n the slick freeway, and for one wild, rec

he car straightened

inwater still dripping from her hair. The ghost of Ashley's perfume clu

d her hair. And then *he* was there-a teenage Derrick, all long limbs and righteous fury, placing himself between he

ght savagely. *Stu

text from Cori Harmon, Derrick's nie

onight. Don

e, an unwanted charity case living off the Harmon name. Every family dinner, every holiday ga

d, drowning in silence and the memory of Derrick's silk robe. Right now, she craved

k a single wo

Eclipse vibrated throug

c pounded through her skull like a second heartbeat. It was perfect.

ted,* she told hersel

ook what the c

around. She recognized Cori

on, and Victoria Sinclair, whose family money was old enough to make even the Harmons look like new

t it the Harmon family's dirty little secret? What's the

urn anchor her. In the mirror behind the bar, she me

smile f

e nice, Cori. She's a Stanford genius now, remember? May

g forward with theatrical conspiracy. "Not with wh

ere a light

her constant companion all night spiked into a piercing shriek. She forced

was practically the first thing he did after you left tonight. The whole Bel Air gossip mill is buzzi

gag

n his robe, worse than his casual dismissal. It slammed the door

eally think he'd ever want you, did you? Don't you remember what everyone used

ge years, whispered in hallways and behind cupped han

he edges of her vision turning dark. She felt stripped bare, her

e, she refus

od cut through the pounding bass. She rose from her barstool, drawing herself up

soft and clear, "do you kn

hrown off balan

you will never, ever be half as important to Derrick as I am." Alaina's smile was a blade. "I'm

from Cori's face

r that only Cori could hear. "If I'm so pathetic, why do you spend so

hand la

p never

aught Cori's wrist in mid-air, the g

's en

rgical precision. It carried the kind of authority that made pe

ored charcoal suit to a strong jawline and a face she knew but had never e

n Rho

sed-were fixed on Alaina's face, taking in her pale cheeks, her tremblin

f touching her had been beneath him. Then he shrugged off his blazer-h

expensive, a subtle mix of cedar and something faintly metallic-cut throug

sured gaze to Cori. His voice was quiet

ade a habit of letting their

ike surgical instruments-simultaneously including Alaina as

lotchy red. "Julian. Th

's lips. "Alaina is my cousin. W

ent. Her skin was ice-cold to his touch, and his brow tightened almost imperceptibly. He pu

aumont. Alaina recognized him from the society pages-inherited fortune, revolving d

to your beautiful friend?" Lance's eyes r

body, blocking Lance's view of Alaina completely.

t for you

held up his hands in surrender. "Hey, alrigh

ssure on the small of her back. From across the room, his younger sister Jasmine watc

water and a warm towel with a few low words to the

've had eno

. She felt raw, exposed, and deeply ashamed that he had seen her like this. The brilliant, intimidating

owerful. Confident. Born into a

y person who had stepped ou

u," she w

her, watching. Waiting. The silence wasn't awkwar

y, he

tting them walk

't a qu

ed up, star

holding hers with an intensity that made it impossible to look away. "You've spe

ammer blow, preci

ends t

ned. "You don't know a

anford with honors. I know you've been offered a research position that could put you on the cover of *Nature* within five

pounding. "How do you know

gmatic. "I make it my busines

till wearing-and pulled out a sleek black busin

unding. No Harmons in sight." His eyes locked onto hers. "When you're ready t

embossed letters seemed to gl

n Rhod

odes Ind

up again, he was

ke you home," he s

llowed.

, controlled heir slipped, revealing something far more d

you," he said quietly, "you call

not trusti

ger, then turned and walked away, disa

around her shoulders, his card burning a hole in her palm. The sce

ten years, she felt so

nt, terrifying s

ne buzzed. A notification from a go

aged to Supermodel Ashley Vance-Insider So

taken through a restaurant window. Ashley was beaming, hold

he image until her

card and dialed the number be

ang

call sooner th

t, utterly unsurprised.

Your offer. The biotech d

ver closed. I'll have the

ne wen

the rain-soaked streets of Los Angeles. The city of ange

or people who didn't ca

to become