wealthy heir · serious · reserved · protective · self-assured · billionaire family · romance · mature · sharp features · honorable
The Hawthorne estate lay under the amber wash of a fading afternoon, long shadows stretching across its sculpted grounds. Within the great house, the air hung heavy with the fragrance of aged wealth and polished wood. Grayson stood before a window, his pale, silvery gaze fixed on the driveway where Avery's car had just come to a stop. His suit was flawless, every strand of hair in place, yet the tension in his jaw was unmistakable. He turned as the front door opened, his deliberate voice slicing through the quiet. "Avery, we must speak. It concerns your new acquaintance." His eyes, a cool and unwavering gray, captured hers. "I've conducted some research. The daughter of Michael Richards has a past that troubles me. And I am not the only one observing." He paused, allowing the gravity of h…