pte

He waved as she approached the seat opposite them. The small cafeteria buzzed with quiet chatt

at the corner of her lips. « I thought you w

ind of warmth, an ease that immediately put him at ease as well. He couldn't quite put his

r introduced, his hand sweeping toward Jay. Jay

ing up as she took his hand in hers. « I

rent of strength there, a subtle power that caught his attention. His ins

e asked, her curiosity evident. « Y

ing as he sipped his coffee

he turned back to Jayden, her eyes sparklin

hesitate. «

She tossed her hair over her shoulder, the strands falling into place

rily drifting toward the window. Outside, the sky was overcast, the soft

ng in her gaze-a question, or perhaps an invitation for something more. Before he could respond, the shrill sound of

om her seat quickly, her movements fluid and graceful as sh

ng inside him. He had expected someone different, someone who fit the criteria he'd outlined

ted, not taking his eyes off her as she spoke into t

ng into a slight smirk. « How do you kn

was looking through a fog. He hadn't been thinking clearly when he arrived. The jet lag, the transition, the endless itinerary of thing

asked, his b

Mary-her. » He nodded subtly towar

lue coat. The one he had seen on the street earlier, the one who had caught his attention then, to

his throat. He hadn't e

She was of average height, perhaps a little taller than most, but nothing that stood out about her physically. Her long, dark hair hung forward in messy bangs, obscuring her eyes,

harply with her skin tone. Jay couldn't help but notice how it all made her seem almost invisible-like she had been blended into the background. But

't smile. She didn't need to. There was a certain energy in the air around her, something that made Ja

The sudden burn made him snap back to reality, wi

? » Peter asked, looking

, clearing his thr

feel the change in the atmosphere. It wasn't her appearance that affected him. It was the presence she carried with her-the sen

traditional sense. Yet there was something about her, something in the way she

smirked knowingly. « I se

ond. He wasn't

g the room. When she finally reached the table, she gave them both a nod, her lips curving int

a low voice, her t

her. « Didn't thi

cing at Jay. « Jus

ust happened. His heart beat a little faster, and the air felt heavier. The woman in the blue

rtain: she was nothi