A year .
That's how long it had been since Paris, and the scent of fresh paint still lingered in the fitness center's office. Jay looked up from the ledger as Melissa entered, her presence still capable of quieting the storm in his veins.
"Another sold-out self-defense class," she said, leaning against the doorframe. "We might need to expand sooner than we thought."
Jay's lips curved. "Says the woman who said nobody would trust the Morretis ."
"That was before half of downtown decided they need to learn how to throw a punch." She moved closer, her fingers brushing his shoulder. "You're happy here."
It wasn't a question. He caught her hand. "I'm happy with you. This place… it's just walls without you in it."
Across countries , Victor Dane stood in Conrad's study, the silence between them thicker than the cigar smoke hanging in the air.
"The shipment's been delayed," Conrad said without looking up from his desk. "Weather in the channel."
