It was after eleven at night.
Half-asleep, Stella Sterling received an international call from Roman Rhodes.
Seeing his name on the screen, she answered, her voice soft and drowsy. "Are you just finishing up? Why didn't you start a video call?"
The man's low voice sounded especially magnetic in the quiet night. "Did I wake you?"
"Not deeply." Stella hugged her comforter and sat up. "Do you want to video call?"
Roman Rhodes heard the RUSTLING sound and didn't have the heart to trouble her. "If you're sleepy, don't force it. We can talk tomorrow when you wake up."
Stella lay back down, murmuring with her eyes closed, "There's an update on the social media post. Today..."
But her voice trailed off, and before she could finish, she'd drifted back to sleep.
The sound of the young woman's long, even breaths filled his ear.
Roman Rhodes's lips curled into a silent smile. He didn't make a sound to disturb her, just listened for a while before hanging up and dialing Miles.
...
