Cillian stepped in front of her, his tone softening. "You look like you need a drink. Want to talk about... things?"
For a moment, Jade was tempted to say yes, but Cillian's evasive, playful answer earlier had left her feeling disappointed.
Trying to pull her hand free, she replied, "You do not have to." She offered him a small smile that failed to reach her eyes. "Thank you for asking, but I do not want to trouble you."
She freed her wrist and made a move toward her door, but Cillian stepped back into her path.
"It is no trouble, Jade. I want to," Cillian replied, and when Jade met his gaze, she saw complete sincerity in his eyes.
For a moment, Jade found herself lost in his gaze, and before she could stop herself, the question that had been weighing on her slipped out.
"Why? Why would you go to such lengths for me? It's not as though we owe each other any of this."
Her own question caught both Cillian and herself off guard.
