Chapter 61 [ 506 words ] Chapter 61: He pressed the nib of the fountain pen down so hard it snapped against the thick parchment paper with a sharp, metallic crack. He slowly turned his head. The warmth and hunger from a minute ago were completely gone. His face was

Chapter 60 [ 496 words ] Chapter 60: As they zipped it up, Caroline realized the dress was heavy. The entire bodice and skirt were encrusted with thousands of microscopic, hand-sewn diamonds. They caught the light, creating a blinding, liquid shimmer. The assistants fluffed the train and stepped back, gasping

Chapter 59 [ 462 words ] Chapter 59: Caroline’s jaw dropped. It wasn’t a store. It was a palatial, private couture studio. Massive crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceilings. Velvet sofas were arranged around a towering champagne pyramid. Rows of exquisite, hand-sewn gowns were suspended in the air, protected

Chapter 58 [ 499 words ] Chapter 58: “Do not use my name like it’s a curse,” Jarrod commanded, his voice thick and raspy. “Do not use it to push me away. Not ever again.” Caroline couldn’t speak. Her lungs were burning. She just stared at him, completely mesmerized by

Chapter 57 [ 484 words ] Chapter 57: Caroline sat rigidly on the edge of the leather seat. She placed her hands flat on her knees, trying to stop them from trembling. The silence dragged on, stretching her nerves to the breaking point. “Jarrod,” Caroline whispered. Her voice shook. The

Chapter 56 [ 491 words ] Chapter 56: “I’m so sorry,” Caroline said, her voice rushing out. “That was my mother. She’s sick. It’s an emergency. I have to go home right now.” Brenna’s eyes widened. “Oh my god, do you need me to come with you?” Julian took a

Chapter 55 [ 494 words ] Chapter 55: It was a visceral, electric reaction. She completely dodged the warm khaki trench coat Julian was about to drape over her freezing shoulders. She turned her back to Julian and Brenna. Her fingers were trembling as she reached into the pocket of

Chapter 54 [ 497 words ] Chapter 54: Caroline’s stomach twisted into a violent knot of panic. The situation was spiraling out of control. Julian was a good man, a safe man, but she couldn’t do this. “I… I need to use the restroom,” Caroline blurted out. She scrambled out

Chapter 53 [ 498 words ] Chapter 53: Julian sat across from them, nursing a craft stout. He nodded politely, offering appropriate chuckles at Brenna’s rants, but his focus was entirely, intensely fixed on Caroline. He noticed that Caroline hadn’t touched her mojito. She was shivering slightly, her hands wrapped

Chapter 52 [ 503 words ] Chapter 52: “A long day?” Brenna scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Dr. Croft, she’s being modest. The entire surgical floor has been treating her like a leper all afternoon. Melanie even took a marker to her locker.” Caroline’s face flushed hot with humiliation. “Brenna, please.

Chapter 51 [ 461 words ] Chapter 51: She felt incredibly small. She felt completely alone. “Caroline?” A voice called out from behind her. It wasn’t Jarrod’s deep, terrifying rumble. It was a warm, gentle, and incredibly familiar baritone. Caroline stopped and turned around. Standing on the sidewalk, illuminated by

Chapter 50 [ 518 words ] Chapter 50: The triumphant, malicious smirk Melanie shot her was sickening. The entire floor now believed Caroline was an incompetent idiot who was only there because she was sleeping with a powerful man. By 6:00 PM, Caroline was physically and mentally exhausted. Her feet

Chapter 49 [ 499 words ] Chapter 49: Caroline looked at the three women. They were staring at her like she was a vault holding the winning lottery ticket, and they were demanding the combination. The danger Jarrod had warned her about wasn’t just assassins. It was this. The absolute

Chapter 48 [ 503 words ] Chapter 48: She pushed open the door and walked to her locker. Sitting right on top of the metal vent was a venti-sized Starbucks cup. It was a caramel macchiato—expensive, and exactly what she liked. “I hope it’s still warm!” Caroline spun around. Melanie,

Chapter 47 [ 502 words ] Chapter 47: Jarrod groaned. The sound vibrated against her lips. He shifted his weight, pressing his lower body flush against hers, leaving absolutely no doubt about the physical effect she was having on him. They were drowning in each other. Knock. Knock. Knock. “Caroline?

Chapter 46 [ 498 words ] Chapter 46: He reached out and grabbed the edge of the quilt she was clutching. With a sudden, powerful jerk, he pulled it out of her hands and tossed it onto the floor. Caroline gasped, suddenly feeling completely exposed in her thin pajamas. “What

Chapter 45 [ 503 words ] Chapter 45: He was awake. He was looking down at her, his head propped up on his left arm. A lazy, devastatingly sexy smirk was playing on his lips. Caroline realized with absolute horror that she was sprawled entirely on top of him. Her

Chapter 44 [ 497 words ] Chapter 44: Jarrod was not asleep. He was a soldier; he had been resting in a state of hyper-vigilant shallow sleep, acutely aware of every breath she took. The moment the mattress shifted, his eyes snapped open. In the dim light from the window,

Chapter 43 [ 511 words ] Chapter 43: He didn’t argue. He reached up with his left hand and unbuttoned his suit jacket, letting it drop onto the chair. He unbuttoned the top two buttons of his crisp white shirt, exposing the strong column of his throat. He sat down

Chapter 42 [ 491 words ] Chapter 42: Jarrod stood in the doorway. He was holding the heavy winter quilt and the pillow easily under his left arm. His massive frame filled the entire doorframe, blocking out the light from the hallway. “What are you doing?” Caroline hissed, her eyes