e pressing on her like an invisible chain. All morning, she had replayed their l

know how long you'll l

t break. Sh

ulating. And with every passing day, she wasn't sure how muc

t question. Yet Ava had started to notice something beneath the surface-the way his gaze lingered to

dn't let

ering shelves crammed with books so old they carried the scent of history and dust. She focu

t happ

kable shift

ng against the doorway, watching h

la

, but she kept her

lickering in his silver eyes. "You're

n the cloth in her hands

wing the space between them. "Afraid y

to shrink beneath its weight

is voice droppin

ething unspoken. He moved closer, his fingers

rigue me

owly. "I'm jus

o hers, sharp and

tween them

n't look away. He was playing a gam

out another word-turned and walked away, lea

ow what he wa

hing was

ckwood di

ither

-

over everything, it was the only way to survive. But no matter how much she tried to blend into the background, his gaze

voided him whenever possible. But Dylan Blackwood

sive desk, hands clenched around the hem of her apron while he lea

His voice was slow, deliberate-lik

grip to loose

ld her he didn't believe her for a

, pushing boundaries she hadn't even known she had. But why? What did he want from her? There were doz

nally, lifting her chin ju

s amusement or something else entirely. "Good. Then

caught. "

voice quieter now, but shar

nch. Not because she was afraid-at least, not in the way he probably thought-but because he un

w," she admi

ow, measured step. He stopped close-too close. Close enough that s

ld," he m

, fingers brushing the edge of her sleeve so lightly it could have b

now, almost thoughtful. "I can't decide if t

her ears. "I don't wa

e sound low and kn

ght snap under the weight of it. But then, just as suddenly as he ha

its usual crisp command. "Before I chang

lked quickly from the room, her heartb

ew one thing with absolute certainty-Dyl

ven c