uld seem to hold its breath for her to really take in that furtive glance and word exchange

screen that unsettled him. The subject line read: "A Blast from Your Past." Attached was a photograph of h

ra know a

romance had ended years before he ever met Clara, but the breakup had been messy, splashed

cked lightly on the door. "Sir, you have a meeting with M

a couple. Clara had been nervous about stepping into his world, but he'd promised her he'd protect her.

mly at Ethan's assistant, who showed her in to his private meeting room. There, insi

gs down on the table. "What is going o

out some other way. Yet his motives weren't as pure as his action-thou shalt not h

s arm. "Ethan, I can tell something's bothering you. You

uscles, he pulled her into an embrace

to his side. "I'll take that

finish. Ava Parker rolled across the screen. Clara'

nd grabbed the phone, silencing it. "She's

arms crossing. "And she'

Ava and I dated years ago. She's been out of my life f

ed, her voice ti

romise, Clara, whatever this is, it's in

f doubt had been planted. "Okay," she sai

ng the fabric of the elegant emerald gown Ethan had insisted on getting her. She felt out of plac

his breath hitched.

offered arm. "You don't

the moment as heads turned to take them in. Ethan kept Clara close, his hand

erting the conversations so she wouldn't be uncomfortable. However, the more the night wore on, th

ed, but she woul

s Ava made her grand entrance. She was every inch the vision Clara wasn't-tall, po

she approached him. "Ethan B

fingers tightening on his g

ith a tone dripping with feigned innocence. "Though I coul

ing, it's not going to work," E

, her eyes gleaming. "Lovely girl. I wo

urned, her expression guarded as she

g at the tension in Clara's vo

extending a hand. "It's nice to meet y

ers, her eyes switching between

her eyes. "Oh, I'm sure Ethan will fill y

han reached for Clara's hand ag

r voice shaking. "I thought we w

the time she walks away, Ethan realizes that

r it took, he would prove to Clara that their love was worth fight

va, Ethan's so-called "old friend"-had stirred something unsettling within her. Clara had been willin

ity lay spread out before her, its lights twinkling like stars. Ordinarily

stepped out onto the balcony, his face a mixture of

is world of yours is full of surprises I'm not prepared for? Or that you

n't tell you about Ava because she doesn't matter to me anymore. What we had-it was long o

n. But believe your words to me, well, it has nothing to do with that eith

reach her hands. "It's right there. You need to know ab

face. For all his wealth and power, Ethan stood before

a fraction. "I don't care about your past, Ethan.

ust in my future-you are my future, Clara. I've

ey stood there in silence for a moment, feeling the weight of their emotion

th me,"

cocking her h

nfidence coming b

sounds faded into the distance as they followed a trail lined with softly glowing lan

elp," he admitted. "Bu

tting: a blanket spread out under an old oak, filled with fairy lights. A bottle of win

g in her throat as she loo

rst time we really talked. The café, your sketchpad, the way you laughed at my coffee spill. This is whe

rt swelling. "You always know how

e. His thumb brushed her cheek, and he leaned in, his lips

his hand trailing to the small of her back as if anchoring her to him. Clara's fing

hed breathlessly, her forehead resting aga

had a lot of pra

a sketched the scene around them, and Ethan tried his hand at drawing her, resulting in a hila

he teased, wiping aw

g as he pulled her close. "And I don't care if I can

moment, she realized that no matter what challenges came their