“What?” she whispered, hating the tremor in her voice.
The silence was absolute.
Lily felt the floor tilt. This was blackmail wrapped in a diamond ring. But it was also survival. lynne graham books
He looked at her. Just looked. Then: “You still sleep on the left side of the bed.”
She’d been eighteen. He’d been a struggling law student, not the heir to a shipping empire. They’d made love in her father’s greenhouse, and Rio had said, “One day, I’ll build you a garden by the sea.” “What
“Rio—”
Here’s a short story drafted in the style and spirit of — passionate, dramatic, with a fierce alpha hero, a vulnerable but resilient heroine, and an emotional, high-stakes romance. Title: The Cost of His Vow This was blackmail wrapped in a diamond ring
Lily’s eyes burned. “Then why marry me now? Revenge?”
He grinned. “Then she’s perfect.”
“Marry me.”
“Perhaps.” He moved closer, and the scent of cedar and power overwhelmed her. “My father is dying. His one demand before he goes is to see me settled. Respectable. Married to a woman of… humble virtue.” His mouth curved without warmth. “You fit the bill perfectly. Six months. A contract. In return, I erase your father’s debt and give you the shop free and clear.”