5 – Line

med subdued, as if the house itself had absorbed the tension from the previous night. Debbie's stomach churned

op, coffee steaming beside him. He looked up briefly, dark eyes meet

d, voice low, almost c

tote tightly. "I... got what I

usual smirk absen

spoken words and the lingering fear from last night. Every glance, every accidental touch carried weight. Debbie

s becoming incre

. The spark was instantaneous, and Debbie felt a jolt of awareness that w

," she w

teasing but with a serious underton

nsist on boundaries, but her resolve wavered. The t

a rhythm that made the air in the study thick and electric. Every brush of a hand, every shared look seemed magnifi

startled them. Debbie's stomach lurched, remembe

moving toward the door

reveal a courier holding a large, plain envelope. He took

t the envelope.

It showed Debbie and Greg from last night, sitting on the veranda, manuscripts sp

s... this is illegal. T

g to manipulate us. Whoever it is knows exac

t ignore this. They could ruin everythi

dle it. But first, we n

, every paragraph revised, was overshadowed by the external threat. The slow-burn chemistry betwee

once more, seeking the brief reprieve of the cool night air. The ga

ebbie... you've been carrying a lot. I can see

don't want to drag you into my

inches. "You're already involved. And whether you like i

intain the boundary, but the intensity of his gaze,

ound hers again, fingers intertwining with a protective grip. Deb

device on the veranda table before disappearing into the night. Debbie's eyes widened as she picked

ending? Think again. One wrong mov

nd tightened around hers, his jaw set. "They're escala

nal threats were colliding into a dangerous mix. She realized that their professi

"Debbie... whatever happens, we face it toge

ive energy he exuded. But the fear in her chest was real, a r

o move, every sound made her heart race. And yet, amidst the fea

acing - stood among the scattered pages, holding a note addressed specifically to Debbie. She froze, heart pounding. Greg stepped forward, shieldi