I drifted slowly hom a warm dream where Brandon held my hand, leading me forward through an endless path of light. The dream felt so real that when consciousness finally crept in, I could still feel the lingering warmth in my palm.
Ary eyes fluttered open to find myself in the familiar master bedroom of the Hamptons estate. Soft morning light filtered through the floor–to–ceiling windows, casting everything in a gentle gelden glow. The first thing I noticed was Brandon’s cologne – that subtle, masculine scent that always made my pulse race.
Then I saw him.
Brandon was asleep in the armchair beside the bed, his perfect features softened by sleep. His suit jacket lay carelessly draped over the chair’s arm so unlike his usual precise habits. In the morning light, his face looked almost vulnerable, those impossibly long eyelashes casting shadows across his cheeks.
My heart did a complicated flip as memories from last night tried to surface. The Plaza Hotel… Victoria’s accusations… being drugged in the bathroom… Everything after that was a blur of disconnected sensations. Panic started to build in my chest as I realized I couldn’t remember how I’d gotten home.
I touched my lips absently, finding them slightly swollen. Heat flooded my face as implications started to sink in. What exactly happened last night?
“Awake?” Brandon’s deep voice, still rough with sleep, made me jump
I couldn’t quite meet his eyes. “You… I mean, last night…”
The corner of his mouth lifted in that dangerous half–smile. “Nothing happened. You’re perfectly safe.”
“Really?” I couldn’t keep the hope from my voice. “You’re not just saying that?”
“Why would I lie about this?” His dark eyes held mine with quiet intensity.
I twisted my fingers nervously in the silk sheets. “But Victoria and I had that argument, then someone drugged me in the bathroom. What exactly happened?”
“They kidnapped you.” His jaw tightened slightly. “But we got you out in time.”
“I must have been so useless…” The words came out smaller than intended.
Brandon’s fingers found mine, his touch surprisingly gentle. “Actually you did very well. Those recording devices you and Ruby set up? They’ll be very useful.”
–
Heat crept up my neck. “That was Ruby’s idea she’s a reporter, remember?”
“Mm.” His approval was subtle but clear. “She’s a good friend to you.
When I started to get up, Brandon moved with that predatory grace that seemed to come naturally to him. He retrieved a pair of soft slippers, setting them precisely by my feet. “The floor’s cold.”
His hand found mine again as I shipped them on, the gesture so natural it made my heart skip. “After Victoria and I fought…” I couldn’t quite keep my voice steady. “And then being drugged in the bathroom. What really happened?”
Brandon’s expression darkened slightly, but his voice remained gentle. “It was a planned kidnapping attempt. But you were never in
