onto the interstate h

delong glances at Alison, still rattled by the sight of

e. A man like Flint Knight must have been in the mountains on a private hunting

Eugenia despised social climbers. That velvet box Flint had handed Alison could only me

ssions. Opening the small velvet box in her lap, sh

screen with practiced ease, verifyin

r of a high-performance

ided smoothly past their SUV. Even through the tinte

phone in her palm

Say the word and I'll pull over and kidnap you. My

n earpiece into her ear and tapped the reply button, speaking in

. Knight. I don't do free lunch

s low, magnetic laugh vibrat

me, Kiddo," Flint murmured

ng in first. Keep that earpiece on. Remember, my p

Maybach accelerated smoothly and disa

nto her pocket. When she looked up, she found

hispering to?"

en if you ran a few errands for him in the mountains, don't daydream about climbing into his

mly. Rather than getting angry, she found

un," Alison said evenly. "My business with Mr

triarch of a prominent family, yet this eighteen-year-old girl spoke

lanced into the rearview mirr

ilm set, and Miss Brook passed the preliminary round of the Valentine

expression softened with pride. Then, her gaze swept over Alison's

p at the table looking like a stray off t

fth Avenue first. I need to buy her a decent dress s

excitement at the mention of Fifth Avenue boutiques. A

against the leather seat, he

un. I'm not going to Fifth

you say? I'm spending money to make you look

it for your own vanity," Alison replied, h

ious family name. To me, dignity is in a person's spine, not stitched

thoroughly by the daughter she looked down u

r mother, and I'll teach y

d her hand and lunged forward to ya

touch the brim, Alison's hand shot up, ca

econds--just long enough for Eugenia to feel th

s cool and steady as she placed Eugenia's hand back down o

against her ribs. In that brief second, the cold au

ok; she was sharp, proud, and completely untamable. The last shred of m

se my kindness and insist on acting so high and mighty, let's see h

cy. "Skip Midtown. Drive straight to the e

answered quietly, pre

ugh the tall wrought-iron gates of the C

ned the marble fountain, and warm golden lights illuminated the grand terrace. Staff in cris

eighteen years. Draped across the garden pavilion, a custom gold-lettered banner

se of the wide marble steps, Art

up the stairs without waiting for Alison or telling the staff to help

er faded canvas backpack over one should

heavy double doors at the t

the marble landing, holding a velvet jewelry box. It was Javen