From Ruin: The Photographer's Comeback

eeply in love with my fiancé, Conrad. But

. He was an FBI agent, and my best

k therapy, which erased my talent for architectural desi

stranger and my father's last words. I rebuilt my li

red, full of fake regret, b

d him to a cat that had once bitten me. "I forgave y

ake husband, defended my honor

imploded due to a scandal in

n I picked up a sketchbook. Miraculously, the lines flowed. M

pte

' hung in the air

aw him across the crowded federal building lobby, a man who

t from a past I'd fou

up to Corey. "You shouldn't let your wife wander around alone

rinned. "Oh, she's not wandering.

t. It was casual, brotherly,

tty thing like her..." Her gaze

with. My father's legal affairs

low and familiar, cut th

li

like a stone in a still pon

fr

nctively. He felt it too, t

shoulders. The sharp suit did nothing to soften the hard line of his jaw. His

a step

y you?" His voice was

om Corey's. I didn'

flat. Emotionless. It w

and, then to Corey. He didn't miss the casual intimacy. Co

eyes were wide, surprised. The quest

file. It felt heavy.

re. I didn't owe

tching in his cheek. "Matt

he silence stretched, t

n my pocket. Core

" I nodded tow

path. "Wait. Can we t

opped, as if he thought bette

His pleas mean

voice was a whisper, but it carrie

him. He blocked me agai

een you in so long." His gaze swept over me, a mix of concern and

't erase wh

d direct. "I'm fine, Co

left hand. It gleamed, a stark r

was married. And he was trying to

s. "Now if you'll excuse m

t him square in the chest. His face drained of co

s voice was b

ed forward, his expression h

e opened his mouth, then closed it

o

ar his pained gasp, feel the sting of his surprise. I want

ound my waist again. He didn't say a w

py, followed us. "E

't loo

ding. The sunlight hit my

the curb, like he'd planned it. H

o glimpse Conrad. He stood by the glass doors,

," I whispered,

ey slid into the driver's s

in the rearview mirror. Still sta

ar completely. To fade into the ba

he wouldn