One year, one love by Aurora Miller

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

his

Doris could clearly see every single one of Lewis’s long, thick fashes, ach one casting a faint shadow wine is shuurge

cheekbones

She had just stepped out of the shower. Her faint floral fragrance lingered in the air, drifting toward Lewis and wrapping itself around him like an invisible thread

Lewis suddenly froze, the hand holding the cotton swab suspended mid–air His lashes fluttered slightly as he glanced unge at her, his gaze meeting hers.

Doris, caught off guard by his penetrating look, felt her composure crumble. Her cheeks, already flushed, deepened in color until they seemed to burn.

Realizing something, Lewis abruptly drew back, breaking the moment. “Can you manage the rest yourself? I still need to wash

my glass,” he said, his tone casual but slightly stilted.

“Y–yes, I can,” Doris stammered, hurriedly taking the cotton swab from his hand. “You go ahead. I’ll head to my room now Good night”

Hastily gathering the ice pack, ointment, and cotton swab, she turned and all but fled the room.

Lewis watched her retreating figure, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

Doris made it a few steps down the hall before stopping in her tracks. She frowned slightly, biting her lip as though steeling herself for something. Finally, she turned back and asked hesitantly, “W–which room should I sleep in?”

Lewis’s response was immediate, calm. “First door on the left.”

“Thank you,” she murmured, nodding quickly before disappearing into the room.

Later that night, Doris lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Exhaustion weighed heavy on her, but sleep cluded her. She tossed and turned, unable to settle.

Maybe it was because the bed was unfamiliar, or perhaps the whirlwind of worries that had been plaguing her lately was finally catching up to her.

Frustrated, she kicked at the blanket a couple of times, then pulled it over her head in a huff. Just count sheep,‘ she thought to herself firmly. She lost track somewhere around the hundredth sheep, her consciousness finally drifting into slumber.

When Doris opened her eyes again, sunlight was already streaming through the curtains. A glance at the clock revealed it was well past 7 a.m., and she bolted out of bed, quickly washing up before heading to the kitchen.

Opening the refrigerator, she found it almost entirely barren–just a few bottles of water, two eggs, and a lone tomato. She stared at the sparse contents, her plans to make Lewis breakfast as a small way of thanking him crumbling in an instant,

With a sigh, she decided her only option was to grab something from the shops outside the complex.

Just as she reached for the door handle, it turned on its own and swung inward.

Standing in the doorway was Lewis, dressed in a lightweight gray tracksuit that hugged his athletic frame. The fabric stretched over his broad shoulders and tapered down to his lean, powerful legs, every inch exuding masculine strength.

His skin glistened faintly, a sheen of sweat evidence of his morning workout. Each bead of sweat seemed to emphasize his discipline and maturity, catching the morning light as they rolled over his defined jawline.

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Chapter 7

steal another glance, her eyes lingering for just a moment longer

gaze sweeping over her. She was wearing a thin knit cardigan over her pajamas, the casual

admitted. “I’m gonna go out and

inside, brushing past her as he headed toward the kitchen.

his movements. He opened the fridge, took out a bottle of water, and twisted

head back, he took a long drink. The muscles in his throat shifted with each swallow,

before disappearing beneath the collar of his shirt. The sheer physicality of him was impossible to ignore–effortlessly commanding, utterly magnetic, and seemingly oblivious to the effect

Kitchen and stood hesitantly by the island counter. “Mr. Hartman,

casual thud. “I always eat breakfast

at the hotel where I work. They provide employee breakfasts. To save money for her family, she’d always opted to

seeming amused. “Convenient.” He appreciated the efficiency of it all. With that, it seemed their breakfast arrangements would remain separate.

touch of humor, her smile widening

the bottle’s smooth surface as his gaze

replied

for a moment, his tone turning more direct. “Feeling better too,

hesitated but then

slightly higher. “So, what happened

at the reminder, a pang of sadness rippling through her. Memories of her father’s harsh words and being forced out of her home surged to the surface, but she steadied

reconcile with my ex–boyfriend, she admitted quietly, her voice steady but tinged with bitterness. I refused, and he

eyes. The timing struck him as too coincidental–marrying him one day and being kicked out the next. It was enough to make him

as she responded with calm dignity. “Mr. Hartman, thank you for taking me in for the night. I won’t

even and composed. There’s no such thing as

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Chapter 7

bent slightly, opening a drawer in the

bit

apartment. If you ever

he hase

enga

jur aand by and

second, his mind raring with thoughs. I

wondered

here most of

yesterday, he wouldst for

where do you live?” Doris asked, the question slipping out before she could why

my parents, Lewis answered after a

of the estates within the exclusive Suell Hill community in Hamperone. The pending cords and opulent design were the epitome of wealth and

a convenient purchase for

Doris murmured, lowering her

don’t stay here? Lewis thought, the Beeting question surfacing before he shock

it off

the subject, he asked, “Do you need help moving your thing?”

make things worse. I’ll wait until he cools down. Besides, I don’t

her father further. The last thing she wanted was to drag Lewis into the chaos and face another barrage of anger

press the matter further. He simply went back to his room to shower and change