Contracted to love

ne: Strug

lutched the worn handle of the antique café tray firmly, willing her trembling fingers to calm down. Burned coffee and the

a bitter reminder of how little time she had to get it paid. The doctor's word

endricks' booming voice int

ing the coffee pot and rushi

d-shouldered, with an aura of authority that put Elena on edge. The power su

little girl beside him, moving her legs rapidly back

er-service smile. "Good even

s if she were a puzzle to be solved. His face was good-looking-strong jawline, dark hair well-b

spoke, his deep voice making

irl grinned up at her, unawa

ntly, smiling.

grinned.

me rolling over her tongue l

cleared his throat, remindi

s voice was unreadable, but his eyes-ther

ched. "I t

y looked at her like she was a p

er, heart still thudding against her ribs. Something about this man made her uneasy. I

, she caught snippets

g back soon?" L

y, long silence. Then the

ly. She

't know what their past was, but sh

y slapped her hands together in delight, devouring

likes

, she recalled from the name on

ked. "Ex

ding toward his daughter. "She

led her chest. "S

t merely regarded her again,

ight air when her shift finally ended, that she realized sh

s would not be the last time

ven c