ntirely limp, slidin
er from hitting the wet asphalt. His jaw tightened as he felt the warm, wet sme
ook a step forward to take the girl off
tie at Clark's chest. The knot had been pulled askew during her collision wit
n, persistent pressure again
state, Briana let out a soft, pained whimper. It was a specific,
ked. His dark eyes widened for a fraction of a second, a fl
in and any prying eyes. Only then did he reach up and forcibly pry her stiff fingers from his tie, one by one. As the fabric came free, he
open the rear door. Clark ducked inside, pulling t
f the roar of the storm. The sudden blast of the
uickly focused on the sharp, unforgiving line of Clark's jaw. Th
eached up and impatiently yanked his tie lo
e faint, rhythmic pulse at the base of his throat caught her attention. It was a hy
ed deep in her fractured memory surged up-a flash of sunlight through a bedroom window, her lips brushing that exact place on his skin in another life. Before she could stop herself
voice barked from the dri
ed, snatching
ulnerability, were now pitch black and lethal. He had seen exactly where her fingers had
reach for that e
g fingers wrapping around
y awake. She stared into his eyes, her sto
His voice was a low, dangerous rumb
he knew she was Imogen, he would know she
let her lower lip tremble. "Briana," she choked
hung in
shed instantly, replaced by a disgust so pro
pulled a pristine white handkerchief from his pock
Have a detail keep eyes on her," Clark ord
He was the most powerful man in the countr
dy hands grabbing his sleeve
on't push your luck." The tem
t, curling into a tight, trembling ball against the leather door. She let out a
ocked onto his. Clark looked away, a muscle ticking in his jaw,
tersection in downtown LA. The locks clicked
r pride, whispered a trembling "Thank you," a
r slammed shu
tic fear vanished from Briana's face. Her exp
g figure in the rearview mirror. "Run a full
a closed shop. The wind bit through her we
a cheap, 24-hour diner glowing through the ra
riana ignored him, limping straight to the darkest boo
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