View Park. Angela Winters

of his usual sarcasm. “This was my idea and it’s gonna be gold. You’re damn right I’m getting a promotion.”

      Carter checked his ringing cell phone. It was Lisette and he placed the phone back into his pocket, leaning against the wall. “So, how many laws did you break to get Performance on board?”

      “Laws?” A wicked grin crossed Michael’s face. “Never heard of the word.”

      “I hope I’m interrupting something.” Kimberly sashayed into the room looking like a million dollars. Her hair flowing, her hips tempting; it was a sight Michael never tired of. She rubbed against him, flipping her head back as if on cue from a photographer.

      “Unusual to see you here, Carter,” she cooed. “Oh yeah, that’s right. You’re on retainer.”

      “Something you and I have in common,” Carter noted jokingly. Michael certainly had his hands full with this woman. “I’m out of here.”

      “What was that about?” Kimberly asked after Carter left, closing the door behind him.

      Michael tightened his grip around her. He knew he was too possessive, but something about Kimberly made him feel like he was always trying to keep her. “What is this about?”

      “I’m having lunch with an old friend downtown.” She leaned away when he tried to kiss her.

      “Old?” He frowned. “From the modeling days?”

      “She’s in town doing a show.”

      “Jealous?”

      “Well, she does have her own house.”

      Michael lifted her onto his desk, maneuvering himself between her legs. “When I get this next promotion, we’ll move into a house built to your every desire. Right now, I need to stay close to Dad. He’s making up his mind about me, and I need to be everywhere he is.”

      Kimberly felt his hand make its way up her thighs and she was already melting. “Promises, promises.”

      “It is a promise.” He held her chin in his other hand, looking into her eyes. He wanted to see them when he touched her. “But until then, maybe this will hold you.”

      Kimberly let out a gasp as her body shivered all over. She grabbed his head, pulling it to her, and pressed her lips against his so hard it hurt. She loved it on his desk with the door unlocked.

      Avery was venting her frustrations as she tossed the dinner she’d prepared into her kitchen garbage. Alex was supposed to be there at 7:00 and it was 7:30. She had let it go that he was fifteen minutes late for breakfast at Roscoe’s yesterday, because the whole scene with Carter and Congressman Flay was entertaining enough, but he wouldn’t be that lucky tonight. She hated feeling this way. Used, unappreciated and taken for granted. She wasn’t high maintenance, only expected what any woman would want; some attention and a guy who was on time every now and then. Apparently three years into a relationship, that was just a little too much to ask.

      She looked down at the two-carat ring on her finger, wondering if this symbol on her saying that someone loved her was what she really wanted and not marriage. That was what she thought of most now; the ring, the dress, and the wedding. Not Alex so much anymore. It made her want to cry thinking of what it could all mean. She didn’t want to accept failure, three years coming to nothing and, God forbid, returning to the dating world where men like—

      “It’s been a while since the Chase family has given us so much to talk about. I think we’ve all missed them a bit.”

      Avery wondered if she was hearing things. She rushed into the living room where the local FOX news station was on the television, her only company after a long Saturday at the salon. The female reporter conveyed the story as if just talking about the Chase family caused a stir within her. Avery couldn’t get the effect these people had on everyone.

      “Right on the heels of Haley’s scandalous encounter with Congressman Jack Flay, the usually clean Carter Chase is making the news. Will he be charged with assault after his attack on the congressman yesterday, which according to witnesses left Mr. Flay in need of a trip to the dentist?”

      Avery huffed. Assault, please. Well, actually it was an assault she thought after a second, but the man was protecting his sister’s honor. What little of it Haley had.

      “To discuss this latest news,” the reporter continued, “we’ve assembled a panel of…”

      Avery turned the television off. A panel? Was she mad or was it the rest of the world? Did people really want to hear this? She thought for a second how this would make Carter feel, but refused to feel sorry for him or anyone in that family. Maybe if they got in enough trouble of their own, they would stop making trouble for her.

      When she heard Alex’s key in the door, Avery tried to refocus.

      Alex had that textbook charming smile on his face and an apologetic tone. “I know you hate me baby, but I couldn’t help it. I was playing hoops with the guys, and the time got away from me.”

      Avery just stood there, hands on hips. A voice way back in her head told her he was lying, but she couldn’t deal with that right now. They hadn’t had sex in a couple of weeks, but she never believed Alex would actually cheat on her. That would be unforgivable.

      “I know I forgot to call,” he said. “I meant to, but when I thought about it, I was already on my way over here, so…”

      Avery’s eyes narrowed. He was definitely lying.

      “So.” Alex seemed apparently satisfied with his own explanation. “What did you make for dinner?”

      “Nothing,” Avery said. “This kitchen is closed. Go home.”

      “Go home? Avery, I live on the other side of L.A. You’re kidding, right?”

      “You must be insane,” she exclaimed. “Cancellations; showing up late. How much of this did you think I would put up with? The sight of you makes me sick, Alex. Go home and decide what you want to do. Either something changes or everything changes.”

      The textbook smile faded. “Is that a threat?”

      Avery was surprised at the words herself. “Maybe it is. I don’t know anymore. I can’t tell what I mean or what I feel. I’m just so…unhappy with us.”

      He leaned back, his defensive posture beginning to form. “So, what are you saying?”

      “I love you, Alex. I want to marry you, but either I come first for you, or not at all.”

      When she entered the house, Leigh came face-to-face with the last person she wanted to see: her mother. It wasn’t just because she had a look on her face that warned you not to mess with her, but Leigh felt guilty going behind her back to fund the clinic which was why she slipped a quick greeting out and headed for the kitchen.

      “Where have you been?” Janet asked. She hadn’t spoken more than two words to her since knocking down her ridiculous idea to work in the middle of a war zone with prostitutes and drug addicts. “I went to sleep at eleven last night and you weren’t home. And you left early this morning.”

      “I was in Malibu with some friends.” Leigh never thought she’d say this, but right now she wished she could be more like Haley. Haley let a lie roll off her tongue as smooth as butter.

      Janet didn’t want to argue with this child even though she knew she was lying. She had just gone twelve rounds with a frustrated Haley who, only four days after an attempt on her life, wanted out of this house. “I didn’t like the way we left things.”

      “I really want you and Daddy to understand. I want your support.”

      “We love you so much, Leigh. I hope you understand that.”

      “I do, but this is my life. I’ve got to make my own choices. I want this clinic. If you would listen to our case for—”

      “I