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.

Don't wait up," Herman said as he left, his eyes soft as he

his hand brushed her head, flashes of old

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

smile. He pulled Anastasia into a hug.

hug warmed Anastasia's

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 that

I'll wait for you at home. I'll make dinner tonight." "Perfect," Herman

Herman shot him a warning look. "Don't talk so much in front

secret, and if Anastasia hadn't shown

message. "Sorry, Mr.

to the market-the big one nearby, where Harry

some vegetables, then headed for the seafood section. Herman loved

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

me a second!" Harry was always busy, but he finished up

watched, Anastasia

than anyone she'd ever seen. She was about to

to buy