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Copyright © 2026 by
Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland

There was a
beat of silence. For some reason I continued to stand there. Rafe looked at me
for a few more seconds, like he was deciding something. Then he lifted his
chin, gesturing toward the hallway. “You just got back from a run?”

I nodded.
“First one since I left Montana.”

“How was it?”

“Definitely
different. There are so many people out on the streets.”

He smiled.
“There’s an art to dodging the slow walkers and people glued to their phone.
You’ll pick it up.”

“I’m guessing
I’ll also learn to stop apologizing to people I cut around. I think I said ‘I’m
sorry’ a hundred times on an hour-long run.”

“Dead
giveaway you’re from out of town.”

I laughed.
“That and the fact that I’m wearing purple. What is it with everyone wearing
black in New York? Especially women. They’re all in black pants, black
leggings, black tops, black coats, black purses…”

His eyes
flicked over me again—this time I definitely didn’t imagine it. “I like that
you wear color.”

My stomach
did a small, traitorous flip. “Thanks.”

Another pause
stretched between us, this one charged in a way I couldn’t quite explain. Then
Rafe walked to the table and grabbed his shirt, pulling it on. It made me
wonder if he’d caught himself looking at me and felt wrong—exactly the way
watching him felt for me.

“I, uh, I’m
sorry Calder and I didn’t make it to your girlfriend’s show the other day.”

Rafe smiled.
“Not my girlfriend and not a big deal.”

“How was it?”

“Good. I like
plays better than musicals, but it was fun watching someone I know become
someone else onstage.”

Maybe that’s
why it sometimes felt like he was watching me—because being around him turned me
into someone else. Or maybe this was the real me. I wasn’t sure who the hell I
was anymore.

“Any good
plans for the week?” he asked. “You start your new job soon, right?”

I nodded.
“The Monday after next. I’m planning to hit a different museum each day as I
count down.”

“Nice. I love
museums. When I was a kid, I was obsessed with dinosaurs. I used to beg my
babysitter to take me to the Museum of Natural History. I’ve probably been
there fifty times over the years. It’s still one of my top two favorites.”

“What’s the
other one?”

“It’s called
the Noguchi.”

“I’ve never
heard of it.”

He nodded.
“It’s in Queens, so it’s not as popular as the museums in Manhattan that the
tourists hit. It has a lot of sculptures, but the best part is the outdoor
garden. It’s one of the most peaceful places in the five boroughs.”

“I’ll have to
check it out.”

“It’s a good
place to think. Or not think.”

I laughed. “I
might need both of those this week.”

He held my
gaze for a second, like he understood more than I’d said out loud. “Yeah…you
should go.”

I shifted my
weight, suddenly aware again that I was still lingering in his doorway. “Thanks
for the recommendation.”

“Anytime.”

Another
pause. Why wasn’t I leaving?

Rafe smiled.
“I was just going to make some breakfast. Want to join me?”

I thumbed
toward the hall. “I should probably get upstairs and shower.”

“You sure?
Your boyfriend texted and told me to keep an eye on you while he’s away. I
think that might include making sure you don’t start any more cooking fires.”

“I didn’t
start—”

Rafe laughed.
“I’m teasing. Go take your shower. I’ll have breakfast ready when you’re done.
Consider it payback for helping my aunt.”

I hesitated.
I should’ve said no, even though everything in me wanted to say yes. But I
didn’t. “Okay. I’ll be quick.”

“No rush.”

I forced
myself to start up the stairs.

It’s just
breakfast.

No big
deal.

Calm down
already.

Heck,
Calder told
him to look out for me.

Still, I took
a little more time in the shower than usual and let my mind wander to places it
shouldn’t. When I got out, I wrapped a towel around myself and started digging
through my drawers for something to wear. One drawer, then the next, and
eventually moving onto the closet.

I blew out a
breath.

I was being
ridiculous. Who cares what I wear? I was going downstairs to eat eggs,
not attend a black-tie event.

And yet…

I sprayed on
a little perfume. Took a few extra minutes fixing my hair. Put on eyeliner when
I normally just brushed on a bit of mascara. By the time I got dressed, it felt
like I’d crossed an invisible line I hadn’t meant to step over.

Or maybe I
had.

I shook the
thought away. It’s just freaking breakfast. I grabbed my phone, took one
more glance in the mirror, and headed back downstairs.