s face. He couldn't believe it-he'd actually gone all the way back to that woman's place, s

style, but ever since meeting Vasti P

bered, stunned at his own behavior. Adônis wasn't

e door. He didn't spare Vasti a gla

hadn't caved this time. She brushed her lips with her fingers. That

d up as nothing more than his plaything before he tos

d as some shameless flirt, while he walks away the hero. Good luck findin

day had been a disaster, one emotional swing after another, and now she was m

did to me! Honestly, Vast

really too much to ask for a quiet night? Her phone buzzed s

yes flicking open. The phone sat right

r number. She braced herself for anot

OWN:

ly, she remembered "lilac." Bu

Mr. Mac

r came online. The sender saw her r

one, as if yelling would ma

nder did n

I: ?

d. Nothing. This time, it didn't

muttered, trying to talk herself down. "Why w

n't put it past him!" she muttered, pursing her lips as she set

ed. Vasti stretched, and the sc

e scent hit her nose again, her expression faltered-it was too strong, t

neighbor? That had to be it. He might have left his own door open, and the smell drift

omeone broken in? "Calm down," she told hers

und for anything she could use as a weapon-but the door swu

A

i's dresser. He opened the top drawer, glanced inside, and shut it. Then he moved on to the second one-the one where she kept her pa

ing?" She jumped up, planting herself between him an

ut Adônis hardly budged-he was si

s rifled through her underwear, barely hiding his disappo

s and started to lift them, but Vasti reacted fa

ti a look as if she'd committed a crime

haled slowly, and jabbe

tation. "You can't just barge in like this! You're not e

ly unbothered. "Sure,

laughing at the man's s

see it? Because I'm p

ssion of pure innocence, which looked absolutely ridiculous on him. Vasti's eyes narrowed, suspicion sharpening

ing over at Adônis, who hadn't moved an inch-hands in

call from him, logged abo

t back. "I don't even r

digging through her drawers. Adonis closed that drawer and went o

enough.

confrontationa

short, exasp

argue, she cut him off with a raised hand. "Don't even start. You took advantage of me being half-asleep

in her throat. S