you.' Grandpa Renan gave me an

ndpa,' I said,

nd sighed wistfully. 'Every time I see Anne, my heart ach

ly attacked. 'Caspar, what the hell do you mean? You

essboard very interesting. 'I meant nothing,' he mut

till winning.' Renan, now completely

a polite nod. She returned the gesture with a perfectly practised, elegant smile. The

ted me, smiling in that q

beat was. 'How many times do I have to tel

side him and tilting my head to measure

ust know would feel amazing under your fingers. But given my... questionable inte

nder said, his big, luminous eyes catching t

ridiculously pretty eyes. They were deep and bright at the same time

ice pulled me

h

elashes. They fluttered when he blinked, like soft little butterfly

lash. 'Uh-why don't I show you both the garden?

'That soun

ng?' My voice came out softer than

armth and quiet charm, and I had to

togeth

their intense chess battle. 'Grandfather, Mr Grimaldi

both muttered, eyes n

st, granddaughte

eds were staging their own floral rebellion. Dahlias, chrysanthemums, late-blooming roses, and delicate violets lined the winding paths, spilling over in auda

m one flowerbed to the next like a child showing off their playgrou

inded. Quite

ume of blossoms-sweet, earthy, intoxicating. But beneath that,

er's

to him. I didn't know if it was his cologne, his soap, or just some unfair genetic lottery win, but w

ous. I didn't actually want

e. Close enough to reach out

time I saw him, that thought played on a l

n leaves drifting down. One landed delicately on Leander

stepped in front of h

artled, loo

little space existed between us. His big, impossibly bright eyes fl

eks wen

ike he might step back, but bef

enough. Just so he

wn to our hands, t

, spreading like i

He had no idea how dangero

oice dropping lower than usual. I swear I wasn't trying to be seducti

lder, then-purely for practical reasons, obviously-ga

of his shoulder, maybe slide it down just a little-okay, stop. That was a dangerous thought. I

se sweet, innocent smiles that had no business being so lethal. 'Thanks, Anne.' His voic

ost my god