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.

and you’re going to boarding

muttered under her

at home, where her

the car, she whispered to Percival, “Percival, don’t tell me you never noticed how great Vivienne’s figure

school for you

arms, urging her dad

anger and his daughter’s

Isolde departed, Vivienne couldn’t contain her laughter any longer and burst into giggles

face grew even redder. “Vivienne,

had never imagined Percival could be so shy – adorably

the back, Percival felt his manhood challenged for the first time in his life. He adjusted his tie and stepped out of the car, opening the back door to put an end to the giggling –

the car, things got heated, while

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

two could

his head hard on the roof. Without

tried to appear

to Percival with a meaningful look.

entendre was not

that, Nathan turned and entered the house, leaving Percival

was no going back to the Ellington Mansion

…

Karen

last night?” Karen felt his pulse,

his head vigorously. “No, no, of

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

amazed at the accuracy

a bit of an upset stomach and could use something light,” Jasper complained, clutching

gave him a knowing look, pointing to

Jasper cajoling

a defenseless old man?” Vivienne approached, handing a bag

to himself: Defenseless? Who’s old man can bend a steel bar with bare hands? And

ally. “Exactly, they’re

got you the latest comic from your favorite series,”

shared a moment of bliss, impenetrable