O

ve any idea what Adley was doing. But she didn’t remotely

en carrying over my shoulder had to do with my less time spent with them or my lack of activit

hip since my discharge from the service, she’d be

nd I was far from being a saint. Right now, there were more

hat Adley would stop bugging me a

he could brighten the stormy skies with her smile, and those damn eyes lit u

ould she blush or maybe scream? I groaned

that smile as if she’d been terribly hurt and held something—

ind. I mean, we can still catch u

like to tell your grandchildren, but now looking at them, the unive

e gestured at me while Carly went to Amelie on th

er. “Is my

like mine. You wouldn’t see any chaos but peace and serenity

my arm. “Not even close

e?” I pla

Disney princess character. W

less. “She appl

g dumb,

id I am c

Ask her out. I like her. And I s

t lo

mission. Well, let me tell you this,” she said as she poked my arm. “Your mission now is to make

way too ahead of yourself. I don’t

and alpha female?” Why does everyo

ad a full-blown smile on her face. I couldn’t help but smile as I watch

hem to school, watching them play, and growing old with my wife. Just not r

at I’m tal

at me, and our gazes met. For a moment, she looked genuinely happy as she enjoyed playing with

can

s bull

my employee. Find me ano

set her up wi

f my blood toward my face a

single and a good man

doing? You can’t just

gloomy ones like you.” She glared back at me. “And Knox is a talented

topped as if something triggered her memory.

” She pointed at one of Knox’s works on the wall. It was a Fauvism

particularly his pain. In my opinion, losing the woman’s eye represents her refusal to see the truth before her. Or she was too b

t. I was not only impressed by her analysis, bu

ll puz

ught art because it caught my eye, but that

as I still caught Adley watch

I pretended to check the

y nice meetin

into a hug and wh

y girl Amelie.” I kis

ul girl gri

ou have two days, or you will be in mi

n evil in

t laugh

o strangers. I didn’t know what to say or

g by the clicking of her high heels, she was catching u

om

under m

ngs

ard before I stoppe

ing my boss.” Sax and I did a br

I said casually, but Sax knew me better than that. An

gnize her from the club, pointing his

. “I don’t t

would have remembered you. But I swear I saw you somewh

ed to her for a handshake. “Carly. Car

to say something wh

, Storm. Bro, let’s catch up later.” We were about

ai

es shut before I

tte.” Fuck

Carly inquired,

t you looked like the br

, she was not entirely buying

That’s all. It was nice meeti

too,

breath once we got in the car. “Zee,

o to the office if you

join me for lunch. The

llow. “Whatever

Adley whis

ped in my dir

sternly. “Y

and me.” She composed herself. A

all

s,

ike ar

es. I learned

f tricks. Like interp

ion. For me, it’s how an artist represents emotions in colors, how it conv

I have no

if I could mo

. “No fucking way.” My words came o

she stared at me. “If I could g

ay you

” She blinke

model,” I adm

pose to post

of Knox made me want to strangle her and K

g to strangle

en think

ut

to

s Ca

. I will call you by

in stunned, ope

ha

, Adley was right. But that’s p