was going

t Belle & Baker was now a shrine of sleek dominance, and for the firs

k at legal summits, gala dinners, and quiet power brunches hos

ather and crystal and high-ris

g downtown-something exclusive, tastefully chaotic, and crawlin

rners where secrets were traded, and bartenders who knew when to ask questions and whe

lk through smoke. For a moment, it felt good. To not be Daphne Bak

the shadows. The man approached with the quiet arroganc

se, too familiar. "Didn't think you

ot. But then again, maybe I needed a night

"You're hot when y

ed to wa

bed her

a

ear, but rage. Her voice

. She tried to twist free, and just as p

as g

one. Pul

he floor, gasping, arm twisted behind him

n, the man was hauled out, and the moment p

to her myst

already w

e called,

Just disappeared

o

-

phne couldn't stop

e staff shrugged. He hadn't signed in. No last name. No trace. Jus

bothe

use she could

ade her feel: vulnerabl

-

he courthouse, burning her eyes out over a merger cl

ed up-an

i

eyes. Calm confidence, lik

you, do you?" he said, sipping her unt

laughed-genuine, s

vanis

t like

ys trying t

t really hate not ge

in. "What's

dne

ey *w

head. "Does

t. Maybe that

-

stretched into the quiet hours when even the city softened. He never bragged. Never asked about her

r laugh so hard once she spilled win

something stolen from the restaurant's cellar, they sto

" he said, bu

he replied, ey

he d

-

, it w

ach other. Her fingers traced the scars on his ribs. His

ght. His hands circled her waist, then moved down with a reverence that wasn't

lted away, disca

he meant it. Like h

uch. She moaned softly against his mouth as he moved inside her, slow at first, then dee

ing like a crescendo she couldn't stop. His name left her

ard, shaking, breathless-

conne

in sweat and silence, staring out the window at a city that had no

write

f place where you had to know someone just to get a table. Daphne had discovered it back when she was married

dney l

g her about her playlist. He made things feel easy, like she hadn

if she was wearing her glow a little too obviously. They were seated

owned it-not in that loud, Spencer way, but

aid, swirling his drink, "but I already forgi

of the few good things I g

ow. "Your ex h

t I had to find things that ma

his glass to her

one time Rodney got stuck in an Algerian airport for twelve h

sy-until

ersation

," he asked casually, "Belle an

eave. I followed my heart instead of my

in. "Heart a

s too smooth. Too easy. Like i

e bli

ntext before. She hadn't even mentioned h

his name," she

"You've menti

t think

be I looked him up. Curiosity. You'r

omach

learly know a lot about law. Your takes on case law

can I say? I have a

s verbatim. Last week you cited an o

abbled. Pre-law, once. Didn't li

something most pre-law students get into. That ruling you q

y and unbothered. "May

lub. The way he'd known what to do, what to say. The way he never asked the kinds of questions

t well-read," s

ck. Smiled. "You

ut I think you're

n't de

ed across the tab

e said. "But not the

e comforted h

. "If I find out you're connect

his father. Or anyone in that world. If

waiting for t

s expression shifted. Something

iled again

for the night," he said. "Eat your sal

racted. As she picked up her fo

re was some

emembered Spencer once mentioning a cousin who went off the radar. Some

t cared a

t

sn't s

-

o her penthouse and kissed her go

iskey, sat by the windo

ty

ill – family

hovered o

she s

d the

't ready

she would p

if Rodney was who she

be hel

wor

etrayal t

ht, she l

this

Ice Queen wanted to believ