ically, was the same one she almost

fe. She loved the warmth and

e to go everyday. Now, she was jobless. Walk

out of her reverie. He didn't even ask if this was where she wanted to go, just s

sh bread. Normally, it would've been comforting. This

ackseat tighter around her, trying to look like someone

care. He walked in with the kind of quiet authority that made people move out of hi

til she looked l

vannah. A

est we

awless makeup, and that smug, diamond-bright smile. She'd always been the kind of woman who ne

her father's affection, her friends, even her peace. And no

ke this. Messy hair, borrowed pajamas. Misty

stepmother, Bridgette when she was just six years old. Then Misty

ther. To Payne, Misty was a

hind him and arched a brow, am

" he asked, "or did you borro

ugh, more snicker than sou

her sip her coffee, still trying to dis

n she did, she caught it. A wed

ing was removed. Her wedding ring was barely even noticable. It was a steel pie

For a heartbeat, Cassi

k to her, brow f

bbed his arm in desperation and

Her eyes were wide and her pulse jumping visibly at her throat. He'd s

humil

e asked

t whimpered. "Because my life's a cosmic joke,

their faces. Only the glossy hair, manicured nails, the typ

id tightly. "Please, can we s

back to the rest of the café. Cassie slid in quickly, positioning herself so the high back of the boo

tly. Then he picked up the menu. "You

," she muttered, sinking lower. "Please t

yway. "You really think they

rstand. They'd love to recognize me.

's M

d bitterly. "And the woman m

en slowly lowered the men

y. "That explains th

she hissed. "It's... s

nst the booth. "So,

cheated, we divorced, she's marrying hi

ou're telling that s

is o

ook ready to crawl

okay?!" she whisper-shouted. "They'

iet amusement that softened his entire face. "Y

calm for someone dining wi

, too observant. Arden ordered without looking at the menu. "

d. "You didn'

order the

urse y

o look normal. "Um... cappuccino. Double shot. And the breakfast

pressed her hands to her face. "God, I can feel

Arden said mildly, re

ot loo

u a

und him - and

ust pe

dn't

pping his water. "You'

ped. "You ba

ike." He studied her for a moment, h

g, the nerves running riot under her skin

your sec

lways this

coffee," he s

she could stop it. It felt foreign in her throat,

s. She hadn't eaten since-well, before she'd been dumped, nearl

risp bacon, the yolk breaking in a slow, golden spill when she

meal in his life - methodical, neat, precise. He sipped

few minutes and found

and her eyes darted nervously toward the mirror every few seconds. But there was some

mild surprise, t

asked, notic

en, after a beat: "You

aven

left. Cassie hadn't even noticed when they were gone - the clatter of

rrowed slig

"Because grief isn

another sip of coffee. But she caught it, the flick

d breathe again, Arden spoke casuall

wood×Murphy Magnoli

ze. "I'm s

heard

rowed. "You

ss acquaintance. P

s one to that wedding? My ex-husband marrying my stepsister? Are

y in a lot of trouble. Emotionally, maybe financially. Wouldn't you like to s

hat's pathetic. Going means I acknowle

your life and gave you a place to sleep. You slept in

t him. "You h

his chest, lips curving into a pout

No grown man should look that go

uptly, pushing her cha

t even look surprised

purse, chin lifted

hed hers - warm, deliberate, groun

," he said quietly, "you

ed. Just fo

r hand free. "Don'