g rush had dwindled, leaving only a handful of customers tucked into their corners, sipping coffee and working on laptops. The scent of

very detail, every carefully worded sentence had been designed to protect the café, just like she h

. He didn't just hand people what they wan

across from her, a steamin

... s

sound like a

n fees, no last-minute clauses that screw me

Proctor doesn't help peo

e tabletop. "But there's nothing in h

ust haven't

hest. "Or maybe- just maybe- h

? He broke your heart, vanished, and now you'r

things weren't that simple. Emery closed the laptop, ru

hem before Sadie sighed. "S

k it over. If they give the

could reply, the door swung op

ading straight for Emery's table

r her breath, but Desmond ign

ou rea

d

nd

g a lawyer

d in his gaze. "G

without him needing to order. That simple action irritated Emery

ceramic of her own cup. "What

ow what

you're back, throwing contracts in my la

trying to do this right. I can't chan

eight Emery wasn't su

rape against the floor. "I'm going to go prete

eparture, gaze still fixed on Eme

he expected him

thing I want

anywhere with Desmond was a mista

ll lingering from the morning drizzle. The city moved around them- cars hon

trides confident. Five minutes passed before

'll

she didn't push. If he was leading her into so

bookstore sat nestled between modern glass buildings. Its worn si

wned. "A

leather bindings filled the space. Wooden shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, crammed

nter glanced up, eyes wid

Lang

. "Didn't think I'd

an the ones he usually wore.

to Emery, curiosity spa

this is Langston. He's been running t

huckled. "

ill uncertain why she was here

I probably

sit in that corner, reading f

in a bookstore, escaping into stories, didn'

g the wooden counter. "

harder than she exp

ing good with this place. Langston's lease is sec

im, searching for

. "Because some thin

her chest, stirring someth

d on Desmond's shoulde

, almost uncomforta

ou didn't bring me here j

ted you to see I'm not just talking.

dn't been ready to move. Desmond Proctor was still a risk. But maybe-

of well-worn novels. The place had a charm she hadn't expected, and the fact that Desmond

ed, she found him watching her- not with smug satisfaction, but someth

to prove a poin

t the counter, arms c

ting me to suddenly bel

ybe, or something darker. "I'm not asking you to believe a

said th

imself stacking books on the counter, b

ed sharply.

g off the counter. "Se

ff, his expression amuse

l noise- car horns, distant chatter, the rhythmic steps of pedestrians- filled th

she turned to face him.

ifted slightly.

I need this place, and if this is the only way to keep

in his gaze, unrea

hing for cracks in his composure.

finally spoke, his voice was lower, m

h she wasn't sure if it was from

ing her space. "I'll have the fi

ed into the crowded street, leaving Emery standing

d down, Emery sat alone in her apartment, s

sense; the contract was airtight, ensuring she retained

ck into her life, even if only in a professional capacity. The cursor bl

gn

she set down her tea and moved toward the door. Through the peephol

sm

pulling it open. "Wha

ns." He held up a bottle of wine.

. "Do you always assu

ed. "Only whe

dgment, she stepped a

set her on edge. The lines between past and present were blurring,