Unyielding (Tortured Love Book 1) by Ravenna Tate

one-bedroom third floor walkup. My living room doubled as my office, but that was by choice. I was happy.”
    He frowned. Yeah, he should have realized that when all the possessions in her apartment he’d had brought over fit inside her suite. The nagging suspicion Todd had fed him a bullshit story, at least in part, was stronger now.
    “But now that you’re here, are you happy to be living in luxury again?”
    She looked uncomfortable, and he wondered why.
    “I don’t want to insult your apartment. It’s beautiful. It really is.”
    He covered her hand with his. “Lynda, we said we’d be open about our feelings.”
    “You’re right. Okay, then. Your apartment is amazing. My suite is perfect. If I’d done the decorating myself, there’s very little I’d have done differently.”
    “Change whatever you want.”
    “That’s not my point. I’m saying that while this is very nice, and extremely comfortable, I could just as easily live without any of it.”
    Even though calling Alan had brought back horrible memories, he was glad he’d done so. Something was very, very wrong here. “Of course. That makes sense. You have your trust fund, after all.”
    “I haven’t spent any of it.”
    It took a great deal of concentration to force a neutral expression to his face, and he wasn’t entirely sure he’d pulled it off. “What?”
    “I haven’t touched it. I live off my freelance work.”
    Merrick struggled for something to say. “That’s admirable.”
    “Why? People do that every day, you know. They live off what they earn.”
    “Yes, that’s true.” He had to change the subject quickly, before she noticed how rattled he was. Perhaps calling Alan wasn’t the answer? Perhaps it was Todd he needed to have a little talk with?
    Merrick didn’t tolerate anyone bullshitting him, and if his suspicions proved correct, Todd Shelton had pulled off the biggest joke anyone had ever played on him.
     

Chapter Ten
     
    Lynda hoped he didn’t start asking detailed questions about how she’d lived her life before yesterday. She’d already volunteered more than she had meant to. This was how he lived, and she had to stop acting like she’d never been inside a luxury apartment before.
    Her father’s spending had always been out of control, which was part of the reason she hadn’t lived at home since she turned eighteen. Merrick had been inside her childhood home, even though it had been a while, so he knew the surroundings in which she’d grown up. And now he also knew her trust fund was intact. Still, how she had chosen to live was inconsequential. Case closed, as far as she was concerned.
    “I’m sure I’ll get used to this again,” she said. “The food is delicious, by the way.” When in doubt, change the subject. He almost looked relieved. Had he wanted to change the subject as well?
    “My chef is a genius. I’ll never give him up.”
    “Did you get a lot of work done earlier?”
    “Yes, I did.”
    They ate in silence for a few moments while Lynda struggled with a topic to bring up, but he beat her to it.
    “Tell me what designs you’re working on.”
    She gave him a big smile, grateful he’d bothered to ask. Then she launched into a detailed explanation of a start-up business campaign she was working on, and how incredibly picky the client was in terms of the logo. Finally, she talked about the marketing strategy she’d suggested, and all the roadblocks her client kept putting up.
    “Why is she reluctant to follow your advice? Those are really great suggestions.”
    “Thank you, but I think because my field isn’t specifically marketing, she thinks I don’t know what I’m talking about.”
    “Well, she’s a fool then. Is she paying someone else to do the marketing?”
    “Not yet, but she plans to.”
    “When she could have it from you, along with the logo?” He shook his head. “Have you ever thought about working in marketing as well as graphic design? You sound like you have a knack