mirror, holding my breat

e that ended just below the knees, and even that had been folded into the b

near my shoulder and combed my fingers through

anything close to the kind of woma

.. okay. Soft

much I wanted

crossed. "You look like you're going on a date."

in. "If 'business' includ

es and tossed

il

th Lily?" he asked, a

night. She'll stay wit

t me. "You

ted. "I

e worry in his twelve-year-old eyes. "Don't l

hort, breathle

hotel, I already felt like

tering like a diamond against the skylin

and the concierge asked if I was "Miss Reed"

ide alone made

l for th

distant hum of city traffic far below. Tables were spaced perfectl

asn't th

er, draped in white linen and framed by a view of the city. I sat

ked my

2 p

as l

that made me re

en he

, as if they fe

in conversation around the room was enough. The energy changed, gre

n like he o

n jaw. Ocean-blue eyes scanning

n, that

tly because my knees locked a

he said, voic

I replied, su

a brow. "Y

o think about

you d

N

sat across from me, his eyes

mediately. Julian di

lemon caper sauce. And I'll

ou just... or

use a break from maki

"I can order

I know. That's what

oked perfect. Smelled like heav

resting against a wine glass, head slightly

t I expected,"

plied. "Expectations are

er. "And you

make thin

marr

twitched.

city sparkled behind him l

a huge man I never noticed handed

s the c

it like it m

penthouse for appearances. You'll accompany me to events, di

ed," I

a clause about phy

mach t

voice softer. "If it happens, it happ

he pay

ansferred in full to your account at the end of the

ly. "That's a

nsation. For your time, you

pages. Legal language. Signatures alr

ouse for you," he added. "Unl

lse j

ok my head.

e until

's no

ke dragging

at him.

fraid to spill tea on my thousand-dollar

want yo

ing," he said. "Even i

ldn't

n he wa

bed, kissed his forehead, and sa

blurred. But the weight of it p

an S

ding. Insane

der his expensive armor. Some

I was already his.

reading it.But my hands

e deep

knew I'd