Page 32 of Ten Day Affair

“I’m off Thursday night. I have early OR Friday, but I could do dinner Thursday if that works for you.”

Something shifts in his expression. It's only a flicker of heat, but I can feel the shift.

“Thursday, then,” he says, stepping back. He gives me space, but it doesn’t feel like distance. It feels like discipline.

"I'm looking forward to it."

“Goodnight, Dr. Taylor.”

The way he says my name sends a shiver down my spine.

I take the first step up. The weight of everything already hanging between us lands on my shoulders.

I don’t want to go inside. I don’t want the moment to end.

A glass of wine, a little more conversation. God, even just sitting beside him in that quiet would be enough.

But that's silly, and I'm being ridiculous.

My legs are overcooked pasta. I'm not sure if it's from the run or Cole. Probably both.

Definitely both.

The motion sensors detect my movement of kicking off my shoes, illuminating the back porch lights to my beachside door. I stand there a moment, savoring the wood still warm from the day's sun beneath my bare feet.

"Salt ruins good leather," my dad's voice echoes in my head.

The ocean breeze carries Cole's scent, still clinging to me from where our arms brushed. I inhale deeply, hating myself a little for wanting more of it.

Inside, I flip on the lights and toss my AirPods in the ceramic bowl by the door. My phone is heavy in my pocket, tugging at my shorts. I reach in and pull it out.

I scroll to Arden’s name, and she answers on the second ring. “You alive?”

“Barely. I just ran into Cole,” I say, twisting the cap off.

A beat of silence. “Ran into?”

“Literally. I was finishing up my run, and as I came by our houses, he spotted me. He came out to the beach and did the cool-down with me."

“Total coincidence, right?”

“I didn’t plan it,” I add quickly. “I mean, maybe I adjusted my timing a little after I saw him from afar at the hospital today. But still.”

"How long is he here?"

"Until the end of next week."

“Was he shirtless? Tell me he was shirtless.”

“Vuori joggers. Fitted t-shirt. Just the right amount of scruff.” I sigh. “He’s annoyingly hot.”

“Still all mysterious and untouchable?”

I sink onto a stool at the island. “Not tonight. He asked about my mom. About the wing. He seemed sincere and thoughtful.”

“Huh,” she says. “So the billionaire has a soul after all.”

“He says he understands promises. And he listened. I don’t know, Arden. Maybe he could be an ally.”