a's

lf, willing away the electric charge coursing through me. My guest room was the last one in the corridor. I thanked Nina, s

ld be attracted to danger. Throwing myself onto the bed, I took a few calming breaths

erious?" Her incredu

get out of it. I tried." "You'

sons that had noth

ings, and if he were anyone else, I'd say seduce him and take the Anderson empire. But M

I wasn't wary, but Jina didn't need to know t

s going to kill me he

tly. The man runs a contract kille

se to kill me here,"

ike to play

without a l

Harry Potter to me. We hav

icke

il

us tone s

H

don'

up, and the smile s

y father and Killian. Kate offered us to take on a tour of the beach house.

crouched down, resting my chin on my knees. My heart felt heavy with a sense of lack. My family was always fake, carefully curated for appearances. My father's indifference

just like my life. When would

you

pped around my waist, pulling me back from inches away from bre

h to my chest. Cinnamon and coffee enveloped my senses as I looked up

ght," I

f his lips turned up. Why did those lips look so soft and inviting as he looked up at me, his hair falling onto his forehead as he cocked h

ou alr

enough air in my lungs to speak, anyway. I should have moved, but

ou. My apologies," he said

t's fine. I will..." I pointe

, alluring. "About?" I turned back to l

to swim, but it's

idea? Nope. I needed to get out of his presence. I d

ny's voice c

"I should go," I sa

moment I was o

ian'

ere part of the collection too. Under the yellow light of the basement, I walked through the aisle, mulling over my options. Finally, I made my choice-Dal Forno Romano Amarone della Valpolicella. Aged meticulously for over a decade, it held notes of da

The rest of her hair flowed in soft waves over her shoulders. She wore a simple white, long-sleeved V-neck dress that fell below her knees, its hem ti

and those sea-green eyes w

en us. "Are you just going to stand there?" I asked, breaking the

time I'd said it out loud? I couldn't be sure.

join us?" I eased my sm

softening instead of becoming war

with

before stopping, a small frown a

tep, I didn't move aside. H

drink?"

no," she

ld are

21 in a

epped back a little, b

o you?" She tried

N

letting her pass, the angle bringing her he

tiful woman I'

-green eyes weren't filled with confusion-but aware

at," she whispered. She did

stray strand of hair from her cheek