The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Stella 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 Stella wasn't sure if the path was to blame 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.

Stella 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 the lamplight 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.

Stella stared at him, at the seriousness in his expression, at the way he focused on her injury, and felt a strange flutter of discomfort 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.

little scraped," he said. "You need to treat it right away, or it could get

“Let's just head back,

to slip it on, but

can't wear

heel had snapped clean off during her stumble.

There went that

His dark eyes narrowed

"I'll carry you back."

Stella shook her head,

If you hurt your foot now, it'll

course, but the thought of him

and, somehow, oddly Re

hesitation, she said, "How about this-I'll wait here, and

garden and shook his head.

the garden behind

softly. "Security's

a

swnove

can

him. "Go on—it'll be