"Of course," Evie thought, realizing that was the crux of it.
But she couldn't muster a retort in time; he left the room before she could voice her thoughts. Her brows knitted together as a sudden ache took hold in her chest. His stinging words had shattered something within her that she hadn't even acknowledged before.
Evie knew this was merely an arrangement between them, yet his blatant declaration after everything that had transpired in Paris unsettled her in a way she couldn't clearly define.
Evie was the kind of woman who fell quickly, especially after being given attention, and Paris had been a catalyst.
In the moments they shared—alone, with no prying eyes—he turned her birthday into a memorable occasion, igniting feelings she struggled to control.
No one looked at her the way he did; no one saw her as he did.
