MAILAH DREW IN A BREATH, and for a moment, the world felt simple.
"You weren't exaggerating," she said softly. "It really does look like fire in glass."
Grayson stood beside her, close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from him despite the morning chill. "I don't exaggerate. I just occasionally understate for dramatic effect."
She laughed, the sound bright and unexpected in the quiet grove. "That's the same thing."
"It's absolutely not," he replied with mock offense.
They stood together watching the light transform the vineyard, and Mailah found herself acutely aware of every point where they almost touched—his shoulder nearly brushing hers, his hand resting on the wooden fence post inches from where hers gripped the weathered wood.
"Grayson," she said after a long moment. "Why did you really bring us here?"
