“We’re the sentimental type,” Noah interjected smoothly, his warm palm settling firmly over my hand. He shot me a subtle look—almost a warning. So he was up to something tonight. I was sure of that now. If Emily noticed anything amiss, she didn’t show it. She simply nodded agreeably, waiting wit
Hannah The ride back to the mansion was silent, the low rumble of the car’s engine and the tires crunching across the pavement the only sounds that filled the void between us. I kept my gaze fixed out the window, watching the city lights blur past us all too slowly for my liking. I didn’t even d
No angle, I thought bitterly, fighting the sting of shameful tears burning at the backs of my eyes. No, not an angle at all, except an attempted coverup. For one fleeting, foolish instant, I had actually allowed myself to believe that Noah was trying. That maybe, just maybe, he wanted to rekindle
HannahI plucked the fork up from the plate, taking a deep breath before gingerly spearing one of the thick layers of the decadent chocolate cake. My fingers trembled ever so slightly as I lifted the bite to my lips… and forced myself to eat it.The rich, creamy buttercream frosting melted on my ton
HannahI blinked slowly. “What’s going on here?” I asked carefully, shifting my gaze between Noah and the two people sitting with him.Noah rose smoothly to his feet, dusting off the front of his shirt. “We have a special guest arriving tomorrow morning,” he explained, his tone clipped and all-busin
HannahNoah and I stood in front of each other in the wake of the esthetician’s exit, clutching our robes in our hands. We stared at each other in shocked silence.Without a word, Noah turned to walk into the bathroom for some privacy. But my hand shot out to stop him, and I forced a teasing lilt in
HannahI smoothed my hands over the front of my dress one final time, allowing the stylist to fuss with a stray lock of hair and apply one last dusting of powder to my face. Across the foyer, Noah was being subjected to a similar flurry of last-minute primping—his necktie straightened, a bit of poma
Hannah“Why don’t you sit down, Hannah? Relax a little.”The sound of Amber’s voice was just barely enough to pull me halfway out of my reverie, but not completely. I shook my head and waved my hand, resuming my pacing.“No. I can’t sit.”Viona sighed from the armchair, taking a sip of her wine as s
“Almost done…” she murmured, leaning in with a touch of gloss for my lips. I couldn’t help but laugh at how serious she looked, as if I were some delicate art piece she was trying to perfect. Finally, she stepped back with a smile. “There. Now, the dress.” Amber was already at my side, helping m
Hannah The next morning, I woke with a flutter in my stomach that had nothing to do with morning sickness. Sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. I blinked up at the ceiling, letting that first realization sink in. It was the day of our wedding. In le
Hannah Mornings had gotten louder since Melody learned to walk. And she wasn’t just walking—she was trying to run, arms flapping and her chubby legs barely holding her up as she went. This morning, she seemed to be hell bent on dashing down the hallway as Noah tried to brush his teeth and I hunted
I laughed, hoping it sounded more natural than I felt. “Hey, I can spoil you once in a while if I want. Just because it’s a Thursday doesn’t mean I can’t surprise you.” We chatted about our day as we ate, filling each other in on all the usual things. But every so often, his eyes would flicker to
Hannah My hands shook a little as I straightened the delicate flower crown over Melody’s soft hair, adjusting it so the petals framed her tiny face just right. She blinked up at me with those wide, innocent eyes, slapping her hands contentedly on the top of her high chair. I smiled as I ran my f
Hannah By the time we stepped out of the ring, it felt as if my entire body was on fire. Every muscle seemed to be taut, every heartbeat one thump away from shifting. I couldn’t tell if I wanted to run circles around the building or maybe tear up the walls like a caged animal. What was wrong wit
Hannah For what felt like the hundredth time that morning, I sidestepped Drake’s punch with ease, narrowly dodging his hook. Training with him had become an obsession of mine lately. He’d pushed me in ways I hadn’t expected, helping me learn how to use my speed and endurance instead of relying on
Noah pushed himself harder, letting out a playful howl as he gained on her, the hunt pulsing through his veins like a drug. She glanced back, her ears twitching, and he saw her eyes flash with excitement before she put on an extra burst of speed. It became a game of cat and mouse, each of them pus
Noah For the millionth time that morning, Noah’s gaze drifted from the stack of papers on his desk to the stretch of forest that was visible through the office window. The afternoon light filtered through the trees, casting that familiar, deep green hue over the landscape. Just seeing the expans