Sean leaned back in the leather seat of his convertible, the wind whipping past him as he cruised down Lakeshore Drive. The Chicago skyline glittered like a constellation stretched along the lake, and for once, he felt completely at ease. He could still see Courtney's smile, the way her hair had caught the fading light as she laughed at something he'd said. It hadn't been much, just a harmless story about college pranks, but the way she'd listened—really listened—had felt rare.
She wasn't like the women he usually met at events, all surface and shine, eager to talk about themselves or angle for attention. Courtney had a quiet presence, an elegance she didn't seem aware of, and that only made her more attractive. And she hadn't recoiled when Harold praised her, hadn't been intimidated by the weight of his approval. She had stood there, shoulders straight, gaze steady.
