A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

Of course. After all that’s happened, how could he still not understand? Why hide now? He’d begged the heavens to bring her back, and now that she really had returned, he was letting some foolish pride drive him into hiding. What sense did that make?

He’d been a fool. Nothing–absolutely nothing–mattered more than Alessia.

That thought made him kiss Alessia again. He twined her hair gently around his finger, curling it over and over, his touch soft and full of longing, his eyes openly brimming with love.

The next morning, Alessia woke before Cole. She looked at his tousled head on the pillow, a smile tugging at her lips as she reached out and ruffled his hair. The slightly prickly feel made her palm tingle, but her heart felt warm and tender.

A quiet cough pulled Alessia from her thoughts. She looked up–Max was there.

Without a word, Max picked up the vase from the bedside table and carried it into the bathroom. When he returned, the flowers had been replaced with a fresh bouquet.

“Breakfast,” he announced. He set down a tray: a bowl of mild, nourishing soup with a bit of meat–simple, but still comforting.

Cole stirred awake, still groggy, but his hands moved automatically, setting up the little table for Alessia’s meal.

For a split second, as their eyes met, Cole looked embarrassed. He cleared his throat to cover it up and quickly looked away.

Max didn’t comment, either. He just pulled over a chair and sat quietly beside Alessia.

“Don’t you have work?” Alessia asked, eyeing him.

The unspoken question hung between them: You sit here every morning, silently watching me eat, then disappear when Karen comes in the afternoon. What are you doing, really?

didn’t even look up, just reached for his book, opened to the page he’d marked

grabbing the kettle. He didn’t quite meet Alessia’s eyes, but at least he

10:40 1

Alessia thought. She understood, so

Cole when Max spoke. “He finally showed

allowed

Max looked

traitor,” he muttered, a

laugh. “No matter what I

seatmate tricked me into going out of town. I almost couldn’t make it

of

you only telling me

I said it.” He kept his gaze fixed on the page, though whether he

didn’t you come to any of my

first one. No point going

blurted

hadn’t expected that–his pupils

of the page.

sorry,” he