When we get to an ornately carved door, Edgar gives me an encouraging smile. “Go right in, miss. Best of luck with the meeting.” Before I can overthink it, I slip inside. Compared to everything else I’ve seen so far, Prince Damon’s study is rather understated: just gleaming wood, a massive desk, w
Abby When I return to the lavish quarters where my staff and I will be staying, a sense of organized chaos envelops me; John and Anton are already playing an intense game of foosball, Daisy and Ethan are bickering over which movie to watch, popcorn is popping in the mini kitchen, and Chloe appears
“Abby…” There it is. Karl’s familiar, gravelly voice fills the room over the speaker. Just hearing him say my name makes my heart jolt in my chest. I should hang up and delete this voicemail rather than listen to it, but for so many reasons, I don’t move to do it. Maybe it’s because I want to hurt
Abby I settle into the chair across from Damon at the intimate, candlelit table set up on the balcony. Despite the romantic ambience, I try to remind myself that this is just a business dinner; even though my skin still burns from where his lips brushed against my knuckles. Damon smiles inviting
When the plates are cleared and we linger over a cheese board, I realize with a jolt that we haven’t discussed the upcoming event at all yet. I straighten in my seat. “Damon, maybe we should talk specifics about next week’s gala?” I prompt. “I’d like to go over the guest list one more time, the se
Abby Damon’s cool fingers graze across my shoulder, sending an unexpected shiver down my spine. I meet his gaze squarely and carefully step away. “Well?” he asks, staring at my bare shoulder for a moment longer before smoothly slipping his hand back into his pocket. “What do you say, Abby?” I
Then there’s John and Anton, but John has a daughter in the city who he has shared custody over with his ex-wife, so he won’t leave. Not to mention Anton is rebuilding his relationship with his own wife and daughter. There’s Chloe and Leah, but Leah isn’t one of my staff; she just helps out occasi
Karl Leaning back in the creaking desk chair, I pinch the bridge of my nose. This week’s pack meeting feels like a special kind of torture. It’s not that Ethan is the trouble—actually, he’s been a huge help—but it’s more so that I’m sitting hunched over at a rickety desk in a cheap motel, and I
Abby Intrigued, I let Karl take my hand and lead me discreetly away from the reception, weaving through the tables and out a back door into the gardens. A mischievous grin plays on his lips as we giggle like teenagers, ducking behind hedges and scurrying across the lush green lawns. “Where are w
As the music shifts to a slow ballad, I feel a familiar pair of strong arms circle my waist from behind. “There’s my beautiful wife,” Karl’s deep voice rumbles in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. He spins me around to face him, our bodies swaying in time to the soft music. I gaze up at him
Abby The reception hall is cast in a warm, romantic glow, with twinkling lights and the warm flickering of candles on every table. Soft music plays as Karl and I make our entrance, hand-in-hand to raucous applause and cheers from our guests. I can’t stop smiling as we wave to our loved ones gather
Abby The afternoon sun streaming in through the tall windows of the chapel casts the stones in a warm golden light, giving everything a sort of ethereal energy. I stand in the hallway, my arm linked with Anton’s, as the wedding coordinator prepares everyone to walk down the aisle. “Are you ready
Abby As I sit in front of the vanity mirror with the hair and makeup artist circling around me, I meet my friends’ gazes in the reflection; Chloe, Leah, Daisy, and even Elsie are here as my bridesmaids, each of them looking more beautiful than the last. “The seamstress really did do a great job
Abby With a gasp of excitement, I pull the wedding gown out of its box and hold it up in the light. Everything is perfect; the way the beadwork catches the light, the silky texture, the shape. I can’t wait to try it on now that it’s been altered to fit my body. Quickly, I slip out of my clothe
Abby “Abby, why don’t you sit down?” Karl looks up at me from where he’s sitting on the sofa, a look of concern on his face. He pats the spot next to him, but I shake my head. “I can’t,” I say, continuing to pace back and forth in our living room. “I won’t sit down until I hear back about that
Abby As I chop, stir, melt, and saute, the others stand around me, watching intently. The pasta simmers on the stove, the air smelling like warm butter and spices. It’s enough to make anyone’s mouth water. But my focus isn’t on the rumbling in my belly, nor is it even on the lingering pain in my
As we continue searching, I keep thinking back on our last harrowing hunt for black truffles; those poachers nearly shot us. Even now, I can still remember the sound of the bullets whizzing past my head, and the thuds they made when they careened into trees. “We got really lucky,” I say. “If we ha