ther. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she glanced toward the door. It couldn't be Trey. No, he wouldn't be here-couldn't be. And yet, she coul

revealing more than she would have cared to if she had known someone was about to see her. The hem of the shirt brushed the tops of her thighs, and sh

ding in her chest. Who could it be? Slowly, she turned the knob and cr

t in her throat

vi

tween the door and its frame, and for a moment, Lucia was caught off guard by how disarmingly attractive he was. The casual

g. "I figured I'd come by and see if you'

e hadn't seen this coming. After their chance encounter earlier that day, she hadn't expected him to make

niably magnetic about David-but her instincts told her that going for drinks with him could lead to complic

m the heaviness of her failing marriage? Perhaps a distraction was exactly what she need

hould she invite him in

he continued, his tone light, "if you're not up for going out, we cou

. It was small but cozy, a quiet space where they wouldn't be interrupted. She looked back at Davi

What harm could

ide, opening the door wider. "Alright, come in. But you've only got thi

d, though there was something in his voice that hinted at more. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but

e situation-David, standing in her hotel room, and her, still in nothing but an oversized t-shirt. She wrapped her arms a

ini-fridge. She wasn't sure what the protocol was in this situation-d

"I'm good, thanks. I

l talk, flirty banter, perhaps an offer to go downstairs for

d herself studying him closely. There was something almost... mysterious about him, something she couldn't quite figure out. He was attractive, yes-

ence, "what brings you to this side

he edge of the t-shirt. "A little bit of both, I guess. M

said. "Getting away can be good sometimes. Gives

ity bubbling up inside her. "What about

air, his posture relaxed. "Ah, you've

gued. "Secrets, huh? That do

it's not that I'm hiding anything. I just... don't like talk

disarming, and Lucia found herself leaning in, wanting to know more. She had never been the type to be e

st say I work in a field where I meet a lot o

ds awfully mysterious. You're not

had been building between them. "No, nothing like that. I promise. I j

r. They were, after all, still strangers. And while she was curious about D

es, and even found themselves laughing at the absurdity of their situation-two strangers, thrown together

a full day of talking, laughing, and getting to know each other in ways that surprised them both. Lucia found herself opening u

what she wanted out of life, what had brought her to this moment. It was refreshing, bei

out. He had shared stories about his life, but there were gaps-pieces of the puzzle that didn't quite

ting a warm glow across the room, she realized that maybe, for now, it was enough just to enjoy the moment. There would be time for q

s the night wore on, she couldn't help but wonder-what secrets