As Xavier approached, Joy grinned. "Mr. Vaughn, do you y golf?"


    Xavier nodded, a hint of confidence in his smile. "I do."


    “Perfect! Teach Eleanor, would you? She hasn''t managed to hit a single ball so far," Joy teased.


    Eleanor felt her cheeks flush. "Joy!" She turned to Xavier in surprise. "What brings you here?"


    Xavier''s eyes crinkled as he smiled at her. "Just happened to be in the area, thought I''d unwind a little."


    Joy bit back augh—she didn''t buy that excuse for a second. Still, his timing couldn''t have been better.


    Xavier nced at Eleanor''s awkward grip on the club. "Never yed before?"


    Eleanor shook her head. "First time."


    Xavier looked genuinely surprised. Ian was a skilled golfer; he would''ve thought Eleanor had spent enough time with her husband over the past six years to pick up the sport.


    Just then, across the green, Vanessa swung her club with practiced ease. Her ball arced gracefully through the air-clearly, she wasn''t new to this.


    Xavier pulled his gaze away from Vanessa and turned back to Eleanor. "Would you mind if I showed you?"


    "Of course not, Mr. Vaughn! Please, teach her-she''s been wishing someone would!" Joy jumped in before Eleanor could answer.


    Eleanor shot her friend a yful re. Joy just grinned, stepping back. "All yours, Mr. Vaughn."


    Xavier looked to Eleanor, noticing her embarrassment. She hadn''t agreed, but she wasn''t exactly refusing, either.


    He stepped closer. "Let me show you the proper stance."


    Eleanor nodded. Xavier moved behind her, his arms reaching around to rest his hands over hers on the club. "Rx your wrists, like this—"


    Eleanor froze. Even though their bodies weren''t touching, this was the closest she''d ever been to Xavier.


    "Shift your weight forward," he instructed, his voice low and earnest by her ear- like he really was just focusing on teaching her.


    Not far away,n watched, his gaze darkening as he focused on the way Xavier''s hands ovepped Eleanor''s.


    Vanessa leaned on her club, a mocking glint in her eyes as she nced at Eleanor. What was Eleanor ying at? unting herself with Xavier for everyone to see? Who was this performance for?


    She quickly turned to check onn, only to find him gripping his club with white knuckles. He swung hard, the club digging into the turf and tearing up a chunk of grass as the ball shot away.


    Vanessa blinked. Ian was usually so precise-what happened to his technique?


    "Ian, are you alright?" she called out, concern in her voice.


    "Let''s move to another spot," he muttered suddenly, striding straight toward Eleanor.


    "Hey!n!" Vanessa hurried after him.


    Henry caught up and grabbed her wrist. "Vanessa, don''t go over there."


    She looked down at his hand, shrugged him off, and picked up her pace to follown.


    Henry frowned, sighing as he trailed after her.


    Eleanor frowned and looked away, annoyed. She''d just made a decent shot and was eager to try again.


    "Xavier, does this look right?" she asked, determined to focus on her lesson.