Nathaniel Blackwo
magazine features she pretended not to read-but by the s
ed his tie the second
ers relaxed when t
y he l
sed her e
ened New York's sharp edges. Isabella arrived early, as usual, letting her
Hart," the houseke
lla replied, ret
se of its size or luxury-those things still unsettled
ark hair slightly disheveled as if he'd run his hand through it one too m
" he said with
very time," she
it rema
shifted naturally over time. What began as structured tutoring sessions had grown into somet
iced he seemed
istening," sh
harp grey eyes mee
re preten
t curve of his lip
," she
ng her in a way that made her pulse
bo
yth
ted. "You
pa
o
ed quietly. "Like you don't t
behind his eyes-
erous habit,"
ding you don'
dn't
, heavier than before, until Natha
inked.
es
where the noise of the city faded into a distan
o you ever feel like you're wait
n caught he
time," sh
d once.
t Isabella was acutely aware of his presence-his h
much about you
her d
I don't have muc
pped w
to face him
at again," he
hy
it's no
ne corrected her like tha
ed at the edge of the courtyard, phone
d, lowering his voi
aw tightened.
ersation low and urgent. She didn't strain to hear-but
anced at
iel no
ession was carefully neutr
Did
id quickly.
ing her disappoi
things, Nathaniel he
es
u... for
hat he meant. Sh
Isabella could
way his voice softened when he said her name. The concern in his eyes when she looked tired. The way
care
had once cost
with a message
u eat
a smile
, M
eating
ted before
ifferent.
t mention
felt too fra
utine restored. Nathaniel seemed more guarded again,
in the sitting room, she overheard rais
" Nathaniel
this," Lucas replied. "Es
lla f
y, guilt twisting in her stomach. She hadn't meant
her a
that day
st time, do
ings-but about her
iced the chan
fully. Built walls with pol
him more tha
the library, staring at a boo
ewhere else
are
. "What h
Sometimes I feel like I don't belong here. Like
er you choose to b
she aske
es
y in his voi
ed, "And if something ever makes
it invo
ially
eyes
tretched between the
he slow, undeniable trut
just working for N
beginnin
p inside, a quiet
le ever stays unt

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