idn't come

ough the frost that clung to the walls of Knight Manor. Th

Knight fel

yes trained on the garden below. His estate sprawled beneath him lik

as o

r

flowers. The little girl moved hesitantly, one foot at a time,

me Damon had seen I

ked. She followed. She let Aria braid her h

.. couldn'

She wasn't loud or demanding. But there was something steady in her.

s daughter smiled mo

've been

ad... he

-

ar. The girl didn't speak, but her expression-soft and wide-ey

every glance, every squeeze of her hand, ev

ng to a pale purple bloom. "That's lav

ed the pet

r, heart full.

ond. But her head ga

step f

s hand again when she noticed so

sn't

woman in heels far too

out, irritation already in h

linked

en minutes. No one told me there was

Aria replied calmly. "

ght's legal advisor. I have a meeting, and he wants

posture. Sharp red lipstick. Hair

arden," Aria said. "We'll

"You work for Mr. Knight. I

e wants is his daughter happy and comfortable. So unless he personal

ke she'd swallowe

hind them cut the t

's r

tur

ace, hands in his pockets, suit pri

iffened. "

la. I asked you to wait in t

e gave Aria a tight glare and w

ir back gently. "Let's go pick one m

t expect

... nodd

after Isla was tucked in, planning to

mon leaning against the wal

ing.

r," Aria said befo

licked to her.

to the garden w

ay. "That's

Aria said softly. "Of c

t know wha

ou to say anything.

ilent for a

today," he s

iled. "

ower now. "She used to run through tha

ybe not tomorrow. Maybe not next week. But

ed at h

once, Damon Knight looked at her like a m

od at this

ot per

reed. "But

traightening his cuffs li

ex-wife is back in the States. I suspe

urned. "Will tha

"Everything with He

nce. "Then we

-then walked off into the darkness of t

-

r bunny tucked under her chin and

storm in Damon Knight'

that fr

something dangerou