Nina ran before she even realized she had moved.
The moment she saw him stepping through the courtyard, every ounce of restraint she'd clung to throughout the day shattered. Her feet barely seemed to touch the ground as she rushed toward him.
She threw herself into his arms.
Rodrigo caught her effortlessly, his hands circling her waist as the force of her leap lifted her onto the tips of her toes. Instinctively, he pulled her against him.
For one precious heartbeat, everything else disappeared. The curse. The doubts he'd had. Everything. Gone. All that remained was the warmth of the woman in his arms.
His hold tightened unconsciously as he inhaled the familiar scent of her hair, drawing in a quiet breath that always managed to calm him.
"Nina, what are you doing outside in the cold?"
Her fingers clutched the back of his coat as though she'd been afraid he wouldn't come.
"What took you so long?" she mumbled against his chest, a tiny wobble in her voice.
