Liam was the lucky random stranger. Eden didn't care that another woman, a Barbie look-alike, dressed in the tightest, shortest, blackest latex dress she had ever seen, was trying to call dibs on him. "He's with me," she slurred as she propped herself between the two. Barbie looked ready to murder her with her glacial stare, as she sized her up, her collagen-pumped lips curling with distaste. "Yeah," Liam chuckled, his cheeks and ears matched his flame hair. "I'm with her!" "Your loss," Barbie flicked her long blond extensions over her shoulder and pranced off, vanishing in the herd of vacant-eyed zombies swaying to the music. "Thanks," Liam said with a smile. "You saved my life." "I guess we're even now," Eden said softly. "Thanks for getting us in." She wasn't planning to thank him. But, he did save her from the cold earlier. "I guess being indecent helps sometimes?" He chuckled, and she liked him a little the

Eden had a suspiciously long nap during the thirty-minute drive from Willow Hills to her apartment in Forrest Creek, an artsy neighbourhood in the east of Rock Castle, jerking awake when the car skidded as they hit a pothole on the road. She yawned and stretched as she looked outside her window, feeling oddly embarrassed for passing out on her Uber driver. The last thing she remembered was him asking her if the air conditioning in the car was okay. She couldn't decide if she was brave or just plain stupid for falling asleep in the back of a stranger's car, especially when she was dressed in nothing but a man's shirt and her coat. She shifted in her seat and crossed her legs demurely, praying she hadn't inadvertently opened them while she slept. Going commando wasn't as liberating as she thought it would be. She felt vulnerable and well, naked. Now that she had time to put some distance between her and last night's terrible decisions, she had to figure

It was past midday when Liam finally came out of his postcoital coma. He expected to find Eden beside him; it wouldn't be the first time his hookups overstayed their welcome.But when he turned onto his side and found her spot empty, he was strangely confused.He sat up and groaned. His pounding head made worse by the glaring light bursting through the floor to ceiling windows as his butler flicked the switch on the wall to draw the blinds."Christ, Dave, do you mind?""I'm sorry, Sir, you have been summoned to the house. Your father wants to see you immediately.""Tell him I can't see him today," Liam groaned as he gladly accepted the hangover cure and two Aspirins. He had a feeling he'd need something stronger than an Aspirin if his father has his way."He needs you home in an hour," Dave said and turned to leave.Liam stopped him, "Handle Eden for me.""She's gone already, Sir.""What do you mean gone?" Liam asked, st

With several bookshelves and thousands of books lining the wood-panelled walls and the dark furnishings reminiscent of a centuries-old gentleman's club, his father's study was probably the most intense room in the house. But, it was also one of Liam's favourite places. He remembered all the rare times he, Willow and Holly had spent in here, crowded on the floor while they read or played with their toys, happy to have their father home and wanting to be as close to him as possible because they never knew when they'll see him again. Clarke was always out of town, out of the country, chasing one big fish of a client after another. He missed so many important days. Probably why most had ended up as snapshots lined up on the fireplace. Liam and his sisters never resented him, though. When Clarke was present, he was the best father in the world, and when he wasn't, he spoiled them rotten with insane gifts flown from all over the world to make up for his absence. "T

There were several guards stationed throughout the floor and two outside Clarke's private ward. Their only job was to keep the media out. The last thing they wanted was stories of his father, true or otherwise, making the rounds. A CEO on his deathbed wasn't good for business and share prices. Lois flew to him when they walked in. He hugged her, and she wept harder as he gently patted her head. It all made sense now, Liam thought, her lack of inspiration, the listlessness, the faraway look in her eyes. It wasn't that she couldn't paint. His Mom didn't want to. How could she when her best friend and soulmate was staring death in the face? "Oh Mom," Liam whispered in her hair as he squeezed her. "You should have told me." "You are here now," Lois gave him a shaky smile as she sat down again and took his father's hand. Liam reluctantly approached the bed, a visceral feeling of terror bubbling at the pit of his stomach. He couldn't understand how Clarke h