Eleanor''s breath caught. “I should be the one apologizing."


    "No, it''s my fault." Mansfield Ellington was certain she had nothing to apologize


    for.


    "Mr. Ellington-"


    "Please, just call me Mansfield." He gently corrected her.


    He''d told her before to use his first name, but she must have been too busy to remember.


    Eleanor pressed her lips together, her gaze meeting his.


    Just then, the car door mmed shut with a thunderous bang.


    Mansfield nced toward the man getting out, his brows drawing together. He leaned in and asked Eleanor quietly, "Do you want me to leave?"


    She looked atn, her expression turning icy. "No need. He and I are strangers now."


    "She''s with a friend of mine," Eleanor replied, barely ncing his way.


    "Mr. Goodwin." Mansfield greeted him politely.


    "Thene byter," Eleanor said, lifting her chin. "I need to set up a regr schedule for your visits, anyway."


    "It''s absolutely necessary," Eleanor replied, her voice firm and unwavering.


    At that moment, Joslyn opened the front door, and Princess, their golden retriever, bounded out, tail wagging as she circled Eleanor andn.


    "Joslyn, would you show our guest inside and offer him some tea?" Eleanor said.


    A quick flicker of amusement crossed Mansfield''s eyes. "Alright, I''ll wait for you inside."


    He stepped into the house, and Joslyn, after a brief nce atn, followed to make tea for Mansfield.


    "Oh? Am I not allowed to be happy after the divorce?" Eleanor shot back, her tone edged with sarcasm.


    Eleanor was done with the conversation. "Come by tomorrow or the day after. I have guests to see to now."


    A gust of wind swept through, rustling the branches overhead. A single leaf drifted down,nding on Eleanor''s hair.


    Eleanor cut him off coldly. "What does it matter to you?"


    He turned and strode toward his Maybach, his posture ramrod straight. As he mmed the car door, the sound startled a couple out for a walk nearby.


    The man, annoyed, said, "What, did he get that door for free?"


    His girlfriend stared after the car, a little awestruck. "That''s a million-dor car-he can afford to m it."


    Eleanor slipped through the gate into the yard. Princess came wagging over, but when she reached Mansfield''s side, her ears drooped and she went on alert, as if she could sense the strength in this new man.