their faces draining the moment the

, and looking nothing like the gir

stunned. "What the he

dress hugging Aimee's figure or the delicate bracelet glit

like that? How could the girl who'd supposedly ro

out a trembling, fragile voice. "Aimee... Laurence went to pick you up himself. Why won't you co

Rylie seem so breakable; it was as if sh

erformance, a slow, cutting

wasn't just anger. It

that she almost pictured ripping that

asn't the gullible girl

t, almost bored tone, "Home?" A light, humorless laugh escaped her. "A place like tha

expression twisting as he barked, "Ai

tention to the sales associate. "Wrap it up. I'm

i slipped the black card int

nto a fragile pout. Clinging to Laurence's arm, she murmured, "Laurenc

e this." His contempt sharpened as he eyed Aimee. "Tell me, how could s

nt, puffing up with arrogance. "I'

avering as she glanced nervously between the

her words drip out with del

he boutique, heads whip

housand, yet she had thrown out a pr

face, and her fingers curled so ha

id Aimee get tha

outh into a mocking smirk. "Aimee, cut the act.

lack card to the sales assistant again, saying, "

at swept through the bo

d at Aimee, trying to grasp how this worthles

Rylie's face, a slow smile curving as

ir as Aimee's hand swung out, l

ressed against the reddening mark, tears spilling

playful smirk. "Didn't you say that I can

dy to slap back. "Aime

elf, her expression steady-as if she had antic

o into the back of his knee, forcing him down until his body slammed against the glass display. T

hed his head back, her voice dripping with con

e's shout came out thin, strained by the

s if his touch had dirtied her. "My hand hurts," she muttered, t

ar of Lumen Crème, unscrewing the cap with practiced care bef

ind only the highest circles could aff

, watching that impossibly expensive product-something she didn't even dar

hat? How could she afford some

ning toward Laurence with a trembling voice. "Laurence... Ai

ng a finger at Aimee as he expl

Ill-mannered? Tell me, how was a kid tossed out by her parents

she snapped, "And tell me-who gave y

s mouth opening and c

ed packing the dress and offered it to Aimee wi

Rylie tugged insistently at Laurence's

wanted to spit out one last retort-but the chill in her e

h frustration, jaw clenched

given her, and her fingers curled s

s kept all women at arm's length. Women from every corner of hi

ete nobody, had somehow caught

from the Reid Group, but no one could say

ly's notorious playboy-Kayc

d to

uly fitting... the two of them deserve eac

's sudden boldness, that sharp tongue, that impossible confide

little high while it lasts. I'll make sure you und