The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

“You… you really are going to help me?” Mara looked at Vivienne, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Vivienne nodded, “Yes.”

“But you… you…” Mara stuttered, at a loss for words.

Even Cecilia hadn’t expected Vivienne to consent. “Vivienne, you’re really willing to help Mara?”

Vivienne affirmed. “Sure, but I have my conditions. I’m the Specter Healer; I don’t work for free.”

Mara knew it. Vivienne wasn’t the type to offer help out of the goodness of her heart.

“I understand, but I’m broke right now. Can I write you an IOU and pay you back once I have the money?” Mara pleaded.

Vivienne smiled, her red lips lifting in a beguiling curve. “That’s not what I’m asking for.”

A shiver ran down Mara’s spine as she locked eyes with Vivienne’s smile. She felt like she had just fallen into a bottomless pit – a trap that could spell her doom!

Leaving the hospital, Percival drove Isolde back home.

Isolde took every chance to stick close to Vivienne. “Vivienne, what was the deal you made with Mara back there?”

Vivienne scooped Isolde into her arms, meticulously parting her hair to craft a sweet hairstyle for the youngster.

“Little ones shouldn’t pry.”

Isolde sat still, leaning against Vivienne, her tiny shoulders pressed against her chest.

After a while, Isolde murmured, “Vivienne, you’re really busty, you know.”

Percival nearly choked on his own spit.

Unfazed, Vivienne continued her task while Percival’s face turned a shade that would’ve given any artist’s palette a run for its money.

“Kids shouldn’t talk about such things,” Percival cleared his throat.

Isolde scoffed. “Percival, why so prudish? I’m just saying she’s got a great figure. It’s just a fact.”

Percival slammed on the brakes and parked by the roadside, swiftly moving Isolde to the passenger seat.

you’re going to

muttered under

Isolde was dropped off at home, where

out of the car, she whispered to Percival, “Percival,

school for you

huffy Isolde scampered into Nathan’s arms, urging her dad to

and

contain her laughter any longer and burst into giggles

grew even redder.

She had never imagined

tie and stepped out of the car, opening the back door to put an end to the giggling –

things got heated,

Nathan stood there, holding a thermos of soup Aurelia had made for Vivienne, unsure how

you two could take

froze, then bumped his head hard on the roof. Without pausing to rub

appear calm

with a meaningful look. “The soup’s freshly made. Don’t rush; it

double entendre was not lost

the

back to the

…

Mansion, Karen was tending to Jasper’s

you stay up late again last night?” Karen felt his pulse, and her brows knit with

“No, no, of course not. You saw

out a sigh. “Three forty-five AM. That’s about when you actually went to sleep. Caught up in

his lips, amazed at the accuracy of

hungry? I’ve got a bit of an upset stomach and could use

gave him a knowing look, pointing to the

caught Jasper cajoling Karen, with Maddox enjoying the

man?” Vivienne

bar with bare hands? And he uses that strength to keep me

ally. “Exactly, they’re so

your favorite series,” Vivienne said, standing protectively by

and granddaughter shared a moment