"I thought I heard you already have a fiancé waiting for you," he teased, his voice low, laced with amusement.
Nicole stiffened slightly, and for a brief moment, guilt flickered across her pretty features.
She looked away, as if the mention of Ian's name had pulled her out of whatever spell Ross had cast over her.
But then, as quickly as it came, the hesitation vanished.
"He's not here," she murmured, almost as if she were reassuring herself. Her fingers tightened slightly against Ross's skin, her voice barely above a whisper. "Let's not talk about him."
Ross chuckled, his eyes dark with something unreadable. He reached up, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face, his touch light yet deliberate.
"Perhaps you're wrong," he mused, his lips curving into a knowing smile.
Nicole frowned slightly, confused, until Ross leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear.
"Perhaps he's here all along," he murmured.
