When Her "Death" Couldn't Break Him (Cecilia and Nathaniel)

Only then did Jocelyn's mind catch up with her racing body.

"No. No," she repeated, more to herself than to him.

He drew her closer until no light could slip between them. "I missed you so much," he murmured. "Did you think about me while I was gone?"

The question tangled her tongue. She had no idea what to say.

During the past month, they had shared only sporadic messages-routine hellos that felt like postcards from strangers.

"Um, I guess," she finally said after a breath's hesitation.

He reached for the switch. Soft light flooded the room, and he stared down at Jocelyn with an intensity that stole her next breath.

Yannick lowered his head, ready to claim another soft kiss, when Jocelyn suddenly slipped from the circle of his arms and ducked away as though the air had turned too hot to breathe.

"When did you get back? Have you eaten yet?" Jocelyn blurted, weaponizing small talk to cover the nervous beat of her heart.

The abrupt distance pricked him with disappointment, but Yannick smoothed the feeling away before it could fully form, masking it behind a calm, easy smile.

"I just got in a little while ago. Haven't had a bite. How about you?"

from work myself-no dinner yet. I'll cook something," she said, already escaping toward the kitchen like salvation

of them stood shoulder to shoulder

fumbled for vegetables and meat, while

to learn the

conducted with cautious distance, a formality that sometimes

urged, her lungs tightening at the thought of him lingering too

answered lightly, grin widening

the tap's running water and the thud of Jocelyn's knife against the cutting

last month? Most women would have grilled me six ways from Sunday by now." His tone held teasing, but

absence like a mystery to

then-what have you been up to these last thirty days?" Jocelyn asked, indulging the restless energy he

distance in her question, recognized she was asking for his sake rather than

friend and wound up in more danger than I bargained for -came close to losing my life, actually," he said in

in Jocelyn's hand paused mid-slice. She turned, eyes wide, the color draining from her cheeks. "You're not

nothing but genuine worry in her

do

resumed cutting, though her voice trembled

edges. "Why would meeting a friend

heard of