Chapter 2Over the next few days, Melissa thought frequently about Lawton. The potent attraction caught her off guard, breaking through her shell of guilt and grief.
Melissa was left utterly alone by the sudden deaths in a traffic accident of her father and her fiancé, Ralph Conroy. The tragedy also made Jo the closest thing to kin she had. After the funerals and the legal business were concluded, Jo insisted Melissa come west for an extended visit.
Blaine Hartford never made a secret of his disappointment in not having a son to inherit his empire. The one time Melissa dared to suggest he remarry and try again, his wrath had revealed what a tender point the issue was.
Ralph was his protégé, chosen to manage the vast holdings Melissa would inherit. Their marriage would simply tie up the l
