's

M.

opening. My jaw dropped at its magnificence. Up ahead, the massive stone mansi

he winding cobblestone driveway, my han

of being Mrs. Pearson and giving birth to children to fill all twelve rooms. We didn't have to work nor did the kids go to school, we

e I was only seventeen. Now, I am twenty-one. I am a

a minute, pushing my thick glasses u

st a temporary arrangement so your parents a

ng it open with a polite bow. "Welcome, Miss Sanders. Mr. Pearson is currently

oversized canvas tote bag and hauling

ile that says you clearly aren't a trust fund kid i

ds... My teenage dream

ircase. "Oh, look who has finally arrived! We've been waitin

s going to hug me, but she simply patted my shoulders gently. "You look..." her sharp eyes travelled slowly from my mess

ook plasti

y from the main hustle and bustle of the house. Stanley is under an immense amount of pressure with work right now, and the main wing gets so loud w

s mansion so I can stay completely out of ley's sight. Wh

ful of you, Quinn. T

*

ring at my laptop, trying to draft my application essay for The Herbert Wige Fellowship program. But by midnig

. And maybe a

uld hear muffle sounds of people arguing. I tried to give them their privacy, which wa

inn and Ley in

t that, Quinn!" Ley's voi

ation, crept to the door of the

ching us. This marriage is supposed to solidify your new resort spot, and you ar

p towards the main door, then the ag

Quinn wanted us all to believe. Holy Moly. The realization sen

t the kitchen and slipped through a set of gl

ed hedges surrounding the massive, illuminated infinity pool. I

e edge of the

ousers, his bare, muscular back was turned to me. In his hand, he held a c

l who was in love. My feet were glued to the stone. My eyes traced every line of his physi

olite to

e, making me jump. He didn't turn aro

sn't spying. I just... I couldn't sleep. I wanted some ;....,air." I walked a few steps cl

ose, he looked completely exhausted. The sharp lines of his jaw were ti

aze back to the pool. His voice was a flat wall, shutting me

hat am I?

ain could stop them. Irritation overrode my caution. "Treating

y, very slowly, Ley set his glass down on the tile. He turne

're an adult because you turned twenty-one, Amy?"

ng from his bare skin was intoxicating. My eyes instinctively raked over th

o my lips before locking back onto mine. "You are here because I promised your father I wou

tching between us made my brain short-circuit. He was right there. The man I had want

reckless wave of d

luttering shut behind my lenses as I reached for a kiss. I want

his breath against my skin, the sudden, sharp intake of his air as his e