Chapter 3

The cold air of the marina bit at my cheeks, a sharp contrast to the heavy, humid heat building in the core of my body. We had escaped the crush of the crowd, the roar of the bass from the main stage, and the blinding strobe lights that turned the night into a disorienting kaleidoscope. Instead, we had found a quiet alcove near the dock, where the smell of brine and damp wood mingled with the lingering scent of my vanilla perfume. The Christmas boat parade was in full swing, a procession of yachts adorned with twinkling fairy lights and strings of white bulbs drifting slowly past the pier, but none of it mattered. None of it existed. There was only him. He stood before me, tall and broad-shouldered, wearing a tailored suit that had seen the dance floor earlier. Now, the jacket was draped over one arm, his white shirt sleeves rolled up to reveal the sturdy forearms that had held me so firmly against the wall just moments before. I was shivering, not just from the chill of the evening, but from the aftershocks of our last encounter. My legs felt like water, weak and trembling beneath my