y back was broken the moment they step

pacing in front of the fireplace. "To walk out like t

n alliance, nodded in agreement. The insult

in, loosening his tie. He had just gotten back from a late me

was," he said, then paused, taking in the fun

Avery has decided to end h

xpression shifted from confusion to a dark, si

body a protective shield. "What did he do to you?" he demanded, his voice l

her Caleb. Her fierce protector. In her past life, this exact impulse-this righteous anger on her beh

t let that h

touch surprisingly firm. "No, Caleb. It was my decis

oncern in his eyes. "Don't protect him, Av

ho had followed Dominic Baxter around with

im," she said, and the truth of the words resonated in the room. "

er eyes. Just a profound, unshakable certainty that left him

aleb," she said, turning to include her father

r as if she'd grown a second head. Avery, who had majored in art histor

ut distracting yourself, swee

respectful but firm. "I want to learn the business. I

r, she needed to be inside the company, where t

n was still there, but something else was dawning in hi

erious, I'll set you up with a position in the marketing d

hing her lips for the first time that night.

nctuary of her bedroom

ed to a single object: the rose quartz bracelet. She had loved it, photographed it from ever

was a li

nder of the naive girl she used to be. That girl was dea

erase every

he album and her thumb hovered ove

resse

Items?" the

ssed "D

one, she felt a strange ligh

as still out there. In his possession. As long as he had it, she was

k. Without him ever k

gerous, began to take shap