My breath hitched at the reason he had come, though I wasn’t sure I truly hated the way it made me feel. However, I drew in a slow breath, schooled my face, and positioned my pen ready to take his order.

“What would you like?” I asked, keeping my voice steady so I didn’t give anything away, and his eyes racked through me slowly, as if I were the menu.

My skin bristled, and I was unsure what to feel when he stared at me like I was the only thing that mattered, but thank the goddess for the notepad in my hands, and I clutched it hard as I...