days at the gallery were long, the weekends spent either in solitude or with friends who still didn't understand her pain

st a kind gesture, nothing more. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized there was something more there. Something unspoken between them. The book, the

, not after everything. But then, why did she find herself thinking a

e was halfway through preparing for an exhibition opening when her phone buzzed with a new mess

st

ight flutter as she

ree tonight, I'd like to take you to dinner.

made her stomach do a strange flip. What could it be? Was he going to a

't need anything more complicated than the simple life she had built around her art and independence. But another part of her, o

y before she could s

ds good. Where did

onse came alm

ck you up at 7.

xpected. She hadn't anticipated him making such a gesture, and yet, the

ident. As she adjusted her hair in the mirror, she couldn't help but feel the familiar twist of uncertainty in her stomach. She hadn't agreed to th

her throat. She smoothed down her dress, wipe

ck jacket and dark jeans. His smile was easy, but there wa

ng," he said, his v

ent. "Thanks," she replied, trying to mas

and motioned for her to

unspoken words. Kate glanced at him from the corner of her eye, wondering what was on his mind. She was half-t

the kind of place she had expected, a bustling, flashy spot where you'd expect a billionaire to dine. Instead, it was unde

hue over the room. As Austin pulled out her chair and sat across from her, Kate could feel the

nk orders and left them alone,

his voice steady. "About needing time to figure things out. I want you t

igued. "What exactly are we

r anything casual. I'm not the type of man who does things halfway." He paused, and when he spoke again, his vo

al. Something she hadn't expected. It made her question

te," Austin continued. "I just want to sho

pressing down on her. She could feel her heart racing,

ed to say, all the things she had promised herself she would never feel again,

o steady her breath. "I'm not sure

nd understanding. "I know. But I

sn't about rushing. It was about something deeper, something slower. She

in weeks, she allowed h