A moment later, his grip loosened, his fingers brushing her arm reluctantly as he let her go. She hurried away, eager to escape the weight of his gaze, and rummaged through the cabinet until she found a box of tissues. Her hands shook as she tore a few sheets free, passing some to him.
They both cleaned up in silence. The awkwardness hung between them.
Neither spoke. The boundary had shattered, the line blurred until it disappeared completely. Ivy's heart sank and soared at once, realizing she had stepped into dangerous territory.
When she was done cleaning up, Ivy hesitated, fingers trembling as they hovered over the clasp of her purse. A nervous breath left her lips, and she reached into her bag. From its depths, she pulled out a folded wad of bills—the money Kelvin had handed her earlier, crisp and heavy in her palm.
She extended it toward Winn, her eyes wide, her face flushed.
