avy brass keys when Emily loo

ing for

ry board meeting rather than offering companionship. His

ome wit

mid-reach above

hy

day." Emily closed her book with

hing for a logical reason to refuse. Finding none, he offered n

a careful, deliberate space between them. In an entire week of sharing

uiet and serene beneath t

ight?" Emily asked, try

It helps me

ut w

ng the unspoken boundary,

edly, Ethan br

u save my g

over at him, s

to pull a total strang

terrified, wide eyes, and the blind, instinctual jolt that had

as the right

her, turning to face her.

only one

tive motive. Emily held his steady gaze without offering an excuse or elabo

untain that hadn't run in years. Ethan headed straight for the nearest bench. E

the empty fountain

use I was locked in a corporate meeting with my phone on silent. If you hadn't

ce dropping. "My parents are good people, but they wanted a template for me t

slowly, stripped of

ld do anything for her. Even this." He gestured vaguely b

rk, dry fountain. "You're not the o

to decide not to press. For once, Emily appreciated the restraint. His ques

han stood up. "We

walking beside an impenetrable stranger. He had offered a rare glimps

ake that single effort f

amic mug of tea. He took a seat at one end

, staring down into the dark amber li

engaged

ghtened instinctiv

ossing his features. "She was beautiful, utterly charming. E

y fortune." His hand began to tremble slightly, so he hastily s

ed?" Emily a

d another life, another boyfriend. She was j

es, visibly shaking now. Emily noticed the tremor

th

s gray eyes

not

kno

sounded certain, but the raw t

ly, her voice steady. "Why make me sign a documen

y give her the vulnerable truth she was looking for. Instead, he w

't afford to b

pulling the heavy d

overed a profound piece of his history, but she still lacked the only answer that truly matter

e insurance policy against being blindsided again. But understanding his fear didn't make

sh coffee. She ate her portion quietly at the counter, then plated a second warm helping,

d note or demand. He could decide for

ning, the plate was gone. It had been thoroug

n counter was a singl

it with a c

nk

ten in Ethan's preci

ay. A narrow sliver of yellow lig

didn't magically answer whether she could fully trust him. They didn't shre

ling reason to wonder if h

ng for certain: she wouldn't be