

oslyn slowly o

sking, "Did Brandon trouble you just

ession stiffe

ry day. Disturbing him over something thi

o power at all. Connor had married her because she suited his requirements, nothing

It's already over, so there's no

stood and nodded. "Und

stepped out of the car while Hans drove tow

itative voice came

everything that had happened outsid

as inj

wman said it wasn't serious and spec

y with her throughout her commute. If Brandon appears ag

s,

s hallway. Her gaze lingered between the master bedroom she had shared

rranged another bedroom for her. Which meant he probably preferred that they

onnor's preferences, Joslyn pushe

night flight from Fleg

. After Connor got into the car, Damien hesitated for

became the subject of discussion at the

ed his eyes

rtment as Joslyn. She was the type who always knew the late

d but didn't have a wedding ring. In front of a lot of coworkers in the cafe

siness trip almost right afterward. In Connor's mind, the prior

no wedding cere

hat he had let her suffer

row morning'

erst

ng, Joslyn woke up later than

rs, Connor was already in the

ddenly felt awkward around him again. "Good morn

or lifted his g

the seat acr

wrist?" Co

knew Hans had reported Brandon's v

r. After a brief hesitation, Josly

carefully before

tever he wants," Connor said calmly. "If he bothers you again, let Hans handle him directly

too obvious to ignore. It left Jos

and Brandon seemed far worse t

is seat. "Go change your clothes. Y

are we

uy ri

front of the most prestigious lu

rted them to a private VIP

informed us ahead of time. Every

entered carrying trays

gant and unique. Even the smallest center stone was at least five c

thing you like?

yn lowered her voice slightly. "Act

his tone calm but firm. "You d

the ring. It was Connor's wife who needed it. He was choosing jewelry worthy of the

ove slowly across the display before final

r-prong setting. A clean band

She pointe

gaze and gave a slig

hand as the cool metal slid onto her ring finger. Beneath the chandelier, the diamond s

ring, but it might not be practic

er. Wearing something this extravagant every da

asonable. Reasonable enough to think carefully about ev

f restraint made something t

nother one for

time, the designs were much simpler. Solitaire setting

ore choosing a minimalist ring with a

object. "We'

uld you like your initials

es

ngraving, the staff brought

oslyn quietly sipped her coffee, her

hinking about?"

sually. "I just think all of th

s ever something you want in the future, don't forc

d up at him.

s life with a single sentence offered protection so na

ird floor of the mall, Bran

bag in the display window. "Brandon, do you think this color l

ice," Brandon rep

ook at it." Clare lightly s

e top of her head. "I don't need to

to bring the bag out for her to try on. Meanwhile, Brando

a clear view of the centra

eam knit dress beneath a light camel trench coat. After s

de her w

rium blocked part of the view. Brandon couldn't make out the m

fore he could even think it through, he had a