from women. His expression was perpetually unreadable, his demeanor cold and detached, as though

ept with a woman b

he was s

he woke up, everything had changed. He had flipped the

s bite marks still burned against her skin, and the aches in

istaken! This is just

sharp enough to wound. The bitch always had a way of seducing men.

over Baila, cold and distant y

ed her chin, tilting her face just enough for the long scar on her right cheek to catch the li

om the top of Baila's cheek to the bottom, long and

tly. This wasn't the fac

run away just no

as just heading to the kitc

l seconds. The woman in the

ht next to him. How could he hav

ave now," R

small nod before turning and

nce at Phoebe, Rowa

*

s blazing. "Listen to me, Baila," sh

ce. "I'll leave here right now," she said col

told Rowan you're a servant. If you disappear now, he'll st

e as a s

in Baila's mind, sending a wave of unease through

r grandmother, she had no

better make sure you hold on to your position as Mrs. Hayes. You w

nsettlingly beautiful-sparkled with a strange charm.

so ugly have eye

aid a fortune to had once mentioned seeing a breathtaking girl on the busiest s

e countryside, her face without the scar was an e

en that beautiful g

uldn't

ugly scar on her face. She probably d

matter how striking Baila's eyes were, the scar on her f

ight of Harlee Warren, the housekeeper. "Find the smallest servant's quarters for Baila,"

*

at in front of the mirror. Her fingers trace

la hadn't always

ade-the wrong child had been brought home. While the imposter, Talia Nelson, was raised in lux

appointment was instant. To them, she was nothing more than a disfigured girl with

rvant's room of the Nelson fam

aughter, enjoyed torm

iance had taken shape. The Nelson family snatched her grandmother, using her grandmother as levera

termination in her eyes. No matter what it

*

oom, taking off his shirt before

efore the towering French window, his sharp face cast in a

ook a slow sip, the rich, velvety

n lingered in his mind. The memory of that kiss. Soft. Fresh. A sweetn

ve punished Phoebe today. Yet, for reasons he

n answer, just know

mind. Setting the glass aside, Rowa

efore, and it carried the f

scent clung t

same scent. And, for the first t

ng as he could remember. But last

cause of

that to fa

is way downstairs. Soon, he spotted the fa

nd placed his ha

refully pruned a handful of fresh flowers, arranging them delicately

waist. She was pulled into an embrace. Through the thin f

stif

as. Rowan. The master of the house. No one else

he holdi

that she had been th

d closer. His breath fanned against her skin. He muttered, "P

mth surged to

ace Rowan. "Mr. Hayes, you'v