ttled her breathing

ce that was never meant for her. The memory of Lorenzo behind her-his damp hair, the he

with the quiet confidence of someone who

out an e

ng the cuff of his shirt, his expression unr

did. Just one step. Enough for the man's ey

ank ins

ers brushed hers as he took it, firm, grounding. A

itation. Formal. Poli

between rival families. A public tru

d it once.

ched his mouth-n

o Elena, already turning

ose for her was

urpris

trace her shape without announcing it. The neckline wa

girl looking back. Her hair was pinned loosely, curls esca

Lorenzo observed

ed, unab

e enough that she felt the heat of him, sm

d. "It means you'r

idn't know what that meant,

ing unreal-crystal chandeliers, polished marble,

l of her back as he guided her in

rt

positioning her near the gra

wed by men in tailored

stood

ghtened bird. She had never been this visible before. Never

en a man ap

polished way. Confide

d. "I don't bel

ed. "I- I'm ju

glancing toward the crowd.

sounding rude. Her upbringing had ta

e," she

ed wider. "A

oom s

ir ch

it before s

tood behi

e his voice. H

" Lorenzo s

ervously. "I was

ed to Elena-just onc

eturned t

ext was swift.

movement. A

n coll

Glass shattered.

couldn

zo as if seeing him

ned the ma

xpression composed, almost b

om

hesi

or a s

ooming hot and sharp in her chest.

as who

and steady, something else stirred too. A conf

, out onto the balcony where t

inst the raili

e whispered. "I did

w," he

was

und herself, breath unst

n't de

gh that she felt his breath brush her

be," he sa

eart

she didn'

drifted faintly from inside. Somewhere b

life had crossed a line she

eared

ll leaned toward him, drawn by

at the edge o

e watc