Bradley rested his hand on Carissa's back and gently nudged her out of the elevator and into the penthouse foyer. He'd known coming here wouldn't be easy, but he didn't expect the ambush of bad memories to hit him so hard. But the second he stepped over the threshold, he was bombarded with the haunting sounds of his ex-girlfriend's cries, of her shrill screams and nasty words, all hurled at him because he refused to propose on her terms.

He momentarily closed his eyes and drew ...