“It’s a drink, darling, not a marriage proposal.” His tone was teasing, but I couldn’t help my reaction.

I practically deflated, and he noticed.

Without a word, he straddled the vacant stool, ordered two waters and sat beside me in silence. It was weird, unwarranted and strangely welcome.

As minutes ticked by, tension began to build—until I cracked.

“My divorce came through today,” I blurted in one breath.

I didn’t even know why I said it.

“And how does that make you feel?”

“I… I don’t know?”

For unknown reasons, I found myself in such a safe space with the stranger that I suddenly wanted to tell him everything. He had no connection to my previous life. No relation to anyone I knew. The knowledge was starkly refreshing, so I couldn’t help it when I unloaded on him. All my worries, regrets and troubles. He listened, took it like a champ, then returned my melancholy with his own.

We continued to sip our water, openly sharing our experiences. I learnt he was a lifelong bachelor as the only woman he’d ever loved married his best friend. He’d never shared his feelings with either of them, and regretted not making his move when he had the chance many years before. To that day, he remained close friends with them both, willing to push through the constant torture to keep them in his life.

We were a depressing pair, to say the least, but his presence was comforting. For the first time since I’d left Acacia Falls, I didn’t feel broken.

I was grateful. And with that overwhelming sensation came a single tear that managed to escape down my cheek. He caught it with his thumb, his fingers skirting forward to cup my face.

Unintentionally, our positions had shifted, and we were fully turned towards each other. My legs were in between his parted thighs as his intimidating form leaned closer.

Tingles riddled my skin from each minute brush of contact as a simmering heat gathered at my centre.

“I have a proposition,” he said, grey eyes serious and smouldering. Damn it!

I nodded, not trusting my own voice.

“One night—to forget all the pain, to ignore our past grievances. No names, no ages, no identifying factors. Tomorrow, I leave and fly back to my country, never to return. What I’m offering is one night of extraordinary, beautiful pleasure shared between two strangers. Will you say yes?”

His words shifted over my flesh like a soft caress, pulling me in with irresistible temptation and the promise of being free—if only for a little while.

“Yes.”

I brought him back to my apartment, and as soon as we entered, he kicked the door shut and shoved me up against it.

The move was domineering and all the way sexy—which was exacerbated when he wrapped a hand around my throat then slammed his lips to mine.