cole returned to So

ested beside the front do

hed out across the couch, his tie undone, and the low

er a lazy, wolfish grin. "Today's m

er onto his lap, then crushed his

. She recoiled, but he gripped her chi

," he murmured. "You can't e

owly moved higher. "Maybe I should be the

acted Brenton. It was the only reaso

drew him in most. There was tru

also satisfied a hunger in

e touch of his hands on her skin made her feel like

oice into a low, coaxing purr. "What's the

When will you find a kid

our mother's condition is compl

His lips stayed pressed to her skin as he spoke. "I'

held back the bitter laug

question. "So when exactl

hands we

ong her lower lip. The gesture was deliberate, as if he were handling a

man. Even a stranger could feel like the center of his universe when he

done. Aurora Studio will also end its par

m fell

shed. Something much more

t really matter that much to you? I love you

upposed to

onor. It was letting her mother die. It was making pl

man in front of her now seemed like a str

, then the least we can do is

ers and forced her down a

thought about what that would mean for your mo

It didn't hurt, but the gesture

fool yourself into thinking you can th

e vibrated, Gi

ted to a warm and sweet tone the second h

over his shoulder. "Go treat yourself to something nice

behind him with a

couch. She didn't move until the ache in

hem of her dress. Then she walked into the b

face looked deathly pale in the mirror,

she stepped into t

whenever he was in one of his better moods. She'd never had the hear

ems and sent the pictur

f it. Tell me how

partment. She pushed the keys under the management office door, the

he was still trying to process the shock. Everyone knew Nico

her a smal

ng him off, cut every last tie. You took True Glamour to Vasiria Fashion Week while y

ership will cost five million

ent q

than Nicole did. He'd nev

e murmured, "Soon, that w

s were sold wit

received a sizable depo

she transferred only half of it to his account. As for t

he dark circles under her eyes with foundation and swept

d to her figure without being tight. The neckline

of broth she'd spent

ole found the office door cracked

is back to her as he

a solid wall. Morning sunlight shone through his white shir

ridiculous phrase popped int

s fingers stopped halfway th

" She set down the thermos and rubbed her bandaged fingers self-consciously. Her voice was cautious an

wly raised his eyes to her face. She look

unreadable eyes. He knew she was pu

ou don't need to thank me." He sounded neith

t's only a small thank-you. It doesn

treatment fee... I was only able to pu

make herself look vulnerable. "Could

with a brief,

till need follow-up care, so could I get your number? I

nt, he did

f for his refusal when he picked up

d his knuckles were well-defined. He had a surgeon's hands, and they

he lightly shook his phone, she came back t

for the thermo

behind so that she

osed with a

he new contact

used a selfie taken in front of

delete button and stayed

simply let the

ility disappeared from her face. She headed for the exit. When she pass

hen she reach

ade Dr. Carter sudd

two-hundred-thousand-dol

do that? What's