By Thursday, Ava had convinced herself to give Daniel a real chance. He was kind, thoughtful, the kind of man who deserved her time. More importantly, he was safe—everything Ethan Blackwell wasn’t.
So when Daniel invited her to dinner at a new Italian restaurant downtown, she said yes.
“You look amazing,” Daniel said when he picked her up. His smile was warm, genuine, and it steadied her nerves. She wore a sleek black dress, simple but elegant, with her hair pinned loosely at the nape of her neck.
Dinner was easy. They talked about music, travel, the quirks of working in tech versus corporate finance. Daniel had a way of making her laugh without trying too hard, and for once, Ava felt like she could breathe.
Until the air shifted.
She knew before she turned. The hairs on the back of h
