ush, lighting up the sky like a painting washed in pas

ng her that last night hadn't just been a bad dream. Her fingers reached up t

mumbled, drag

ache and strange stiffness in her neck after she'd gotten home. She'd brushed it of

her body had

e, he said, which could heal on its own with rest and support. So now here

r creak

way, a tray of food in her hands and

aria asked, setting the tray down

um. Just a scrat

one that had made her confess

uring to the brace. "This... is not a scratch. This is

kay, I admit. It's more than a scratch. But no

y. "I just don't want anything

more," Lea said gently. "I

e the baby I carried th

Look at us - switching roles. But don't worry, we're Chr

s prickling her ey

nurse me,"

to a husband for that. My bac

Lea l

It's

y. But not today. Can we save the 'where is

ighed. "Only becau

g Lea's shoulders. At the

again in Je

sed, laughter echoing t

e mansions sprawled across acres and the air tasted like mone

ge of the woman from the accident had not fad

voice that snapped like a whip

emple. "What is

investors and manipulating numbers. But Jake couldn't conce

s, marble floors, and handcrafted mahogany railings. It was the kind

for once. He sank into one of the leather chairs and stared at the crackling fireplace. His

p again, making his w

enties, she was a soft-spoken beauty with delicate features and kind eyes. Sh

Sir," she gre

Alice. Sleep

Sir. A

marble counter. "I... sa

sked, her cur

nd fierce. I think I

know h

s head. "I fo

, if she's meant for you, I'

owly, uncertain whether fate worked th

through her phone. As if on cue, the memory o

name. What a shame. First guy to ever flirt with

t, she let herself imagine what it might've been

hone

s Ca

ated, the

, Sir," she s

"About the vehicle - you don't need

O

s using the car now. Also... you'll b

er lip. "

hun

pe of seeing hot stranger again

in her head: "I'm

tly. He was - if

and dropped to her knees, pl

day, and forever. I ask you... please send me a husband of your choi

od up again and got to work - cl

ater, her pho

call

nd picked it

love! How

It's been

accident from my

le injury. I'm wearing a corset

"I need to see

ean Fa

It's been three years

ned. "Linda...

er hearing from yours. She's given me a curfew like I'm fifteen again. I

lcome anytime. You know

issed y

rk, memories, and all the silly things friends

ea felt something

o

m route, Mark and Jake sipped post-workout smoot

won't go away... And I know I'm fallin

not a love song. It'

ged. "So?

eyebrow. "So? W

no girl,"

do you look like a man w

e. "It's nothing. Just a

standing up. "You

. "Why are w

t the door. "

on the do

d. His hea

h, hair down, lips sligh

aved h

he call

fr

e s

the universe spun a