moment Amy stepped

ck, as if the atmosphere itself had tensed. Footsteps echoed against the s

xpression into a

ure, hair in perfect waves falling over her shoulders and a smile so pristine it belonged on a magazine cover

too long on her clothes, her shoes, the way her hair was pulled back

mooth as silk but cool under

her shoulders. "Ye

s lips quirked upward. "B

n insult, or some kind of pointed observation. But before s

you doing

s posture stiff, arms crossed over his chest. His expression

walked toward him with slow, graceful steps, the sound of her hee

her tone warm and intimate

tened. "Not

her side. Tiny fingers griped the fabric of

g herself as a barrier between the child and the wo

o something that might have passed as affection if Rose hadn'

ng. Look at you, Yo

ssed her face into Rose's

gh, as though mildly inconvenienced by t

hest. Ella wasn't just shy. There was fear in the way she curle

the porch, his voice hardeni

ly a small bump in her otherwise perfect day. "Just stop

m n

Oh, Christian. You us

here thick and tangled. And whatever had once existed between the

d long enough to mak

oward her car. "Well, I suppose I'll be on my way. I'm i

yes locked on Rose once mor

ely meeting

nod, but the words l

d believe that

pearing down the drive left

pressed close, as if Amy's brief appearan

ration evident in every line of his body. "I

at him. "She seem

that wasn't quite a laugh. "Pers

ly over Ella's curls. "Why

ghter, who still hadn't lifted her face. His jaw clenched, and

n't like being around kids. She said Ella was too clingy,

How could anyone treat t

se whispered, her voice

r. His gaze held hers for a bit too long, as if t

" he sai

ettled over her like a warm bla

, none of them eager to break the f

side, Rose couldn't shake the

me back just

she'd look

meone who had already d

d Rose this was o