nothing to clear the chaos in her head. When she finally came to her senses, she remembered to

list pieces to maintain his "poor student" persona. The stale, suff

and raw, desperate to wash away the memory of last night, the scent of that stranger, the feel of his hands on her. But it was useless. T

of her mother, was now in the hands of a man whose name she didn't even know. She slid down the tiled wall, hot water pouring over her, and a wave

r opening yanked her back

he had rehearsed countless times. "Sera, baby, I'm sorry. I was an ass last nig

ed herself in a towel, and stepped out

ed by him--and his last trace of unease vanished. He was certain he had her. He held out the flowers and said tenderly, "Forgive me, okay?

. A day ago, they might have soften

wers. "I'm tired, Julia

s supposed to throw herself into his arms and forgive him through reli

rply, avoiding his touch a

ra, are you done making a scene? St

She repeated, her v

a jewelry box. Inside lay a diamond necklace, glittering under t

o his class, he believed no

gram. She had suspected something, but she had kept lying to herself--convincing herself over and over that Julian was loyal only to her. But after last night's b

day, while casually pulling out a Van Cleef & Arpels diamond necklace for so

around the bush and laid her cards on the table: "It's beautiful. But I think you bought it

for Isabelle too. He couldn't understand how she kn

, Julian. I already know enough about you. From the moment you rejected my prop

d, his tone carrying an unprecedented panic:

udent in front of me? Explain why you talk about marriage with me while secretly buying the same diamond necklace for my sister?

lief all over his face. He had hidden his cards f

amily is rich. I never told you because I was afraid you were after the money. Sera, I truly love you. I'll return the

eyes full of urgency. He had always been certa

. She tossed the jewelry box onto the coffee table. "Don't bothe

erson--I don't want

ight into the bedroom, sla

heme dying completely. Julian Carlisle was no longer a pawn she c

ing through a list of New York's most powerful and eligible ba