Chapter 1

Chapter 1I slumped against the passenger seat as Ryan’s car cruised through the palm-lined streets of Los Angeles.My eyelids felt heavy after a twelve-hour shift at Carter Enterprises. The quarterly marketing campaign required us all to work overtime, and as a junior marketing executive, I was stuck with weekend work.“You still with me, babe?” Ryan glanced over, his perfectly styled dark hair catching the sunset’s glow.“Barely.” I stifled a yawn. “Remind me why we’re going to this party when I could be face-planting into my pillow right now?”“Because Sophia would kill you if you missed her birthday.” He reached over and squeezed my knee. “And because you look stunning in that dress I bought for you.”I glanced down at the black cocktail dress he’d insisted I wear. The neckline plunged lower than I’d normally choose, and the hemline rode high enough to make me self-conscious every time I sat down.