her breaths quickening as her stomach

nd black underwear made a sharp contrast, while her legs

e had noticed before. Yet tonight,

s fingers from where he had tou

er leg from the jeans, sliding them off and replacing them w

her skin made her shiver, a trace

caught the flush coloring her cheeks

once more, then turned away just as

," he ca

ing first to acknowledge Greyso

f anything's serious," Greyson i

few places, and assured him it was nothing more tha

the doctor added, "Looks like

es

o planning

lifted a brow in sudden int

et a word in, Elena an

ted back to Greyson,

ook, silent but full of warning. He di

What else could she say? Sall

ctions, he departed with Sallie, le

still lingered in the air, making it a

reyson slipped out and vanish

a soft knock sounded,

Frank offered a file, setting it on the desk.

back to the bedroom and handed it to Elena. "Here.

pected him to m

ast line and asked, "Suppose you ended up fall

en," Greyson retort

answer Elen

g more than a convenience for hi

n life is set in sto

d his silence told her eve

d a photo for her own record,

ere were moments when she read the

st not to show up here,"

.

that contract?" Mina ask

nd dabbing at her nose, Elena replied, "Plenty of detail

"Honestly, he thinks yo

ck, "With a face and body lik

ut the ot

o each other in public, we act

t others to know a

k about us with anyone. But the ma

t tell if he just hates marriage

shrug. "Could be both.

e, what's in this for you? Sounds like y

ort end? Please. I don't need to play the dutiful wife, and he

hen he's gone, you know

n," Elena replied, cool as ever. "It's

given up on love altogether,

"You haven't seen him up close. He's handsome, and you'd never think he

t bring hers

ge didn't feel like lo

ike she was ruin

m Elena's phone b

caller, she k

as light and careful

out a small hum. "Here's wher

her head. "P

unwanted m

or Jerald's sake. She hadn't counted on Travis Marquez, the boss's son

one as far as organizi

branch yet, her appearances at the same exhibition

would only make her sta

estaurant, Mina's mind wand

e broke th

he most important claus

uld be forced to squat in the c

from a man like Greyson reveale

it was an effective w

as made to kee

t, Elena pulled her coat

wide open, spilling laught

doorway, a chorus went up. "Elena

oward Elena the mo

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I caugh

ht?" asked Travis, his t

t's nothing seriou

amiliar faces from past projects,

her, from the headquarters down to the branch of

chair beside Travis, and Elena took t

n small talk, and the conv

e. Laughter carried across the ta

utside for a few minutes. He returned hold

he room, and nearly every pair

d the gesture

ld make things awkward at work, and Ele

people passing by started to w

et me be the one to care for you?" Travis stood

heers, though no one

faced Travis head-on. Her

m already married, and