Ashes Of Affection

ling ghosts

lacroix estate. It came from inside her sharp, cold, bitter. She stood near the edge of th

oo-bright lipstick admired the railing. "Original finish," she

aw ached fro

fireplace poker. Applause followed. It was a celebration for th

purse. Eviction. Forecl

d in weeks. She walked through the hallway where she once played violin under her mother's

e front door whe

nimpressed and rain-soak

her a small black enve

imal. The name was embosse

ing

No number. J

long. Rhett Callahan didn't se

, a voice whispered in her

was

the city. Velvet ropes. Crystal chandeliers. A

crimson satin that cost more than her car. Her curls w

rrowed pearls," s

Charleston,"

ry rich or

champagne flute. Her f

Blair Montro

in hand, eyes gleaming like razors

wly. "Still pretend

ou really should learn when to quit. Stubb

make you interestin

heads

To Savannah Delacroix. May the ashes of

oom l

h walke

air was bru

iron railing, swallowin

ong in there,"

tu

red. Dark suit. Darker eyes. A man who loo

ry do I

d, hands in his p

ve the dramatics for so

I saw what Blair did.

owed. "Are you here

sed. "I'm here to

me guess. A pity proposal? A

quietly. "A

ughed. "You w

ad. "I want to s

nah b

the foreclos

eath h

debts. The missing offshore acco

one your

lway

her arms.

derstand s

he could smell the faintest hin

cket. Produced a card. Sl

now when

and vanished

ed it, her han

from

m r

o smile, to endure, to behave colla

er etched into the

red on the

ady," s

was a

ow. Ten o'clock

ne wen

han it had any right to be. All glass and ste

lack dress, posture s

rom his chair. "

Calla

seat across from

gs with practiced elegan

wif

ared a

ur estate back. Your reputation. I'll get the

d. "You're

never

d l

icker. "Not part o

ecti

tio

through her

t hers. "If

tood. "You

ssi

ot des

et

rned t

" he said,

stop

. I'm the last offer you'll get

dn't a

ave full access to the estate. Staff. Private c

back slowly

our family name. If

if I

l. "Then I'll bury

ence st

she stepp

the co

ther's desk, pen in hand. The cont

o emotional

lic image must

21: No

si

spered to the empty room, "Th

intended