Chapter 297
The restaurant noise faded to static. Her lungs suddenly forgot how work properly.
Back in R Country,” he continued, words measured but unstoppable watching you rebuild your life from scratch, raising those ide while becoming one of the best doctors around… I fell for everything about you.
Warmth spread through her chest genuine affection, appreciation, but not the flufter the knew should be there. Not the spark thed felt on a beach under stars with someone else’s hand brushing hers.
The silence stretched until a waiter swooped in with food heither of them remembered ordering.
“Go ahead,” Matthew nodded at her plate. “Before it gets cold.*
Irene stared at the artfully arranged dish, hunger completely gone. r throat felt tight, words jamming up behind a wall of
indecision.
“Matthew…” she finally managed. “I’m touched, really. But I haven’t been thinking about relationships. With anyone.”
The lie burned her tongue.
Pain flickered in his eyes before disappearing beneath a careful smile. “No pressure. I just wanted you to know.”
He took a deliberate bite, then set his fork down again. “But I hope you’ll at least consider what we could be. We already know we work well together.“.
The unspoken comparison hung heavy in the air–unlike Adam, who’d only recently entered her life but somehow felt like he’d always been there.
“The kids adore you,” he added, the hint of pleading making her chest ache.
“Matthew-
“I know, I know.” He raised his hands in surrender. “Let’s just eat. But promise you’ll think about it?”
The rest of dinner crawled by in stilted small talk and painful pauses By the time they left, Irene felt completely drained.
Walking home alone, she replayed his words in her mind. Matthew was everything she should want–kind, brilliant, stable. He’d been her rock during the darkest days in R Country, when she was struggling with three babies and a new career.
So why couldn’t her heart cooperate?
A sudden image flashed in her mind–Adam’s face in the glow of island sunset, the gentle pressure of his fingers against hers, the way his eyes crinkled when her kids made him laugh.
Her steps faltered as realization hit. Somewhere between therapy sessions and stolen moments, something had shifted. Something terrifying had taken root when she wasn’t looking.
Well, shit.
The triplets had spotted it long before she did. Their relentless matchmaking suddenly made perfect sense.
Her house glowed softly as she approached, the sound of quiet voices drawing her inside. Joseph and Adam sat at the chess table, Hocked in silent battle.
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Chapter 297
Checkmate in three, Joseph Mirmured, studying the board with narrowed eyes,
Adam looked up as she entered, Instantly alert to her presence. Everything okay?”
Fine, she answered too quickly, avoiding his gaze.
His eyes flicked to her purse, catching the fancy napkin peeking out the restaurant & logo clearly visible. Something flashed across his face, there and gone in an instant. His finger tapped once against his armrest, the movement so slight she nearly missed it.
“Long day?” he asked, voice carefully neutral.
“The usual. She dropped het bag, suddenly hyperaware of him watching her.
Joseph glanced between them and closed the chess box with a decisive click. “Think that’s enough for tonight.”
“You don’t have to go,” Irene protested weakly.
“It’s late,” Joseph shrugged, gathering his coat. “And these old bones need rest.”
As the door closed behind him, Irene stood frozen, terrified by the clarity of her feelings for Adam. He was her patient. Her kids “uncle.” Silver City’s most powerful CEO. Everything she’d sworn to avoid in her already complicated life.
Yet when she finally risked looking at him–really looking–and caught the intensity burning behind his careful expression, she knew it was already too late.
Her heart had made its choice without bothering to consult her first.
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