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I knew Marcus had been at her store earlier, lingering like a damn shadow that refused to let her move on.
If Aden, Shaw’s security specialist, hadn’t intervened, I dreaded what Marcus might have done.
It was hard not to think about the fury I’d felt, my hands balling into fists as I hurried to her store.
And seeing her now—smiling, happy, strong—was both a relief and a reminder.
Marcus was a threat that I knew would need to be dealt with sooner rather than later.
I shook the thought away, though, forcing myself to focus on her instead of letting my protective instincts derail the evening.
She deserved a night that was solely about her.
“Are you alright?” Her voice broke through my thoughts, her face searching mine. “You seem a little distant tonight.”
I smiled, slipping my arm around her waist to pull her close.
“Sorry, I was just thinking about a business proposal. But don’t worry—it’s only you on my mind tonight,” I told her.
She laughed, that light, musical sound I was beginning to crave.
It was amazing, the way she could draw me out of my own head so easily, make me forget the weight of everything else.
We found our way to a quieter corner of the hall where I could stand close to her without feeling the eyes of her friends on us.
Just as I was about to say something, she took a breath, the look in her eyes softening.
“It means a lot that you came tonight. I know you just came from a long meeting,” she said.
“Tori,” I said, my tone serious as I met her gaze. “Coming here and spending time with you is always worth it.”
Her smile faltered for a second, and a flicker of uncertainty danced across her expression, as if she didn’t quite know how to respond.
I could see the faint hint of vulnerability in her eyes, and my chest tightened.
I reached for her hand, feeling her fingers slip into mine, soft and warm.
We spent the rest of the evening talking, laughing, and sharing stories of her early days in Oakridge.
Each story she told revealed a bit more about her journey, her resilience, her determination.
I could see why she was so admired here, why her friends looked at her with respect.
As the evening wound down, I offered to walk her home.
She hesitated for a moment before nodding, a small smile curving her lips as she thanked the host.
Once outside, we walked in comfortable silence.
The cool night air was refreshing, and I could hear the distant chirping of crickets, adding to the quiet intimacy of the moment.
We reached her apartment building, and I felt my heart pick up, even as I told myself not to rush things.
Tonight had gone perfectly, and I didn’t want to spoil it by pushing her to move faster than she was ready.
She turned to me, the faint glow from the porch light casting a soft sheen over her features.
I could see the uncertainty in her eyes, the wariness that told me she was weighing her next move.