weeks since ever

ce the arrogant CEO with a face carved out of a billionaire's daydream had t

of banana bread still lingering in the air. A thick slice sat on my plate, smeared with Nutella and comforting warmth. It was one of those

ame th

ew I was home and was patiently

row

neighbors barely spoke to me. My landlord

curled in my stomach. I slid off the couch and padde

eath

an W

oal coat over a black turtleneck, hands casually tucked in his pockets

d, I couldn

ice, the way he'd looked at me like I was both a puzzle and a problem. I blinked it aw

ng here?" I asked

ol and steady. "At

ow. "You're j

eady shared an explosive encounter,"I'm Damian Wolfe. I think

small, traitorous part of me almost smiled.Al

nto my house," I said, a

missing a beat. "I'm not here to cause

ething raw and restrained. That tone did something strange to my nerve

better judgment

surveying the room with the eyes of a man used to owning spaces

Arielle Stone," he said casually,

st tig

told hi

that?" I demanded

"I looked you up. I had

, my mind racing. "So n

the edge of my couch like he be

guard. That does

ut the way he said it. Like / was the on

rogant," I

the first

"And yet, you keep showing

s is?" he asked,

ing unw

aid it. Like he alre

o glasses of water-because offering him wine felt

a thank-you nod and watched me sit on the opposi

ken things. I focused on the movie still playing in t

. "You're not like

you?" I snapped, the words slip

smiled. Not a smi

id, amused. "You

arp tongue of yours... I haven

ed, and I hated

e what you t

on't get to barge into my l

nything," he said softly. "I just wanted

moments, we actually talked. He asked me about my work, my family, my dreams. I answered caut

as we spoke, I noticed the way his eyes would linger when I smil

infur

... kind of

it hap

thigh-just a brief touch, warm and unintentional

n't ap

oment before meeting mine again. There was something

more. Next time,"

ised that he was

. O

to you," he added, w

aid quietly

out, turned slightly, like he was about to say something more..

icked shut

ounding, mouth slightly open, and mind

ish he'd st