y overrode her paralysis. She couldn

each other. "I was drunk. Last night was a mistake."

and it back. But the words wouldn't come. How could she ask for it back when

nstinctively, reaching out to steady her, but she was already gone. She fumbled with t

dle of the suite, his gray eyes following her chaoti

e. He walked slowly to the floor-to-ceiling

orning light, the platinum ring o

e small, engraved "S

the corner of his mouth li

oment, then turned away from the wi

o everything. By the time he settled into the armchair by the window with a cup

xpression shifting from quiet contentment to his usua

ooking slightly hungover but c

rming smile. "Figured you hadn't eaten. B

im in. "What do you want, Jul

the sofa with the easy confidence of someone who had nowhere else to be. "God, last night was un

rticular satisfaction of a young man who had

ely fell on the rumpled king-sized bed. He then spotted Seraphi

oss Julian's face. "Whoa, Uncle.

s complete and utter lack of a personal life. Women were never part of the equation. Julian had lost count of the nu

e and walked into the

his curiosity piqued. "So, who's the lucky lad

tie with precise, e

wo whiskey glasses on the nightstand. His smirk widen

sion unchanging. As he adjusted the clasp, the platinum

it. He frowned, leaning

look up. "Do

aphina had pulled out last night at the restaurant. It looked almost identical. But that was ridiculous. Seraphina's ring was s

ged and

was she?" Ju

he mirror. "Did you win your bet last nig

chest out. "Of course. Seraphina can't live without me.

He didn't say anything. He just looked at Julian for a long moment, and J

oice leaving no room for argument. "

simply had a one-night stand with some anonymous woman.

t the mystery woman in his uncle's bed w

surprises at the board meeting next month," he said, his tone flat. "I have a meeting in twenty

he threshold, glancing back at his uncle's solitary figure by the window. Something about the sce

icked shut

ng cold in his hand. He looked down at the platinum ban