a coffin. Allison stared at the empty spot where he'd stood, her mind reeling-too fast, everything had happened too fast.

umping forward and snatching a crumpled paper menu to fan her sweat-flushed

re terrifying up close. Allison-are you sure? Marrying

the frigid liquid burned down her throat, barely taming the fire racing in her veins. Instinctively, she brushed her waist-the ghost of his searing grip

ice sharpening into a blade, free of the earlier tremor. "His quick yes? It pr

a muted thud that felt like a threat. He settled into the plush leather seat, adjusti

it feel, boss? Proposed to by a heartbroken heiress who thinks you're... well, impotent?"

allow bobbing his Adam's apple-though his eyes still glinted with poorly contained humo

rdered the second Preston picked up. "Fi

nderstood, Mr. Kensington. Shall I use the st

d, his tone dark and velvet-smooth, dan

eyes-Adam was leaving his entire personal fortune vulnerable to Allison. For a man who

ay," Kip said cautiously, leaning

d coldly, a flicker of obsession in his eyes that made Kip's blood run cold. "Take me to MK Holdings' New Yo

ers flying as she pulled up New York's marriage license

w you turn trauma into

am must have the pull to get a judicial waiver." She typed a crisp, formal email to his

Leo's reply was short, too short: All j

ff. It was as if the waivers had been ready before she'd even agreed. She shook it off, cha

ked, yanking her back to reality.

er's vintage jewelry box, the trust fund documents that could sink Baker and Finn,

aptop shut. "One last time. I need to get my

said, grabbing her purse. "Y

I need to break their hold on me-for good." The strategic planner was

n sun casting harsh, elongated shadows that seemed to reach for them. Allison h

he didn't know was that Adam's "plan" had nothing to do with PR-or even Baker and Finn. The judicial waivers wer