oked

chandeliers. His cheekbones were sharp enough to cut glass, casting hollow shadows on his face. He sat with

eyes wer

y boredom. He didn't look like a man confined to a chair; he looked l

rm, her nails digging into the flesh. "I thought he

ed back, though her voic

, walked behind the chair. He wasn't pushing it-Fielding's hand hovered o

booming with forced cheer. "A surprise guest tonight.

re afraid, not appreciative. Fielding didn't smile. He didn'

beating so hard she could feel it in her throat. He can't see me

from him, giving him five feet of clearance on all sid

the room. He turned his head s

the bar. Over the ba

it s

pillar. Straight into th

of the Great Hall, his eyes locked onto hers and held. There was no su

He had always known. He

turned blindly, bumping into a

wait!" Z

dows of the ancient sandstone. The cold air from the climate control hit her wet skin, making her shiver vio

er clutch. No messages from N

e until she found it. A photo of Nathan. He was wearing his scrubs, smiling t

herself. "He's just a cripple in a

opened. Essence jump

was

vering in her strapless dress. "Dinner is being

ck in there, Z

to do, run you over?" Zoe grabbed her hand. "Come on. We'll eat

r had numbed her panic slightly. Zoe wa

ssence sa

r dinner. The atmosphere was heavy, the tension in the

bles. She looked for Table 14, the "supplemental" t

asked, looking at her ow

ssence said. "

when she reached Table 14, her name wasn't

sing waiter. "I can't find m

zers. "Fitzgerald? Oh, there was a change. Th

dat

're at the head

d drain from her face

ile was tight and apologetic. "Essence, my dear. Fielding

here," Essence sai

't make this difficult. The board is very s

oward the fro

ention. Fielding was already there, his wheelchair positio

their elbows would touch-was an

e Fitz

utting. It had alr

gainst the instinct to turn and sprint for the exit. She could feel the eyes of the

he two small step

was unfolding his napkin, hi

scrape of wood against the floor s

ow. He smelled of sandalwood, expen

took a sip, then set it down. He turned

a low rumble, rougher than she remembered