They Hated Me, Now I Shine Bright

or handle. "I'm sorry. I

ai

losed over

ingly intimate in the close space of the car. She

right car, Miss Beaumon

at him. "Yo

s trailing across her skin in a way that might have been accidental. Might not

nded like a

Ster

re from scratch while most of his peers were still spending their trust funds. Cora had seen him acro

y her hospital

you an apology. And a thank yo

ng." His voice was dry. "But if you want to tha

nne

all." His eyes glinted with something that might have

uation was absurd. Her life had collapsed in the space of twenty-four

herself say. "Dinn

realize he was sti

o quickly, and Kian's smile

be in

-

ations. The driveway alone was half a mile long, lined with oaks older than the country itself. The house-mansio

mont was waiti

heir children and their charities. Silver-streaked hair swept into a chignon. Cashme

melled of rose perfume and unconditional love

t something about being held by her mother-her *mother*, the woman she

hispered. "I

er-haired, his face creased with a lifetime of deals won and lost. But

was gravel wrapped in velvet. "That son o

e's not worth it. I'm just... I'

d her face in both hands, studying her with an intensity that ma

was bigger than her entire apartment had been. "We'll fi

om

erine's eyes sparkled with something suspiciously like misc

ling? He's... fine. He w

mething we haven't told you yet. The Sterlings are old family friends. And

d of arra

ge contract. You and Kian have been b

nged themselves in Cora's brain and re

rry-a *

she was announcing the weather. "If you hadn't bee

nding. "Absolutely not. I just got divorced. I'm n

said you

ward the stairs. "I'm not marrying anyone. I don't

fl

-

uit jacket he'd intended to retur

ard eve

sion was unreadable. But something in the set of his jaw, the stillnes

pologetic. "Kian. I'm so sorry. Give her time

was smooth. "These th

me clattering back down the stairs

it toward him, slightly breathless

e exchange. "You don't like me, Miss Beaumont? You

ed. "You h

tic at all. "For what it's worth, I don't expect yo

are you a

it made her stomach tighten in a way that

all," he s

vy front door closing behind

elbow. "He's a good man,

g anyone anyth

w night. Charity gala at the Whitmore. Come with me. Let me in

brother's warmth. "O