didn't

t even t

straightened his tie - which was still undone, by the w

terrace like we'd just

suppose

pen still warm in my hand, wonde

million

dical de

ye

lowed

-

pretending to like each other. Adrian cut through the crowd like a shark, and people

as, Adrian smiled

g?" I whispered, h

ca

ow

u'd like to stay and watch my brother announce his engagement

w tig

said. "L

ile wi

-

nt thing that smelled like leather and money, driv

the door for m

in bes

we were

y hard not to think about the fact that I was in a stranger's car, wearing a dress I couldn

uiet," Ad

proce

is legs out. "Ask me a

to look

nothing like him at all. Where Damian's face was all hard lines and cold an

y m

mian takes everything he wants. For o

not an

the

alf the

e. "You're sharper than

han you gave m

face me fully. "Alright.

es

tching you fo

stuttered

e east wing of my brother's penthouse. I saw the plans. Then I saw the finished p

oked

ther actually wanted." His voice was light, but there was something underneath it. Something sharp. "B

t bother

my whole life watching people fall over themselves for my brot

n't a

tonight, about to throw yourself at his fe

use

" He leaned back. "T

th

d. "You'

-

s. A glass-and-steel tower that rose above the

an who didn't blink, into a private elevator

," I m

nice t

space - floor-to-ceiling windows, dark wood floors

for the next

pped

ea of light. I could see the Ashford

d, gesturing down a hallway. "Down ther

"You're a stranger

pau

, the smirk

be used," he said quietly. "And

know wh

aid no

itchen. "You should eat something. You l

aven

d the fridge. "Sit. I'

he actually knew what he was doing. It was surreal. Ten minutes ago, I wa

what I expec

id you

my head. "Someone colder

s hands

e look

him," he said. "Th

-

ost more than my apartment. I woke up to th

n I rem

uncing his eng

t up

there was a note

. Wear the dress in the clo

d at th

as f

s. Jewelry. A

mach t

ng this longer t

-

n, I was

, expensive. It hugged my body like it had be

waiting b

d me ove

n

he no

rfe

are we

smi

a press co

-

d mansion

s. Security guards. A red carpe

t to announce his engag

s about to wa

approached the entrance.

wi

t if

ed. Turned to me. Took

oked

n is going to see something he's never seen before. He's going to see someone

allo

's what y

aned

what I

e took

e wal

-

rs swun

m went

urn toward us. Heard the sharp inhale o

, Damian was

d to announce my

sto

es fou

my hand - tucked

e ring on

, I saw something other than co

w sh

aw

omethin

t looked almo

," Adrian said smoothly. "But I

our join

ce my wife - S

om exp

ters shouted. Victoria

the podium, frozen, starin

d his

me since I met him -

-