Something about him looked so tortured in that moment that Aneesa had to fight back the urge to put out her hand to touch him in comfort.His head came up and his eyes speared hers. ‘But I’ve also been feeling alive, and connected, for the first time in my life.’He stood tall again and Aneesa felt curiously weightless. He reached out a hand and curled it around her jaw, fingers around her neck under the heavy fall of her hair. She could feel a slight tremor in his hand and her heart tripped.‘I never … wanted to create a family. I never wanted to marry. I never wanted to fall in love. I had no frame of reference for all of those things that most people aspire to, and take for granted. I’ve always been terrified that something of my father’s twisted genes was lying dormant in me and that basic happiness was something I could never have, as if I was jinxed in some way.‘But seeing Nathaniel get married, and Jacob come home to try and make amends … seeing him come to terms with the past
The vultures were circling. Celia Taylor stood back, wineglass in hand, and surveyed the crowded ballroom. The fund-raiser was supposed to be more pleasure than business, but business was uppermost on the minds of her competition.Across the room, Evan Reese stood in a large group of people. He looked relaxed, seemingly in his element, an easy smile making his extraordinarily handsome face even more gorgeous.It should be a crime for a man to be that good-looking. Tall, rugged, he looked every inch the kind of man who’d be at home in the athletic wear his company designed and sold. There was an aura of confidence and power around him, and above all, Celia loved a man who was sure of himself.Given the long, searching glances they’d exchanged over the last few weeks, she’d be a fool not to entertain the idea of seeing where things could lead.If he wasn’t a prospective client.A client she wanted to land very much.She wanted the account—her boss and the agency was counting on
He threw back his head and laughed. Several people around them turned to stare, and she had to resist the strong urge to flee the room. She hated the attention that Evan seemed to have no issue with whatsoever. How nice it must be not to have to worry what people thought about you. To have your reputation intact and not have suffered the stupidity and vindictiveness of others. But then men rarely suffered in cases like hers. It was always the woman. The vilified other woman. Knowing no graceful way to bow out of the dance, she set down her own glass and allowed Evan to lead her onto the ballroom floor.To her relief, he held her loosely. To anyone looking on, they could find no fault or impropriety. She and Evan didn’t look like lovers, but she knew the thought was present in both their minds. She could see the desire in his eyes and knew he could probably see it in hers.She wasn’t practiced at hiding her emotions. Maybe being the only girl in an all-male household growing up was th
When Celia pulled into her father’s driveway, she was relieved to see Noah’s Mercedes parked beside their father’s pickup. She pulled her black BMW on the other side of the truck and grinned at how the two expensive cars flanked the beat-up old piece of family history. As she got out, she heard the roar of another engine and turned to see Dalton pull in behind her. To her utter shock, Adam climbed out of the passenger seat.“Adam!” she exclaimed, and ran straight for him.He grinned just before she launched herself into his arms. She hit his chest and as she’d known he would, he caught her and whirled her around. Just like he’d done when she’d been five years old and every year since.“How come I never get greetings like that?” Dalton grumbled as he climbed from behind the wheel.“I’m so glad to see you,” she whispered fiercely.His big arms surrounded her in a hug that nearly squeezed the breath out of her. Adam always gave the best hugs.“It’s good to see you too, Cece. I missed y
Celia had just done a cursory examination of her stock of food—cursing the fact she hadn’t been to the market in far too long—when the door buzzer sounded.She strode across to the call box and mashed the button. “That you, Noah?”“Yep, buzz me in?”A few seconds later, Noah walked in, and she smiled her welcome.“I know that smile,” he said suspiciously. “That’s a smile that says you lured me here under false pretenses. You don’t have any food, do you?” “Weeeell, no. But I did just order pizza.”“You’re forgiven, but I refuse to have a reasonable discussion until it gets here.” She laughed and punched him on the arm when he flopped on the sofa next to her. “If I didn’t need a favor from you, I’d make you pay for it.” His expression grew serious. “So what is this favor, anyway?”“Oh, no. I’m not asking you for anything until you have a full stomach. Again, since you ate not even three hours ago.”He grunted but didn’t offer any argument. His stomach was too important.He reached for
Evan walked into the suite of offices he leased for the times he was in San Francisco. It wasn’t home, and though Union Square was a sumptuous neighborhood that catered to upscale businesses, he preferred the funky modern feel of Seattle. He nodded a good morning to his receptionist but halted when she came out of her seat, a concerned expression on her face.“You shouldn’t go in there,” Tanya said in a hushed whisper.He raised an eyebrow when he realized she was gesturing toward his office.“Why the devil not?” he demanded.She put one hand up to shield her mouth and then she tapped her finger against her palm—in the direction of his office.“Because she’s in there.” Evan turned to stare down the hall toward his office, but the door was closed. Damn, but he didn’t have time for this. He looked back at Tanya and tried to stifle his growing impatience. The girl was highly efficient if a little eccentric. But he liked unconventional, and while she’d probably fit in better with his Se
“Not now, Ash, she called as she hustled by. “Late for an important lunch date.” She didn’t even look to see his reaction.She ran past Shelby and hollered back as she punched the button for the elevator.“If Brock asks, I’m having lunch with Mr. Reese. Just tell him Friday got moved up. If anyone else asks, just tell them I’ll return this afternoon.”The elevator opened and she ducked in. As she turned around, she saw Shelby’s look of befuddlement just as the doors slid shut again.When she reached the lobby, she stopped in the bathroom long enough to check her appearance. She wouldn’t stop traffic for sure, but at least she didn’t look as frazzled as she felt.The heels she’d chosen to complete her outfit were fabulous—as long as she didn’t have to actually walk in them. A trek down the block on uneven cement sidewalks wasn’t what she had in mind. She kept tennis shoes in her office for just such occasions, but five minutes notice on the most important lunch date of her career didn’
Celia stepped off the elevator and walked by Shelby, who held her hand up to get Celia’s attention. “Later, Shelby,” she called as she headed for Brock’s office.When she got to his door, she was nearly run over as Ash came out. He sidestepped her and kept on walking, his forehead wrinkled as if he were lost in thought. She wasn’t even sure he’d seen her.She stuck her head in Brock’s door and breathed a sigh of relief when she found him alone. He glanced up and motioned her in.“What’s with him?” she asked, jerking her head over her shoulder in Ash’s direction. “He’s been weird lately.”Brock gave her one of those puzzled male looks that suggested he didn’t have a clue what she was talking about. She rolled her eyes. Ash had been walking around in a fog, which wasn’t typical. He was usually on top of everything and everyone. Celia had overheard Shelby talking about a falling out with a girlfriend, but then she hadn’t even known Ash had been seeing anyone. Not that he would have con