Playing with fire had always held an appeal to her, but she’d never indulged herself before. Danger and excitement in her life were things she’d silently craved but never had the courage to pursue. Without thinking through the consequences, she’d just promised to leap into the flames and dance with the most dangerous man she’d ever met—a man who held the power to destroy her in more ways than one.

A tingle of exhilaration washed through her. Heaven help her, but she’d just made a date with the devil himself.

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Her hand trembled as she tried to smooth on the muted tones of eye shadow. She clenched her fingers tighter around the small brush and tried again. The effect was a little off, but no one would notice. They’d be too busy looking at the smudged shadows under her eyes.

The night had passed in an agony of self-doubt, of second-guessing the decision she’d made so quickly.

Married.

At one time, marrying Cole had been her childhood fantasy. She’d loved the younger version of Cole with all the intensity that only a ten-year-old could muster. And that puppy love still lingered, making her wish for more.

She wanted to reach out to Cole and hang on for the rest of her life. But she forced herself to remember his offer was little more than a fantasy that would disappear at the end of one year. The reality was he only wanted to marry her for her shares of stock. Just like Jeffrey.

There hadn’t been a trace of love in Cole’s tense posture, in his watchful look while he waited for her answer. Wariness, hope, maybe even a touch of desperation, but no love, no desire, nothing that would make their marriage anything more than a cold, calculated business deal.

He’d eventually leave her. After all, everyone she’d ever deeply loved had left her. First her natural father had walked away from his family without warning then her step-father had died. Even when Cole had left that first time, Darci’s young heart had taken it as a form of desertion. And he was going to leave her again. But this time, she’d know it was coming. This time, she’d be prepared.

This time, she wouldn’t be hurt.

She squeezed her eyes closed on the pain that pierced her heart. Was it asking so much to be loved, to be needed by someone? To have them stand by her side no matter what?

So far, her father’s company had been the only constant in her life, the only thing that hadn’t deserted her. It was her family right now, her security. But now that was about to be ripped away from her, too.