Page 69 of Temporary Vows

Moments later, the wrought iron gates to my home come into view, swinging open as we approach. The road narrows into a canopy of oaks, and I guide the car up the long drive.

Moonlight slices through the branches in sharp lines of silver. It feels heavier tonight. Or maybe that’s just me. I have too much on my mind.

Levi’s about to say something when we both spot a woman sitting on the top step of my porch.

Not just any woman. Elodie.

With her legs drawn beneath her, hair loose around her shoulders, and hands folded in her lap, she looks like the damsel again. And it looks like she’s been there for a while.

“Well, look at that,” Levi says with a smile in his voice.

I don’t look at him. My eyes are on her, and she can see me, too.

My foot eases off the gas, and the car slows. I park the car and watch her for a moment, wondering which way this will go.

I cut the engine and sense Levi building toward one of his insufferable observations. I refuse to let him have it.

"Get out," I say.

He frowns, mouth open. "Dorian?—"

"Take the car." I toss the keys to him. They land in his lap on top of the notebook. "Go home, Levi."

“I should at least say hi.”

“That won’t be necessary. Go home.Now.”

“Fine. Do give my regards.” The smile he gives me suggests he’s satisfied for now, but he no longer has my attention.

I open the door and step out into the cold. Behind me, Levi starts up the car, and the headlights sweep across the front of the house as he reverses down the drive. I wait until he’s on his way before I move toward the woman sitting on my steps.

The damp night air stirs around me as I get closer.

She stands, the motion so quick it’s obvious she's been rehearsing this moment, maybe running through it in her head while she sat here waiting for me.

One dainty hand smooths the front of her coat before she allows both to fall to her sides.

She looks better than she did yesterday. The bruising and swelling have gone down substantially, but she still looks like she’s barely hanging on. And I can tell she’s overly nervous.

“Hi.” A small smile drifts across her lips. When she steps forward, the porch light catches the hollow of her throat.

"You're here." I stop and look her up and down.

She pushes her hair back, and her eyes become more open. "I wanted to talk to you. About the offer.”

Hmmm. She has my number. If she were going to turn me down, she would have done so over the phone. She wouldn’t be here to talk.

"Why didn’t you wait inside the house?" One of my staff would have let her in.

She lifts her shoulders into a gentle shrug. “I preferred to stay out here and wait. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything you had planned with Levi.” She waves a hand toward the drive.

“No. What did you want to talk about?”

“Just a few things. Of course, that’s if the offer is still on the table.” As she holds my gaze, a sliver of desperation peeks through, sparking my hopes.

“It is.” I keep my tone measured.

The tension in her expression loosens. “Oh. Good.”