he door, leaving her facing it. She caught sight of Maximo's scarred hand, yet her attention sli

at rose in her chest didn't stay for long. Something

y?" he asked, his voi

her closer. His leg moved between hers, and

en a man?" she exclaimed, struggling to steady her

ize was that he wasn

hed him, yet the memory of having her beside him lingered. After leaving her room that night, he had returned to his own, unabl

he had not to turn her around and claim her lips. His restraint was

who marry share a bed. And if that's done fo

s voice tightening, "how do

tightened, and he pu

from her, and it ca

anger rising in her voice, though her re

e shifted again, making his presence unmistak

er her in that moment, yet t

Then s

is lips. The light fabric of her summer dress didn't offer much resistance as hi

drew her forward, though the differ

your

ha

ded her, and she felt him shift her position. His breath brushed against her face, close enough to make he

u're still wearing a shirt, right?

rested them on his arms, steadying herself. His gaze lingered on

r thoughts blurred, and she followed his lead without question. He guided her acros

without thinking, her hand move

When he noticed she didn't react to the spot his hand brushed against

sked, his voice low as his

eplied, though the

en they heard something hit the floor. Fo

carried through the

thi

"They've already worked things out." Wi

lief settled in her chest. She had hoped things would turn out well for both of them, and from what she ha

er, guiding her to rest against him. Her cheek pressed to his chest, and even through the fabric of

in," she pondered, her lips presse

was the reason or if Carolina truly affected him in a different way. For the first tim

ing." A bitter thought

steady. "I'll walk you to the door." Her br

eep them closed. I

ed, his tone sh

ne," she said, her voice tight as she

en willing to touch me is beca

s not

ce like mine doesn't matter to you?" he asked, his voice edged w

and slid off the table. Her footing faltered

e shaking as she held back tears. "I gave you

urgery could fix,"

ere she was going. The jewelry box lay on the floor, thrown open from the fall, with a diamond neckl

and let out a quiet bre

me, she's wrong," he ponde

e capital, Cesar

da asked, leaning against the

wasn't Eloisa," he remarked, his v

study, her expression sharpe

l," she insisted,

d opened it without delay. Yolanda leaned closer, then lifted he

he one?" s

hort nod in

uite bea

toward the blonde beside her. "She stil

th of them in sile

s out more to me. There's something softer about her. This Eloi

ng, and it showed. Even so, Cesar knew she drew attention wherever she went. Many men pursued her, and that alone raised her worth i

Moth

uitors, then she's likely more grounded. That's exactly the kind of person our boy ne

then slow

. "I won't bring it up with the

s image. Something about the girl left her certain. She

room and refused to join them for lunch. When dinner came, she turne

ld on the pillow resting on her lap, the bo

tion rising in her voice. "An

the doorway. No