At that moment,n''s sharp business demeanor had faded away. The moonlight outlined his handsome profile, and his white hair added a unique, distinguished air.


    Just then, Eleanor Sutton heard the chatter of a few women behind her. One voice was particrly loud. "Wow! Is his hair dyed? A full head of white hair! So cool."


    "He can''t be a celebrity, can he? How is he so handsome?"


    The surrounding area was quiet, and the girls hadn''t lowered their voices at all, so their words reached both Eleanor''s andn''s ears.


    Eleanor turned to look at the man beside her. A faint smile yed onn''s lips; he was clearly enjoying thepliments.


    Strands of hair fell across his forehead, making him seem a few years younger, with a rxed and almostzy air about him.


    The more Eleanor looked at his white hair, the more she had to admit it was quite striking.


    Asn felt her gaze on him, he suddenly felt like a product being inspected and critiqued by a customer. A subtle knot of nervousness tightened within him.


    He wondered if, in her eyes, he still had the same charm.


    Just then, fireworks erupted in the distance, instantly capturing Eleanor''s attention. The man''s gaze followed hers, though a flicker of annoyance crossed his eyes.


    The brilliant bursts of color lit up the sky, reflecting in everyone''s eyes. Eleanor propped her chin on her hand, a smile on her lips as she watched the disy.


    The glow of the fireworks illuminated her elegant face. At only twenty-eight, she had a youthful, oval face, and her delicate makeup gave her an exquisite beauty in the night.


    His eyes swept over her neck. He swallowed hard, a flicker of raw desire crossing his features.


    Eleanor finally noticed his stare. She looked up and met his gentle, smiling eyes. She was slightly taken aback. "Don''t look at me. Look at the view."


    "I am,"n said, his eyes still locked on her, a smile tugging at his lips. "It''s beautiful."


    Clearly, in his eyes, Eleanor was the view-and an exceptionally beautiful one at that.


    Eleanor looked away, a little


    ufortable, and turned her


    nback to a new round of


    attention


    vel


    fireworks in the night sky. She


    figured some rich man was


    celebrating something for his


    woman the fireworks were being set


    off as if money was no object.


    Even with the spectacr disy in the distance, Eleanor couldn''t focus. The weight


    of the man''s gaze beside her was too intense, too distracting.


    "Let''s head back," Eleanor said. "We still have to pick up Evelyn."


    As Eleanor turned to leave, her heel suddenly got stuck in a crack between the


    wooden nks of the deck, and her body pitched forward uncontrobly.


    She let out a small cry of rm. In the next second, arge hand mped onto her arm, steadying her.


    Eleanor lifted her dress and tried to pull her heel free from the crack.


    "Let me."n suddenly knelt down, his hand wrapping around her ankle. With a bit of force, he freed the heel.


    Eleanor breathed a sigh of relief.


    Crouching down,n noticed that the


    wooden deck had many fatted


    nks. Anyone in high heels could


    easily get stuck again if they weren''t careful.


    It was lucky Eleanor had made it this far without incident.


    Ian helped her up. "There are a lot of rotted spots on this deck."


    Eleanor smoothed her hair. "I''ll be careful"


    Before she could finish,n bent down, slid one arm under her knees and the other around her back, and with a smooth motion scooped her up into his arms content