udden sweat. "Mr. Knowles," he stammered

ying on his lips. "Mrs. Buchanan. It appears you've found yourself in a little trouble." His gaze s

not Mrs. Mcmahon. The detai

orward. "Mr. Knowles, this is just a smal

ly unpleasant piece of furniture. "The Mcmahons have always had a remarkable gift for euphemism.

hey carried across the silent space.

to Alanna, forcing a smile that was more like a grimace. "This... this lady, of course, sh

eir eyes wide with a mixture of awe and fear as they stared

appen to have an interest in Aura Tech's Phoenix project. I was wondering if I might have

"actually in charge,"

man knew. He wasn't here to rescue

e, Mr. Knowles," she re

a thousand-dollar suit. He opened his mouth to spe

n a gesture as polished as it was unmist

Aiden without a single glance. Adelard's arm remained steady beneath h

ollowed Adelard Knowles out of the main hall, leaving Aid

To have Adelard Knowles s

he Knowles and the Mcmahons h

desert flowers. The noise of the party faded behind them. He stopped beside the stone rai

rst, his tone flat. "That was reckless. If I h

ase scenario was that Aiden would lose an investor a

han courtesy required. "Good. You have nerve, and you're willing to bear the conseque

eir fingers brushed against the stem, the contact brief but unmistakably deliber

way from him. "You make it sound as though

the railing beside her, his voice lowering into something almost

uld that off

ttling on her lips. "That depends on how much

blunt, they stripped away her

th this man, she felt utterly seen, and it was terrifying. He knew her marr

iend, foe-or somethi

ectly into his bottomless eyes.

ming their cold depths into something warmer, darker, and far more dangerous. He leaned closer by the sma