ading to the terrace. It swung open, and the biting ch

shed cheeks, forcing her overheated brain to clear. She stepped out onto the wooden decking, letting the he

e. She set her empty champagne flute down on

dragged massive, desperate gulps of the crisp night air into her lungs. She focused on the physica

u, her mind whispered cruel

a lighter's flint striking metal slic

y rigid. The hairs on the

her eyes wide, scanning the

l of the building, was a tall silhouette. The brief flare of a flame il

r

shifted, carrying the scent directly to her. It was an intoxicating, masculine blend of sharp c

ard, drawn by an invisib

exposing his forearms. There, etched into the tanned skin of his

i

ol with his wrist wrapped in a bandage. She had always told herself it was a coincidence, a meaningless number for a guy who collected meaningless

rette. He exhaled, a thick cloud of pale gray

now. His gaze was intense, heavy, and entirely unapologetic. He didn't look aw

st the brick wall. The movement was lazy, almost insolent. I

r leaving?"

her nerve endings. It was so casual, so utterly devoid of th

distance vanished. She felt like she was seventeen again, standing before

er. She forced her spine to straighten, pulling her shoulders back. She re

ng the sharp pain to fight back the overwhelming wave of memories. It's a coincidence, she

mmond," Dawn replied. Her voice was br

between them, a massive, impene

sound escaped his throat-a scoff th

king smirk. It was a cruel expression, one that complete

-smoked cigarette onto the wooden deck and crushe

rted walking

, the sound of leather hitting wood ech

re glued to the floor. She instinctively took a step backward, but her lower back imm

personal space entirely, using his massive height advantage to tower over her. His

ose and fell with rapid, panicked breaths. He noted t

ust inches from hers. The scent of cedar

urself?" Arlo murmured. His voice was dangerou

She tilted her chin up, refusing to break eye contact. She poured every ounce of her stubbornness into her gl