try to hide it. She nodded, her voice w

ntal meeting, the confrontation, and her d

sion unreadable, but his knuckles wh

self-mocking sigh. "Arrogant, unreasonabl

e rearview mirror. "And y

the city flashed across her face, a

at... I just don't want anything to do with hi

mentioned you came back to look into some th

e weariness in her eyes replaced by a sharp focus. "It will be a complic

need me to do

ting him think I'm married to you is

g to New York was clear, but every step was like

th genuine gratitude. "If it weren't for you, I

, aren't we? Besides, we're alumni. We have to st

real, unforced laugh of t

I'm sorry for pulling you into my mess with G

ategy for now. Using the Mayor of New York as a shield will at le

e able to use his usual brute-force tact

th gratitude. Cole was always like

artment building, a modern, high-sec

eatbelt. "Okay, I'm h

led out as she wa

unusually serious. "If there comes a day when you don't want to pretend

the air. Alena f

looked away, his voice returning to its usual

Cole had feelings for her, but she was in

d softly, and pus

hed Cole's car merge back into the r

The soft, grateful expression on her face van

own complicated feelings-sh

ry measure. She couldn't