a

in Soho. It was the kind of store where champagne was served at the door, velvet curtains hung from th

le counter-a tall, impeccably dressed woman with a sharp bob-immediately looked up. Her eyes did a rap

e fold inward. Today, I threw my shoulders back, m

le polite but distant. "Look

ooth, loud, and unwavering. "Something short. Something crimson

smile dissolved into something far more genuine. "Crimson red

ctured boning hugged my waist, while the plunging neckline held my chest high, accentuating my fullness ra

boutique's shared mirror lounge, stepping onto the raised p

flying to her mouth. "Oh, my God, ma'am... that c

ounge from the tailor's private studio was pushed aside. A man

oal suits need to be delivered to St. Mi

died mid

dead in h

pensive charcoal blazer, a sharp, shadow-dusted jawline, and dark, unr

the exposed line of my neck, the deep plunge of the red fabric over

he room thin

ense, and ravenous flashed across his features-a look of pure, unadulter

cleared his throat, his deep voice turning noticeably raspy. "I..

ammering against my ribs under the he

in the faint flush on my cheeks, before he gave a slow, deliberate nod of his h

e'd been holding. "Okay... so we

from the stranger's gaze. For the first time in eight months, I

dangerous smile finally to

ay Aft

ch. My golden hair fell in thick, glossed waves down my back, creating a striking contrast

nervous flip. Guests were already mingling on the terrace-peopl

c fl

'd think I showed up as a desperate ex holding onto hope, begging for attention.

back to me, phone pressed to his ear, one hand in the pocket of a

dragged a breath into my lungs, marched straight up b

cash if you walk into that church and

went dea

lowered his phone from

ed into the bac

e. That same intense, hungry mouth I'd seen

lted on its

flushed cheeks, and the fierce, terrified determination in my