the soft strains of jazz playing in the background. But for Evie, the noise faded into a d

f the world melting away until it was just the two of them. She wasn't sure how it had happened one minute, she'd been trying to

a faint smirk playing on his lips, "what's a

eyebrow. "A w

billionaires," he said, his tone teasin

er head. "I could ask

k widening. "But I already

aning forward slightl

n unreadable. "It went. Bu

ander Knight, she reminded herself. A man who probably had a different woman on his arm every

ted," he said after a mo

ect?" she asked,

said, his voice low. "

his tone, something raw and vulnerable, that made her want to reach out

said. "Let's g

th Alexander Knight was a bad idea, a very bad idea. But the way he was looking

er to her feet, his touch sending

the trees, casting a soft glow over the lush greenery and the sleek, modern furniture. Th

h wonder. "This is... incredible," she

ex said, his hands in his pockets as h

said, turning to face

ze lingering on h

e between them heavy with unspoken words. Then

ed with tension. Evie could feel the warmth of his body, the faint s

id after a moment, his voi

n sighed. "What do

he said. "

shaking her head. "T

n," he said, his

ways wanted to travel. To see the world, you

ot?" h

y. "Time. Life always s

sion thoughtful. "Wha

guess. Fear of the un

s voice tinged with something she could

depth of his words. "You sound lik

ed, then s

impse of the man beneath the billionaire CEO. It was fl

afraid of?" sh

ing control," he said after a moment. "L

d raw. Evie felt a lump form in her throat, her

e," she said, her voice

her face. "You're not what I expected, Evie,"

her heart pounding in her che

g a breaking point. Then, slowly, Alex reached out, cupping her face in his ha

and husky. "I don't know what it is

as she leaned into his touch. "Alex,

n he ki

omething more. Evie's hands found their way to his chest, clutching the fabr

It was reckless, impulsive, and completely unlike her. But in that moment, none of

nthouse, casting a golden glow over the room. Evie stirred, her body aching

, his face relaxed and peaceful. For a moment, she allowed herself to bask i

man who did forever. Quietly, she slipped out of bed, careful not to wake

at him, sleeping so peacefully, an

e was disoriented, the events of the night before feeling like a dream. But then he saw

wasn't used to feeling this way, and it unsettled him. B