The Bound Between Us

Tavon's words hit Anastasia like a blast of cold water.

Wait-men get vasectomies just to cheat without consequences? Is that really what they think?

Tavon, completely missing the shift in Anastasia's mood, kept talking on the phone. "Especially those guys who already have a couple of kids at home. They've got their heirs, so once they're snipped, they can fool around without worrying about anything. If they're rich, they don't have to stress about some woman trapping them with a baby either."

Every example Tavon rattled off sounded uncomfortably close to Herman- money, power, status, and no shortage of women throwing themselves at him. In high society, a handful of illegitimate children was hardly a scandal, but one wrong move-like a woman showing up pregnant-could still wreck a reputation.

A vasectomy-easy fix.

In Tavon's world, no man ever got a vasectomy for his wife, for love, or to spare her the risks of birth control. Tavon was pure self-interest; he didn't believe men like that existed, mostly because he wasn't one himself.

Not a single word from him was comforting.

Anastasia made up an excuse and hung up.

Tavon's words stung, but deep down, Anastasia refused to believe Herman would ever cheat on her.

Herman had only managed two hours' rest before he got up for a meeting. Anastasia wished he'd take it easy, but he was set on going, and she didn't press him.

left, his eyes

As his hand brushed her head, flashes of old

skill-and a handful of acupuncture treatments-the blood clot in Herman's brain was gone. Now, every so often, fragments of his past

Herman smile. He pulled Anastasia into

hug warmed

are funny like that-one moment wrapped up in worries, the next, completely lifted by a small gesture. When a woman falls in love, her whole world seems to spin around

you at home. I'll make dinner

elevator, Herman shot him a warning look.

secret, and if Anastasia hadn't shown up unexpectedly, she'd never have known

"Sorry,

drove to the market-the big one nearby, where Harry ran

then headed for the seafood section. Herman loved fish, and

a sea bass and some yellowtail," Anastasia said, eyeing the fresh fish swimming

got it-give me a second!" Harry was always busy, but he

she watched, Anastasia

anyone she'd ever seen. She was about to leave when she spotted a familiar face coming her way from the vegetable aisle:

to