Emma
"It means I love you."
The words hung in the snowy air between us, more magical than any spell. My heart performed a complicated gymnastics routine while my mind raced. This wasn't supposed to happen. This was supposed to be business. A contract. Nothing more.
But Dominic's eyes held mine with an intensity that made my knees weak. Snowflakes caught in his dark hair, and all I could think about was running my fingers through it again.
"You..." My voice came out small, uncertain. The ghost of past heartbreaks whispered warnings. "You can't."
"Why not?" His thumb traced my cheek, leaving trails of fire despite the cold. Each gentle touch undid another layer of my carefully constructed defenses.
"Because..." I struggled to remember all the reasons this was impossible. "This isn't re
