"It has been reported that the young heiress of King Corporations went missing a few minutes before her wedding. It is said that she was abducted--"Cian turned off the receiver, but Ivette didn't stop peering out the window. They hadn't said much to each other since she did the craziest thing she had ever done in her life.Run away from her wedding.What had she been thinking? And of course, rather than admit it to the general public that she'd run from her wedding, they would report her missing and abducted."I have a couple of clothes in my luggage," Cian said, breaking the silence and Ivette's train of thoughts. She turned slightly as he added, "they're in the back.""And if the news has reached the airport? If they're searching for me? You don't know my father. He'll find--""Change out of that miserable dress, lass. I'll take care of the rest."She eyed him skeptically, wondering just how he could 'take care of the rest' in this case. If her father was searching for her, he

Ivette looked out the window, at the river beyond. She rubbed her hands as she sipped from her coffee cup, gaze resting upon the glittering waters.It was calming to watch.It felt strange. Standing by the window and having a cup of coffee. She'd never had the time to do this. She'd either always been in a rush or had her nose in piles of documents pending her approval.Now, however, she was jobless with nowhere to go. Her stomach grumbled and she sighed, dropping the coffee on the stand beside her. She'd refused to go down for lunch when Fiona had invited her. She didn't belong with them. She didn't belong here. It didn't matter how accommodating they were. She didn't want to overstep.She smoothened her dress as she sat by the edge of the bed. It was a pretty thing, the dress. Nothing like what she was used to wearing. It hugged her upper frame, its corset pushing up her breasts in a way that was both feminine and alluring.It flowed freely from her waist, pooling about her feet and

The cool wind whipped at Ivette’s hair and she tucked a dark lock behind her ear. Knees wobbly, she shifted from foot to foot, silently though, so as not to disturb Cian.He had not moved an inch or said a word since he’d placed the flowers upon their headstones that had several other similar bouquets arranged about them, causing the area to resemble a flower garden. He stood motionless, eyes vacant. Though, he said nothing, she felt his grief from feet away. The pain emanating from him was palpable and she blinked back the sting of tears she felt behind her eyes.She thought about her parents. She had grown up alone, even when they had been with her, but it didn’t mean she didn’t love them or miss them. She couldn’t imagine what it felt like for Cian, whose family had been closely knitted.Never had she wanted to console someone so much. She wanted to place a hand on his shoulder and squeeze lightly. She wanted to hold him and say things she didn’t know—anything to reduce the grief s

Ivette's breath turned shallow when Cian cupped her cheek. "Let me court you, lass."Her eyes shuttered and her insides twisted with the suddenly realization that she shouldn't have said that. "I...I can't.""Why do you keep running from me? Rejecting me? I am fairly certain you feel something for me--though I doona know what it is. I see it in your eyes. You want this. You want me."She shook her head, inching out of his grasp. "This isn't right. I can't be with you Cian.""And why isn't this right?""Because it just isn't!" she cried, feeling the first sign of tears coming on. She blinked them back, taking steps to put enough distance between herself and him. "I just left my entire life behind on a whim. I left my fiance standing at the altar. My parents are looking for me. The whole of Seattle is looking for me. I am a mess right now and I can't do this with you when I am not in the right state of mind!"Cian's jaw clenched and his fists tightened.But when he spoke, his voice was

"Lovely!" Fiona squealed as she pinned the last lock in place and Ivette smiled, turning around to look in the mirror.She was dressed in a stunning floor-length gown that hugged her figure in all the right places. The gown was made of a soft, flowing fabric, perhaps silk or chiffon, in a deep shade of green that brings out the color of her eyes.It's plunging neckline revealing her elegant collarbone and enough cleavage to hold a man's attention. The sleeves were off-the-shoulder, adding an alluring touch to her ensemble, and on her neck sat a simple golden masterpiece.The dress was adorned with intricate beading and embroidery that sparkled in the light, drawing attention to her every movement. The beading was carefully crafted to accentuate the curves of her body, adding a touch of elegance to her appearance.Cian had sent it earlier as a gift with the note, "I want to see you in this, lass."And he'd chosen well.Fiona had braided her hair intricately in an updo with small br