Chapter 45: Treat.
The lounge was quieter than usual, a soft hum of pop music floating through the air as dim, golden lighting bathed the place in a warm glow. Cielle stepped inside, the scent of aged whiskey and citrusy cologne lingering in the air. The place was half-empty, a few scattered patrons nursing their drinks in hushed conversations. The usual nightlife energy was absent, replaced by a calm stillness of the afternoon.
She liked it.
Her eyes swept the room, searching. It didn’t take long to find him.
Darling stood behind the bar, polishing a glass, his sharp features slightly relaxed for once. He wasn’t caught up in the usual flurry of orders or throwing sly remarks at demanding customers. The sight of him in his crisp, button-down black shirt with the sleeves rolled up made
