Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Conner came clean about getting his butt kicked, but of course, he couldn't just admit it. "Honestly, I could've won. I was just pulling a stunt, playing the victim on purpose."

Right on cue, Mr. Nettleton's assistant piped up from behind him. "Boss, that was some performance. You sold it so well you landed yourself in the hospital for over two weeks. We almost lost everything while you were out."

Mr. Nettleton shot him a glare. "What, you want a sick day or are you just asking to be fired?"

The assistant just grinned. "Getting fired sounds good to me."

Conner pointed at the door, and the assistant slipped out quick. Mr. Nettleton muttered under his breath, "Can't you see Annie and I are having a moment? Why do you insist on being the third wheel?"

Then he wrapped his arm tighter around Annie, who was still reeling from what she'd just heard. "So, that night at the banquet, when you said you fell for me at first sight-was that just a line?"

Mr. Nettleton hesitated, his voice softening. "Half true, half not. You really did look amazing that night. That white dress-yeah, I couldn't look away."

Annie barely remembered the banquet herself. She'd been too busy sneaking lollipops, only for her mom to snatch them away. "Honey, things have changed. The Martin family can't protect you anymore. We need to find you someone who can."

care of myself. I'm a cop,

Mr. Nettleton's eyes were still

same at seventeen as you do now.

of getting knocked down- he never admitted it to anyone. To

for Annie to believe,

night, she lay in bed,

made up her mind to work

want

out of it. "Sis, that place is

want to get away

to Conner, hoping he could help. But he just pulled the blanket over his head. "What do you expect me to do? Your sister won't even

cemetery where Emmery was buried. The place

sat up on a hill, peaceful and almost always

people worked the night shift, and Maja's little apartment was up