It was the weekend, and knowing Aria Sterling was coming back, Landon Hawthorne waited for her at Azurewave Manor.
The moment he saw her, he couldn't stop himself from pulling her into his arms.
He held her tightly, full of unease.
Aria couldn't help but frown. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
"Nothing, I just missed you," Landon said. "Don't you know? After a short time apart, couples hug to soothe their longing."
"Oh." Aria understood. "I thought something bad had happened and you got scared."
Her words made Landon unable to hold back a laugh.
"What do you think could possibly scare me?"
"I don't know." Aria shook her head. "But you were at my mother's burial yesterday. You saw me then, didn't you? Why do you still need a hug to soothe your longing?"
Landon was at a complete loss for how to explain.
'Matters of the heart were strange, after all. He had never imagined a woman would have him so completely captivated.'
