Ste snapped back to reality and turned to look at the man beside her.


    "It''s nothing. I just don''t see that very often, so I looked a little longer than usual.”


    The garden path was paved with charming cobblestones-beautiful, but a nightmare for anyone in heels. Each step felt unsteady, and Ste wasn''t sure if the path was to me or if she''d simply let her mind wander.


    Suddenly, her foot slipped. She teetered, about to fall.


    Joshua was quick-his hand shot out, steadying her before she could hit the ground. Even so, her ankle twisted awkwardly, and pain shot through her.


    She winced, letting out a soft hiss of pain, but before she could catch her breath, Joshua scooped her up into his arms as if she weighed nothing at all.


    Ste blinked in surprise, about to protest, but Joshua had already carried her over to a nearby gazebo. He set her gently on a bench, then knelt down and slipped off her high heel.


    His long, pale fingers glimmered in the glow of themplight as he lifted her foot and examined her ankle, where a faint flush of red had already begun to bloom. He pressed carefully along her bones, his brow furrowed in concentration.


    "It''s just a mild sprain—no fractures," he said, finally looking up.


    Ste stared at him, at the seriousness in his expression, at the way he focused on her injury, and felt a strange flutter of difort in her chest. She''d never experienced this sensation before.


    She instinctively pulled her foot back, slipping it from his palm.


    Joshua was about to check her ankle again, but when he saw how she withdrew —so distant and guarded his eyes darkened ever so slightly. He didn''t insist, though.


    "Your ankle''s a little scraped," he said. "You need to treat it right away, or it could get infected."


    Ste nodded. “Let''s just head back, then."


    She reached for her heel, ready to slip it on, but Joshua stopped her.


    "You can''t wear heels right now."


    She started to argue, but then noticed the heel had snapped clean off during her stumble. Even if she wanted to keep wearing them, it was impossible.


    Ste was speechless. There went that n.


    Joshua noticed, too. His dark eyes narrowed slightly.


    "I''ll carry you back."


    "No way." Ste shook her head, her refusal immediate.


    Joshua looked at her steadily. “Your concert''s soon. If you hurt your foot now, it''ll be a real problem."


    He was right, of course, but the thought of him carrying her all way back left her feeling


    and, somehow, oddly Re


    After a moment''s hesitation, she said, "How about this-I''ll wait here, and you can fetch me another pair of shoes."


    Joshua nced around at the quiet garden and shook his head. "No, it''s not safe for you to be out here alone."


    "This is the garden behind the


    reception," she countered softly. "Security''s tight. No one


    unauthorized can get in, and there''s a guard not far from here. If


    anything happens, I can always call you."


    Her voice gentled, coaxing him. "Go on—it''ll be quicker if you hurry."


    Under her gentle persistence, Joshua finally relented and left.


    He found a


    Shair of shoes in her size


    was about to leave the


    vake paused and grabbed a


    t from a nearby rack.


    Carrying the bag with her shoes, Joshua strode back, opting for a shortcut


    through a narrow side path to save time.


    He hadn''t gone far when he heard something unusual.


    "Help! Somebody, please help me!" A woman''s voice, frightened—and strangely familiar.


    Then came an oily, desperate male voice, following close behind.


    "Miss Lerman, I''ve liked you for such a long time... just give me a chance, I promise I''ll treat you right."