mell of fresh coffee and soft sunligh

he bed was too soft, the silence too clea

raped across the chair and the glittering earri

cont

ga

n Bla

, rubbing the sle

t her bedside - coffee, croiss

have dinner toni

rief, efficient message that made her wonder how ma

her lips from curling i

Zara wandered t

ty, no locked doors - at least, not yet. The mansion was quieter during the day,

mo

ks, and a fireplace that had probably never seen actual fire. Then the in

the west hallway, she

do

andle - different from the elegant wooden doors in the rest

at it for a

nctively reach

Solid. Fi

e pulled back and continued walking

n, she finally s

eeves rolled, tie undone, rea

at home," he said

allowed to go," she said, s

eyes sharp. "You can

g to hide her interest. "

just half a second

anded on her with new focus. "Som

What's behind that on

k. "Curiosity

s sec

nsed, just

e better left u

st afraid of being seen

e might say something. But instead

at 8. Wea

ut without

estaurant. Candlelight flickered across the crystal g

e left for her. Off-shoul

essed in black. Simple button-down, sleeves r

need to. The way he looked at her

nking silverware. Sips of wine

tween them was lou

y, he

ot like t

ow. "Is that a comp

ot

k down. "You don

t trust

ing me into

once, I wanted to see if someone would choos

harder than i

s folded. "Is that w

dn't

ed, "Why did yo

hesi

e I wa

eeded to sa

nk I'd matter enough

those word

e part of me wanted to fi

lence passed

d around the table,

with

er hand in hi

en or the ballroom, Damien walked her

art th

his pocket, slipped it in

epped i

t of the mansion. No gold. No glass. Just simple wood.

to him. "Wh

s room," he

a f

ept it the same. Haven

y n

't look

se you

a small step toward the center

loved

on who loved me withou

think no on

at her, eye

ay

he side of the piano. "You're not the

dn't

him, something in his eyes

a l