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

under

home, where her father, Nathan, was

whispered to Percival, “Percival,

school

Nathan’s arms, urging her dad to whisk

by his son’s anger and

laughter any longer

face grew even redder.

had never imagined Percival could be so shy

his manhood challenged for the first time in his life. He adjusted his tie and stepped out of the car,

car, things

thermos of soup Aurelia had made for Vivienne,

maybe you two could

then bumped his head hard on the roof. Without pausing to rub it, he scrambled out of the

to appear

the thermos to Percival with a meaningful look. “The soup’s

entendre was not

the

no going back to

…

the Perez Mansion, Karen was

again last night?” Karen felt his pulse, and

shook his head vigorously. “No, no, of course not.

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

smacked his lips, amazed at the

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

pointing to the pastries. “You just had

walked in, she caught Jasper cajoling Karen, with Maddox enjoying the

a defenseless old man?” Vivienne approached, handing

to himself: Defenseless? Who’s old man can bend a steel bar with bare hands? And he uses that strength to keep me

they’re

the latest comic from your favorite series,” Vivienne said,

granddaughter shared a moment of bliss, impenetrable