CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN – THE VOW OF LOVE

Kayla heard murmurs of familiar voices at the entryway before her mom reappeared, smiling warmly. "Kayla, dear, you have a visitor." Before she could question further, a tall, impeccably-dressed figure strode into the living room. Kayla felt her breath hitch as those intense blue eyes found her across the space. "Lance..." she murmured, taking in the chiseled lines of his jawline, the sophisticated cut of his suit. Even without the full force of her memories, she recognized a unmistakable air of magnetic charisma about this man. Up close, his gaze was equally parts molten heat and raw tenderness as he regarded her. "Hi Kayla," he greeted, his voice a deep, velvety rumble that she could have sworn triggered a shiver low in her belly. An awkward silence stretched between them as Kayla searched for words. Part of her felt tongue-tied, utterly transfixed by Lance's overwhelming presence. Yet another part felt subtly unsettled, like her psyche was sending warning flares about this rela