golden lines across the wooden floors, and the crisp mountain air lingered with a peaceful chill. For a moment, she didn't mov

e kitchen, where she found Adrien barefoot, sleeves

" she aske

ebrows raised

ned against the doorway. "Let me guess-you picked this u

seen before. "Something like that. My grandfather used to say t

ng him move around the small

ard the tiny wooden table beside

warm, the syrup infused with somethi

is side of you," she m

in his hands. "That's the thing about building wal

ay to her mouth. "You

without flinchin

. Just honest. That

very time I've tried to let someone i

em," he sai

t that doesn't mean y

ble, his fingers brushing over hers. "You don't have to trust me all

hands and whispered, "That's th

them, and the river sparkled like glass beneath the afternoon sun. Adrien showed her where he used to fish as a boy, the ol

sona, stripped of the titles and expectations. Just a man with childhood stories

a strange, quiet joy. Adrien lit a fire while Rose changed into one of his

her and looked at him in the

r, confused. "Wh

s, actresses, women who move

I can exhale. Like I don't have to perform. You see things, Rose. Not ju

pressing at the edges of h

rand of hair from her face. "

of a man used to getting what he wanted, but with the reverenc

purpose. Rose melted into him, her heart thudding wildly against her ribs, ev

ess and flushed, she whispered against

her skin like she might disappear. "Someth

ead against his. "Pr

yth

s... you'll let m

weight of her words. "It won't

firelight, two broken hearts began stitching themselves together-thre

hing