IT TOOK A QUEST FOR THE TRUTH…..

Successful executive Alyssa Knight's homecoming is not a happy one—she's returned to Chicago to track down the person who killed her best friend in a hit-an-run accident. As she searches for the truth, she also finds something else—her old “friend” Nathan Hughes, now a judge bound for the Supreme Court. Though Alyssa tries to keep her mind on finding the facts about her friend’s murder, the sparks between her and Nathan are growing stronger by the day.

...TO FIND A LIFE-LONG LOVE

Judge Nathan Hughes can’t believe it when he sees Alyssa in town again. She’s the first girl he ever kissed—and if he has his way, she'll be the last. But as they untangle the mystery of the hit-and-run, some painful events of the past come to light and threaten to derail his Senate confirmation to a federal judgeship. Nathan’s ready to sacrifice his professional ambitions to follow his heart…but he’ll soon learn that with love, all things are possible.

 

Winter (Prologue)

 

“Tear up your resignation letter and I will give you two months vacation and double your current yearly salary.”

 She didn’t turn at the familiar sound of the highbrow British voice coming from the doorway, but her slender fingers paused midway between the bookcase and the shipping carton sitting atop her office chair. An antique clock chimed three times. At that time of night, the silence on the executive floor had drawn her attention to the sound of the temperature control switching on only minutes before.

 Alyssa Knight lowered her gaze to the top of the mahogany William IV desk. Nestled amongst the satin folds of a black velvet box sat a diamond engagement ring Harrison had given her after the team closed on the Matsumoto shipping subsidiary spin-off. She was almost tempted to touch it. She already knew how the platinum warmed to her skin. How the heavy circlet would slip onto her finger and Marquise diamond sparkle like a living thing.

 Ignoring her silence, he continued. “I personally spoke to the head surgeon at the hospital. Your father will make a full recovery, sweetheart. There is no need for you to go back to Chicago.”

 She stifled a sigh at another one of Harrison’s overtures to get her to stay. Brushing back a strand of her shoulder length hair behind her ear, she lifted her eyes towards the window. Alyssa took a deep breath and filled her lungs with the lemon scent of polish a cleaning lady had used on the furniture during her nightly duties.

 Instead of gazing upon the empty streets of London’s financial district, her mind’s eye drifted back to a time when as a little girl she flew down the sidewalk on a brand-new pink bicycle. She could still feel the hard white rubber handlebar grips, the December wind on her cheeks, the pounding of her heart. Moreover, she heard family’s shouts of encouragement. That winter morning Alyssa had felt as though she could fly.

 “Maybe I need him,” she murmured, her voice raspy with fatigue. She’d slept a total of fifteen hours in the past four days. In London, business may pause for tea, but it would not stop for her leaving. There had been documents to review, emails to send, phone calls to make, and goodbyes to give. Not to mention the unfinished business of packing up her one-bedroom garden floor flat in Kensington. She would not permanently leave London until the next month but it was time to bid her first of many farewells.

 Only the whisper of fabric warned her of his approach. “He has your mother and after this business deal I will take care of you. Look at me Alyssa…darling.”

 She didn’t need to look at Harrison with her eyes because she knew him all too well. Yet, Alyssa turned and raised her face. The sight of him played havoc with her nerves, upsetting the nibbles of a tuna sandwich she’d had for dinner. With alabaster skin, ash gray eyes, wavy silver flecked hair, and an athletic physique, no one could deny that Harrison Brandell II was a distinguished and handsome man.

 Taking care to brush her palms against her midnight blue suit, she noted that he wore the silver necktie she’d purchased for him at a small shop in Milan.

 “I’ve already made my decision, Harrison.”

 He stood straight with his hands in his pockets, the confident grin he perpetually wore flattened. “I need you, darling. We have to close the Caspian Energy deal and you’ve already got that new French construction CEO eating out the palm of your hand. Come on, this is worth at least fifteen million pounds to the bottom line.”

 Her fingers tensed and for a brief moment disappointment flared in her honey-brown colored eyes. She stood still when he moved to embrace her.

 “All you have to do is help the team through the placement process and then we can start working on our wedding,” he whispered seductively in her ear. His fingers toyed with the single pearl she wore on a gold chain around her neck. “Mother can handle most of the details and then you and I can fly to the States and visit your family. Maybe take a vacation and spend some time at the villa in Tuscany.”

 Alyssa’s lip curled into a bitter smile. Classic Harrison: always about the end of the game, the result, the closing of the deal. He wanted to focus on a wedding even before she had accepted his marriage proposal. Only recently had she realized that he had been grooming her for a new position and title. She would be promoted to his wife.

 “No,” Alyssa said slowly. He could not seem to understand that in the realm of business she could negotiate a deal, compromise to accomplish a target, but she would never settle in her personal life. It was not the thing for her to take second best in a relationship.

 She disentangled herself from his arms and moved to stand on the other side of her desk. Curling her fingers into the leather backing of her executive chair, Alyssa met his guarded stare.

 “No what?”

 She heard the tinge of impatience in Harrison’s voice. She’d told him exactly four weeks ago that she couldn’t accept his ring. He’d pressured her to reconsider but the time they’d spent apart had only solidified her feelings. They had met at a global financial conference. He’d been a guest speaker and she’d played a part in organizing the event, as her boutique investment firm had been a main sponsor.

 His unshakable confidence and charisma coupled with a relentless pursuit had made it next to impossible for her to say no. They had only been seeing each other for three weeks, before she’d walked into her office building on a Monday morning to discover that Harrison had bought the company she worked for. Within a year of the takeover, he’d managed to turn their small London financial firm into a European powerhouse.

 She had already been a rising star in the investment banking division, but having the owner as her boyfriend had guaranteed that Alyssa would be in the spotlight. Regardless of their new relationship, she’d moved up because of her talent and willingness to sacrifice her personal life for her work. In less than two months, she’d been moved to the executive floors to enjoy a corner office with a fantastic view of the city. Her new manager had been eager to tell her that Harrison had made sure that the office planners had chosen the best paintings, the best furniture, and the best location just for her.

 Yet, she’d spent so much of her time at conferences, on planes, in meetings, at client events, or dinner parties that she had little time to appreciate it.

 “No, I have not changed my mind. No, I’m not staying. No, we are not planning a wedding because I’m not going to marry you and yes we’ve discussed this, Harrison. We’ve discussed us and my answer is still the same,” she stated flatly inwardly amazed at the evenness of her tone.

 “Bloody hell,” he balled up his fists. “I just told you your father is going to be fine. If this is because of the other week, I already apologized for my inexcusable behavior. The upcoming board meeting had me on edge, that’s all. I was out of line and I overreacted but I made sure that he received the best of care and was compensated well for the injury.”

 Alyssa raised a well-arched eyebrow while holding back a snort of disbelief at the gross understatement. Harrison had sent her dance instructor to the hospital with a fractured rib and a black eye. She shivered slightly. The rage she’d seen in Harrison’s face haunted her still.

 “This isn’t about any of that. This is about me. I’m not happy here and I’ve been thinking about going home long before Pop’s illness.” The full truth was that not only did she miss her parents; she believed that she had finally put Lily’s death behind her.

 She watched as he placed his hands behind his back. “I’m prepared to offer you a bonus of seventy-five thousand pounds paid on signature of a year contract.”

 Alyssa had to blink twice as she saw a fleeting trace of apprehension cross Harrison’s eternally confident features. It had always seemed to her that the man who bought and sold millions in a day, directed the course of a business enterprise that spanned the globe, and played host to London’s elite on a monthly basis knew no fear.

 She remained silent for a moment and then moved to place her favorite Oxford University finance textbook in the box. “My mind is already made up.”

 “This office and my bed won’t be empty for long,” he warned.

 But his heart would be, she mentally added as the fact that he’d never really cared for her the same way she’d cared for him had never been more apparent. He would commit to nothing unless it added money to the bottom line or earned praise from his father.

 Harrison would forever put business, social standing, power, and his father’s approval in front of all else. It had been after a weekend at his parent’s estate in Surrey that he’d proposed. Despite her nationality, middle class upbringing, and her color, for she was darker than their son, Sir Brandell had approved of her. She had supposed it was because of his penchant for baseball and American jazz.

 Having filled the two shipping boxes with the few contents that she’d accumulated during her tenure at the firm, Alyssa bent to pick up her long jacket, briefcase, and purse. Grasping the straps with a strong grip, she walked towards the door and passed close enough to Harrison to inhale the wood smoke scent of his expensive cologne.

 Once she reached the doorway, Alyssa stopped and turned around sparing one last sweeping glance at what represented the career she’d spent most of her waking time pursuing. The plush beige carpet, recessed bookshelves lined with rare books, art pieces borrowed from the firm’s private gallery, a Queen Anne styled table with plush leather backed chairs that served as her conference table.

 Her perusal stopped on Harrison’s straight back. He stood by her desk, right in front of where she had left the engagement ring. Alyssa swallowed hard against a powerful emotion that welled up in her throat. It took her a moment to recognize that it was not the affection she’d usually felt. No, it was pity.

 She turned around and faced the empty office corridor. During their entire courtship, he’d treated her like a princess and taught her more about the finance industry than she’d dreamed possible. He’d adored her American brashness and made her laugh with his dry British wit. Alyssa couldn’t lie to herself; she would forever be fond of him.

 “I wish you well, Harrison.” With that she walked away.

 

.