ian

from my hair. I grabbed a towel, slung it low around my hips, and rubbed another

too quiet ,u

ic

reaked ope

ir

s normal, like I hadn't spent the last five minutes trying to f

orway like a deer c

." she stammered, throwing a hand over her eyes

orrection. I'm fully naked. T

half groan, and spun around. "Could you, li

, water still dripping from my hair, letting it fall just eno

der her breath. Probably

id, waving a hand over her shoulder. "D

bite the apple

mia

y laughed. She mad

ake a shower. Enjoy y

m of the door, I shook my head. This woman. Always in co

kingly, knowing wh

crolling through emails on

mia

ffled. From

mir

r now. "Where a

"Oh. I moved them earlie

le

sil

can you bri

pt q

e?" Sh

y grinning. "Or... I

ha

athroom door, and leaned against it. "I've

mia

mock innocence. "You always said I didn't

ipping hand reaching out. "Towel. Now. Or I swear I'll walk

ve thousand

ch the da

y. I'm fucking rich and a five thousand dollar couch won

mian." She

e dryer, tossing it gently toward

umbled, slammin

walk away, s

r low, quiet voice

record... I w

rin

tever helps you

nutes

again, and I glanced up, expe

expecting... w

waist. Her damp hair framed her face in soft waves, and water

y h

kind of dream you

th the kind of calm confidence that should be illegal, and studied. I

mian.

de me and adjusting the robe in that not subtle way that g

aid, maybe a li

e the one who wanted to be my towel. I

n absolute

smir

. Sm

scenes just before completely dismantling a co-st

ayback," I

her head.

," I gestured toward he

he asked innoc

tered, then insta

. "Interesting c

ut distance between us. Big mistake. She followed me, steps light,

e, are you, Mr. CEO?" s

s ran dow

said t

tepping in front of

e just stood there. Inches apart. The air charged. I could smell her

n, confident. "May

t happened to the girl who bl

aid softly, "and real

mn

or her to gently tug a

d CEO mode now. Ice prince. Emotionless robot. It's only

muttered, l

and walked away tow

ched

in a long time, I was

a P

with

ad burned out. Damian was proba

es. The clock on the ni

the hallway, the cool marble floor sooth

hen sink and leaned against

moving past the French doors

caught in

glass halfw

. Just a flicker, a trick

eart was

into the darkness. The garden was still. T

all. The stress, the emotions, an

the window, ready t

e kitchen counter, n

wrapped in black ribbon, and tucked benea

mbled as I r

lded t

iting was

be his for long. Sleep well, Mrs. Blackwood. You'

my fingers, shatterin

rough the silent ho

I felt eyes on me, like someone was wa

How could someone enter our house? With the tight sec