g a wheat-colored, heavily muscled chest. He extended

esita

ed. Every time they slept together, it f

er courage, she tried to negotiate. "Adrian,

t a cold scoff. "How long we go isn't up to yo

abella walked over and

th a single, effortless pull, he dragg

as overwhelming, sending a flush to her

he captured her lips in a deep, punishi

ively, she raised her arms

mall gesture di

inned them behind her back, breaking the kiss. "I'

ng hugged. S

r eyes stinging with uns

her eyes, an amused eyebrow arching upward. "Going

"I need a schedule to cry now? Aren'

nd drifted down, squeezing her casually

r mother's nagging from the day before and cautiously broached

ed from his face. With a carele

tumbled off his lap, her kn

a sudden chill washed over

Isabella, do you really

ine. Unable to admit it, yet terrified

ntirely detached. "I've told yo

her sitting on the floor and s

was ruined. He was goin

e step after him. "Adrian, do you really not want

the question, thick w

. Dressed in fresh clothes, he wal

etreating back, finally

y indifference, the suffocating weight of the

nt, her mother would bring

y were kids. If Maggie managed to worm her way into

.

agged her exhausted body around the h

round noise while she worke

of broadcasting an exclusive interview. And Isabe

ed domestic painter, an

's latest pieces and her upcoming exhibition,

that you've recently started da

yful wink to the camera. "But it isn't exa

g her congratulations before teasing, "I heard your upcoming exhibition is titled 'Lo

mile. "Just last night, he was actually he

a's chest. She frantically scrambled

her back to the Hudson family home last

laine all along, wher

is actual wife,

e years ago? Why hadn't he just married Elaine? And his refusal

ide for some fresh air. But as she reached the front door, she noticed a

hadn't orde

kage, giving it a lig

e a stack of s

cuments? Or s

Inside sat a thick stack

hey were snuggled close, smiling at the lens; i

ere pressed together a

ere none other than

face, only to drain away a second

at the photos slipped from her grasp

d to her knees, frantically gathering th

, staining the card

but Isabella already knew exa

ai

Isabella didn't even have the co

n he truly cherished. He gave her a

d. Aside from the hollow title of Mrs

up that easily. Because Adr

aight into the trash, but she was

n, she crumpled the box and shoved i

.

Adrian didn'

it by now. Her heart

e peace. "Adrian is drunk. Come over and pick him

The two ran in the same elite circ

bella quickly threw on

ive, members-only club. Outsiders

name at the door before secu

andered the dimly lit third floor for quite

r. As she approached, voices and lau

s how to handle Adrian! Married o

nto this new exhibitio

you have something you wa

ogether with Adrian. I just