ow. The city lights flickered below like little stars, their shine d

d too loud in his ears, even though the bar was busy. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy the crowd-he had learned years ago to

n his own. Whatever it was, it gnawed at him, and he hated it, then, she wa

could light up the whole room without even trying.Her dress was simple-a deep green that almost matched the color of her eyes. But the way it f

e couldn't stop himself from watching her as she greeted people with that eas

ving him that innocent, sisterly smile. But tonight? Tonight was different. There was something in the wa

m disappeared.For a second, there was nothing but the space between

ding in his chest. It made no sense. She was Evan's sister. He knew her as a kid-she wa

oice easy, like they'd just run into each o

see that his brain had frozen. "Sophia, right? Looki

"You're full of it, Steele. I'm

place. He suddenly wished he hadn't worn the suit, the one that made him look like a robot-always to

Caleb stood there, stuck in place, realizing that he didn't

blowing off steam?" he finally aske

shed up some work stuff. Figured I'd unwind with a drink." She pause

out awkward. "Good, becau

there was no judgment in he

I can pay my own way," she teas

ked at him after she said that. It

credit for. She wasn't just Evan's little sister anymore. She was someone who could stand o

e'd told himself he'd just say hello to Sophia, then get back to his

through the room again, clear and bright, making Caleb's chest tighten in a

d those green eyes met his-no judgment, just a flicker of recognition. The kind of look that

s voice a little roug

amused. "Well, well. Loo

acing. "Wouldn't want to miss out on the free drinks,"

t made everything else seem unimportant. And for

Pull up a chair. No one bites around here-ex

. It wasn't just the way she spoke-it was the way she made him feel. Like

ked about Evan's latest project, her latest design project, how she loved explori

this for years. It was the first time in a long ti

was just another friendly conversation, she looked

soft but sharp. "You have all this money, all these peopl

chest. The words hit hard

he muttered, but

he didn't look away, didn't back down. There was no sympathy, no pit

d simply. "And it's

play ever had. He didn't have a response, so he didn't say anything. She didn

ou'll figure i

urned back to the crowd,