"Hey, can I ask you something?" I said, a thought nagging at me. "What would you do if you found out someone you trusted was actually behind a loved one's death?"

"I don't have any loved ones," Aurora shot back, but I caught that flash of pain in her eyes. My heart broke a little for her. Before I could say anything, she smiled and added, "But if anyone tried to mess with you, I'd throw down."

My heart melted. "If you were a guy, I'd dump Richard and marry you in a ...