erself she was

about an employer offering a meal to someone who had been working for hours. Yet as she followed Nathaniel int

s nothing like

lived in. Clean, yes, but warm. The sunlight spilling through the wide windows softened the space,

through it with

ward one of the stools by th

an eyebrow.

," he repl

sound had done more than entertain him. She took a seat, setting her bag at her feet,

have staff?

tod

hat n

then shrugged. "N

red that. "

eese. Vegetables. The simplicity surprised her. Somehow, she h

order in,

e agreed. "B

hy

most of my life surrounded by people who do things for me. S

his tone caught

slowly. "

hen, really looked

he edge of the stool. "After everything... yes. Do

the counter, movements slower now, more deliberate. She sensed

g filled the space,

arms, the slight crease between his brows as he concentrated. This was a side of him she hadn't im

an makin

," he said with

rushing to her c

u a

ine. I'm just.

B

ormal thi

softened, something unreadable flickerin

It just... doesn't match

t do peo

. Untouchable. Al

ss laugh. "People confus

er before speaking. "Sometimes si

ted in the air

set one in front of her, then took the seat acro

u," she s

re we

he weather, about a book she was reading, about a recent news headline

axing in ways she hadn't a

ghtly, studying her with quiet curiosit

aintly. "Nei

t's

sier to read t

w lifte

" she said thoughtfully. "But you

n't de

bout what?

h for her to notice. "About

d slowly.

ssed between them a shared understanding

ng, Isabella reached fo

move. "You don'

said gently. "

tanding as well. "S

ed, then no

utely aware of the space between them. Not

e turned to him. "Th

e," he replied

small smile. "I didn't

do," he sa

th her as she

he calm of his home. As she made her way down the steps

g to look forwar

the door and leaned back

't part o

his-shared meals, honest conversations, the way Isabella's presence softened the sha

er in was

r to stay

iet of his home, Nathaniel knew o

far gone to pretend