Maya remained seated at the kitchen table long after breakfast had ended.
Not because she was still hungry.
Simply because she was content.
The late-morning sunlight spilled through the enormous windows, bathing the kitchen in warm gold. The scent of fresh coffee still lingered faintly in the air while the distant sound of fountains drifted through the open windows.
And across from her, Rege stood at the sink.
Washing dishes.
The sight felt strangely unreal.
The powerful, intimidating man who could silence boardrooms with a single glance stood with his sleeves rolled slightly, rinsing plates as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
Maya rested her chin on her palm.
Watching.
Smiling.
A soft, dreamy smile she couldn't seem to stop.
Rege noticed.
Of course he noticed.
He noticed everything about her.
Every smile.
Every glance.
Every shift in her breathing.
When he looked over his shoulder and caught her staring again, one corner of his mouth lifted.
Maya's smile immediately widened.
Neither of them said anything.
Words weren't necessary.
The quiet felt comfortable.
Warm.
Safe.
Like something they had somehow built together without realizing it.
By the time they finally left the kitchen, Maya felt lighter than she had in weeks.
Maybe months.
Perhaps even longer.
The walk back to Rege's room passed in comfortable silence.
Their hands brushed occasionally.
Neither moved away.
The moment they stepped inside the bedroom, however, the atmosphere shifted slightly.
Not awkward.
Just softer.
More private.
The sunlight now filled the room completely, illuminating the cream walls and the massive windows overlooking the estate grounds.
Before Maya could fully step away—
Rege caught her hand gently.
She turned.
And he kissed her.
A simple kiss.
Soft.
Brief.
Almost innocent.
Yet somehow it still managed to send warmth flooding through her entire body.
By the time he pulled away, Maya's cheeks had already turned pink.
And Rege looked entirely too pleased about it.
"I need to get ready," she mumbled.
His eyes softened.
"Mm."
Maya escaped toward the bathroom before her embarrassment completely consumed her.
The moment the door closed behind her, she pressed her hand lightly against her lips.
Then immediately groaned.
Because she was smiling again.
Ridiculously.
Hopelessly.
Smiling.
—
When Maya emerged nearly thirty minutes later, the room felt different.
Calmer.
Brighter somehow.
Or perhaps she simply felt brighter.
The yellow dress fit perfectly.
The straps rested delicately against her shoulders while the fitted bodice hugged her figure before flaring gently from her waist.
The fabric moved beautifully when she walked.
Soft.
Feminine.
Effortless.
Her long dirty-blonde hair cascaded down her back in loose waves that shimmered beneath the sunlight.
For a moment she simply stood there.
Then realized Rege was staring.
Again.
Not subtly.
Not discreetly.
Staring.
Maya immediately became self-conscious.
"Stop."
Rege didn't.
If anything, his gaze intensified.
The look in his eyes made her heartbeat stumble.
Not because it felt inappropriate.
Because it felt genuine.
As though he truly couldn't stop looking.
As though he genuinely thought she was beautiful.
The realization made her stomach flutter.
She sat beside him on the edge of the bed.
Her smile turning shy.
Smaller.
More vulnerable.
"You should shower."
The words came out quieter than intended.
She nudged him lightly with her elbow.
Rege blinked.
As though he'd completely forgotten how conversations worked.
Then a soft chuckle escaped him.
The smile he gave her afterward was enough to make her look away.
Dangerous man.
Absolutely dangerous.
Rege disappeared into the bathroom moments later.
Leaving Maya alone with her thoughts.
Which was perhaps the worst possible thing.
Because now there was nobody distracting her from the fact that she couldn't stop smiling.
No matter how hard she tried.
Every memory from the previous day seemed determined to replay itself.
The rooftop.
The flowers.
The stars.
The kiss.
Falling asleep together.
Waking up together.
The way he'd looked at her this morning.
The way he'd called her beautiful.
Her cheeks warmed all over again.
Hopeless.
Completely hopeless.
—
The bathroom door eventually opened.
And Maya immediately regretted looking up.
Because Rege Hastings should genuinely be illegal.
Grey slacks sat low against his waist.
A plain white T-shirt stretched across his chest and shoulders, fitting him far too well.
The fabric clung to every hard line of muscle as though specifically designed to torment her.
His hair remained slightly damp.
A few strands falling carelessly across his forehead.
The usual sharpness in his features had softened.
Perhaps because he'd slept.
Perhaps because he was happy.
Perhaps because of her.
Whatever the reason, he looked unfairly handsome.
Maya forgot how to blink.
Forgot how breathing worked.
Forgot every coherent thought she'd ever possessed.
Her gaze traveled upward.
Then stopped.
Then stayed there.
Entirely too long.
Rege noticed immediately.
A slow smirk appeared.
There it is.
Maya rolled her eyes instantly.
Mostly because she'd been caught.
Again.
Unfortunately her smile ruined the effect entirely.
Rege seemed amused by her suffering.
As always.
He crossed the room and sat beside her.
Close.
Close enough for their shoulders to touch.
Close enough that Maya could smell his cologne.
Close enough to make her pulse accelerate for no reason whatsoever.
His hand found hers naturally.
Without thought.
Without hesitation.
As though it belonged there.
As though holding her hand had already become instinct.
Then he reached up and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
The movement was simple.
Tender.
Dangerously tender.
Maya's breath caught.
Her eyes lifted.
Meeting his.
And suddenly Rege moved closer.
Not dramatically.
Not quickly.
Just enough.
The distance between them disappeared little by little.
Maya's heartbeat immediately became problematic.
Very problematic.
His gaze dropped briefly toward her lips.
Then returned to her eyes.
And Maya realized exactly where this was going.
Which was why she stood up so fast she nearly startled herself.
"We need to go."
Rege paused.
The faintest trace of disappointment flickered through his eyes.
Maya pretended not to notice.
Because noticing would only make everything worse.
"It'll be lunch soon."
She pointed toward the door.
Trying desperately to sound logical.
"Your family might already think I disappeared this morning."
A pause.
Then—
"I don't want to seem disrespectful again."
Rege stared at her for several seconds.
Then finally sighed.
A very long-suffering sigh.
The kind usually reserved for people who had ruined perfectly good plans.
Maya smiled triumphantly.
"Come on."
She extended her hand toward him.
Immediately.
Without hesitation.
Rege took it.
Like there had never been any possibility he wouldn't.
Maya's smile widened.
Something about that simple gesture warmed her chest.
The certainty of it.
The ease.
The way he always reached back.
Before they left the room, Maya suddenly rose onto her tiptoes.
And kissed his cheek.
Quickly.
Softly.
Before she could lose her nerve.
Then she immediately pulled away.
Her lips gone before Rege could properly react.
For a second he simply stood there.
Blinking.
Maya tried very hard not to laugh.
The look on his face was priceless.
Then slowly—
A smile appeared.
Small.
Soft.
Entirely hers.
His eyes remained fixed on her.
And Maya felt her heart stumble all over again.
Neither spoke.
Neither needed to.
Still holding hands, they left the room together.
Still holding hands, they left the room together.
The door clicked softly shut behind them.
Maya glanced down at their joined hands for a brief moment.
Strange.
There had been a time when even standing beside Rege felt intimidating.
A time when his silence unsettled her.
When his presence felt impossible to understand.
Yet now—
His hand around hers felt natural.
Familiar.
Like something she'd been reaching for long before she ever realized it.
Rege seemed to sense the shift in her thoughts.
His thumb brushed softly across the back of her hand.
A small gesture.
Barely noticeable.
Yet it grounded her immediately.
Maya looked up.
Their eyes met.
And suddenly she found herself smiling again.
"What?"
Rege's voice was quiet.
Maya shook her head.
"Nothing."
Her smile only grew.
"I'm just happy."
For a moment, something vulnerable flickered through Rege's expression.
Gone almost immediately.
But Maya saw it.
And somehow his hand tightened around hers.
Just slightly.
As though hearing those words mattered more than he wanted her to know.
Together, they stepped into the hallway.
Neither of them noticed the smile that refused to leave their faces.