His Unwanted Wife, The Hidden Genius

a Vanc

to Declan Hartfor

had flown back from Boston in secret, hopi

cking out a pair of gold cuff

old me I was already too late: the woman who ha

from the New York Titans, Declan's NHL franchise, stumbled out with crystal

eat hit me instantly,expensive champa

uble parlor: executives, scout

m, laughing into his ear, was Sloane Whitfield, her backless silver dress catchi

r breath, a blur of blonde

's slender waist. "You were completely right about the catering!

back when she was at her lowest. Her parents had passed away, and her career seemed beyond hope. I reb

t even glance i

his eyes locked onto mine. The easy grin on his sharp jaw vanis

utting through the throng of play

eet in front of me. His voice carried

felt like

d, clutching the strap of my bag until my knuckles turne

w blood. "The board is here. The sponsors are here. Sloane spent four consecut

my shoulder to the bar, like I was a wai

ne," he added quie

s standing near the grand staircase. Two women with platinum blow

oice barely audible over the

rcase, my legs trembling

s adjusting her designer j

s your ankle feeling after Thursday's third period

sighing loudly as she

ng at me. "Sister Sloane is introducing me to the marketing

up until three in the morning reviewing her biomechanical scans while she was reco

the primary suite-the massive, sterile bedroom

out the velvet box. The gold cufflinks glea

ted. The sound vibrated

Sloane was directing two servers by an ice sculpture. Declan stood beside her, his head

e couple the city e

at pocket. I pulled it o

email no

quires patience and solitude. You are meant for greater

the only person in the

k you, Professor" and

ced by the occasional clatter of glassware and s

airs in my stocking feet to fetch a gl

hallway, the voices of two newly hired ca

pered, scraping dessert plates into a bin. "Mr. H

isn't Mr. Hartford rumored to be married? Is it

hey must have split long ago. I've worked three events here this month, and Miss Whitfie

ld shadow of the archway,

marriage certificate, my presen