Calho

allowed hard, the sound loud in

k. The cold liquid did little to quell the fire licking at my insi

against mine, a solid, unyielding presence. My

p turn, the tires s

tightening her grip on Carlton' s arm. "Nice dr

is voice smug. He glanced at her

with a loud, wet

. "Brande, behave. Erin' s right here." It was

with mock innocence as she looked over at me. "You

ed it over my lap, a flimsy shield. A cold smile touche

e faltered.

but clear. "You' ve been draping yoursel

g to him, her lower lip trembli

k at me, his expression hardening. "Er

placating, as if speaking to a difficult child. "Yo

ion. It was always the same script. Brande would push, I would fina

ilent decision clicked into place in my heart. It wasn't loud or dr

i

leg pressing more firmly against Harvey' s.

he jolt was harder. I was thrown against H

e, not on my hand, but on my th

my leg came alive, a thousand tiny sparks igniting under his touch. I could feel the slight calluses o

raight ahead, but his jaw was clenched tigh

cheekbones high, his mouth a firm, unsmiling line. But right now, in the dim light of the car, wi

skipped

isma and empty promises, Harvey was quiet power and ruthless intelligence. He was a legend in th

wn him, our interactions had been limited to polite nods and brief, formal greetings at family gatherings. He

ey' s blood ran colder than th

making waves in the business school. I' d had a silent, fleeting crush on him then, the kind you have

c breast disease. He specialized in oncology, a strange choice for a man in venture capital, but he maintained his medical lice

ere in a paper gown, my skin prickling with goosebum

d detached. He was a doctor, and I was just another patie

elf that a th

red the room, the way my heart would pound a little too f

ion, I' d caught a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror. He