tes of the Bancroft estate, the

ttled into a

ut immediately and o

the stale cabin, catching t

her Prada clut

ady to slide out of the ca

d shot acro

und her wrist, his grip tight

eyebrows pulling

enthouse with me to

ed with a desperation

turn her bod

e inside before midnig

a harsh, fru

her from him, the invisible walls of

ly, rubbing his thumb over

te gallery showing in Long Island. I w

ist gently but firm

section of my thesis. I will

tion hit

ared in

abbed her shoulder, t

op pushing

e screen of his phone, resting on the c

om his executive assistan

ossible to miss. Reminder: Is

opped to the sc

rds in a fracti

data point. The e

t from the screen

d quickly flipped the phone f

said quickly, his words rushing together. "The f

looked

aughing with his friend

s lying to

derstanding smile sp

Schultz family business is the most imp

entirely fre

t her perfect,

ke he was

t him. He wanted her to t

proof that she cared he wa

ing but polit

rushed the remaining

her shoulder, dropping h

ic of her dress where h

forward acr

er lips again

dry, and utterly

ight,

ar, her heels clicking a

rozen in th

e steps and disappear beh

che bloomed

t violently agains

at the driver. "G

, Ellie stood in

as the red taillights of the Ma

t a long,

from her clutch and o

he typed a single entr