into the cool night air. The strange connection of the evening had nearly

ian's deep voice called. With his hands in his pockets

be," she uttered, her voice beginning to show signs of fa

nd spoke in a smooth, almost playful voice. The hotel has a bar. We can unw

, and it was now building and simmering beneath the surface. She thought about leaving, but the truth

ou're not the type to be easily swept aw

wasn't the type of woman to give in easily, something felt differ

hake the feeling that the moment was the start of something

re. Away from the bustle of the gala, Isabella and Sebastian took seats in a quiet booth i

ality, exposing aspects of themselves that neither had anticipated disclosing. Isabella talked about her goals, the compromises she had to

y his eyes softened when he spoke. That felt importan

chemistry between them quickly transformed from casual to electric. The glint

g in a little without thinking. "You're

ps curled into that seductiv

more quickly, she remarked,

shing her ear. He whispered, "Let's stop acting like the situation is

y separated. It was no longer b

oving in unison and their bodies were responding to instinct rather than reason, they didn't talk much. The night

hem cared. Everything else vanished from the connection because it was so time-sensitive and capt

When she opened her eyes, she briefly believed that the whole night had been a dream. But she soon r

d note, "I'm not the relationship typ

and disappointment settled in her chest, and he

ened the night before, but the more she considered it, the more doubtful she grew. What had it

n her phone buzzed. Her best frien

ton was the subject of rumors I h

not your usual amiable businessman. He was known for his reputation as a billionaire, and she

Sebastian leaving the gala, both of them appearing to have just revealed a secret. She s

Isabella's stomach turn. She had en

he post's comments. She was just another name on a long list of women who had fal

Although she usually didn't mind being in the spotlight, this moment fe

gnawing confusion. Their relationship had been more than a passing fancy. Somet

the one. Was there any chanc