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.

more word, and you’re going to

under

home, where her father,

to Percival, “Percival,

Boarding school for you

arms, urging her dad to whisk her

watched, bemused by his son’s anger and his daughter’s smugness, totally clueless about

any longer and burst

even

She had never imagined Percival could

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

things got heated, while

Nathan stood there, holding a thermos of soup

two could

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

appear

passing the thermos to Percival with a meaningful look. “The soup’s freshly made. Don’t rush; it can wait

double entendre was

entered the

going back to the

…

Karen was tending to Jasper’s

you stay up late again last night?” Karen felt his

“No, no, of course not. You saw me

“Three forty-five AM. That’s about when

amazed at the accuracy of her

you hungry? I’ve got a bit of an upset stomach and could use something light,” Jasper

a knowing look, pointing to the pastries.

caught Jasper cajoling Karen, with Maddox

defenseless old man?” Vivienne approached, handing

Who’s old man can bend a steel bar with bare hands?

they’re so mean. Only my granddaughter

from your favorite series,” Vivienne

a moment