rine

st of the day, but the exhaustio

mpness from my hair. The reflection in the mirror looked identical to the woman who had walk

of the doorbel

nce and peered throug

ri, the maître d' from Aurelia, holding a

lled the door open a few inche

urteous bow as he presented the case. "Mr. Sharpe r

t dark velvet was a heavy, matte-black metal card,

acticed tone. "It allows for immediate reservations and private dinin

l metal card, feeling a

ordinary businessman, yet he had said almost nothi

e card on the kitchen counter. My thoughts were still trying to untangle wh

the door and looke

eath

arms, wrapped in thick brown paper, was a massive bouquet o

suddenly very aware of m

h of my body, lingering on the hem of my

ed, his baritone quiet

o give him room.

eemed to shrink around him. The cool scent of rain, fresh

his knuckles brushed against the bare skin of my fore

ing the heavy flowers against my chest

e replied, his voi

nd his back, his palm pressing flat against the wood, and p

distance between us. His tall frame blocked the living roo

ackward, but my shoulders me

isp wool of his suit jacket lightly grazed the thin cotton of my shirt,

he gently tucked a damp strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered at my collarbone for a second before his thumb slid

ay, the faint scent of cedarwood on his skin was intoxi

He leaned down until his mouth was inches from mine, his