Alina had barely stepped into the hallway when she nearly stumbled—Dante was standing right there, leaning against the wall as if he had been waiting for her the whole time. The dim light brushed across his face, softening the tiredness in his eyes, and the moment he saw her, that exhaustion melted into a warm, gentle smile that made her heart flutter helplessly.
He straightened a little.
"Are they asleep?" he asked in a quiet whisper, as if afraid his voice might drift through the door and wake the babies.
Alina nodded with a small smile of her own. "Fast asleep."
They began walking toward her room together, the silence between them steady and comforting. His hand brushed hers once, lightly, and though neither reached for the other, the warmth lingered long enough to warm her cheeks.
"I want to talk to you about something," he said softly when they reached her door.
She nodded quickly, stepping aside to let him in.
