I packed the last of my things just before dusk, folding the sundress Mara had bullied me into buying and tucking it neatly between sandals and sunscreen. We were leaving tonight to arrive early in the morning. I didn't recognize this version of myself—someone preparing for a beach honeymoon with a man she once planned to escape from.
But here I was.
The knock came—soft, deliberate.
"Come in," I called, adjusting the zipper on the suitcase.
Kieran stepped in, already changed into a black linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up, the collar open. He looked more relaxed than I'd ever seen him. It did something strange to my insides.
"You ready?" he asked, voice gentle.
"As I'll ever be," I said, stepping back and eyeing the suitcase like it might attack.
Kieran moved closer and picked it up like it weighed nothing. His gaze flicked over me once, lingering briefly on the gold chain Mara had fastened around my neck before we left the boutique.
"You look… beautiful."
