More than I’d ever wanted to feel.

Yes, I’d fallen hard. But I desperately wanted a husband who loved me as much as I loved him.

My flesh still numb, I walked with Reid back to the Wolfe building. It was several blocks, and we didn’t talk.

We took the elevator up to his apartment. He gathered his staff in the dining room. “I have some news,” he said. “This lovely lady and I were married this afternoon, so you now work for her as well as for me. Whatever she wants, please see to her needs.”

Lydia and the others were clearly surprised, but they all simply nodded and then went about their tasks.

I followed Reid to his bedroom. “I’ll have your apartment packed up and your things delivered as soon as possible.’

“My job…” I began.

“I’ll see if you can get an extended leave of absence.”

“Mo. The others. They can’t afford the rent without me.”

“That isn’t anything for you to worry about. I’ll cover it until they can get a new roommate.”

“My job…” I said again.

“I promise I’ll take care of all of it,” Reid said. “But you’ll never have to go back if you don’t want to, Zee. I’ll see that you’re always taken care of, even after the marriage ends.”

After the marriage ends…

So the marriage would end, in his eyes.

My heart broke in two.

I was in love—married to the object of my affection.

And it was only temporary.

The story of the Wolfes concludes in Reckoning, available now!

A Note From Helen

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading Rake! If you want to find out about my current backlist and future releases, please visit my website, like my Facebook page, and join my mailing list. If you’re a fan, please join my street team to help spread the word about my books. I regularly do awesome giveaways for my street team members.

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Acknowledgments

Thank you so much to the following individuals who helped make Rake shine: Christie Hartman, Martha Frantz, Karen Aguilera, Angela Tyler, Linda Pantlin Dunn, Serena Drummond, Kim Killion, and Marci Clark.

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