been plucked directly from the pages of an upscale magazine. And yet, as magnif

rs sparkled overhead, shedding golden, warm light across marbled floors, but the light did nothing to warm

sted over every corner like a refusal to leave. There was no laughter, no buzz of residual li

s different. There was something unsettlingly lonely about the Pierce estate

e large window of her bedroom, staring out at the expansive gardens with emp

whispered as she set down h

ow," she continued, "I just saw a butterfly outside. A b

owly but did no

She had worked with slow-to-trust kids before, but t

e mansion was-intricate furniture, expensive toys, and bookshelves. But it

crayons, no dolls lying around, no sig

just a house without heart-it w

, her voice quiet this time. "Woul

was no

d that trust wasn't easily granted-it ha

. Turning her head, she saw Grayson Pierce st

shift in the atmosphere

much," he replied

her eyes flashing. "She does

worked. "She

his face, hoping to see cracks in the frozen mask, but he h

ly's voice had left it

. "Well, she'll talk a

"Don't make promises you

ly, her voice laced with quiet det

nna could have sworn she saw a flash

o

g the thick silence. "I take it Dawson's

Yes. And they're

rose. "In

first of all, I find it odd that ther

arkened. "Struct

"Children are not business ventures, Mr. Pierce

hired you to take ord

. "And you hired me to care for your daughter,

nce clung

es hard and calculating. It was clear he wasn't used

must," he growled. "Just don't expec

iffly, staring out the window. No, over night resu

away and Sienna followed

didn't turn to

just a nanny. She

moment later, he disappeared down the hallw

e little girl, offering a warm smile. "You don't hav

tched against her sleeve. A subtle, almost

anding just outside t

ything, this-his daughter's sufferin

nna Carter as if she were something more than an em