MAYA

“But I didn’t think you’d actually show up here,” I whispered, leaning closer toward him so no one else could hear. “It’s a bit… intimate, don’t you think?”

Silas didn’t look at me right away. His attention stayed on the rack as if my question barely interrupted his thoughts. “Nothing about us is private today, Maya. That’s the entire point.”

He reached out, his fingers brushing the silk in my hand. He didn't take it; he just felt the fabric briefly, as if judging it. Then, his gaze locked onto mine. “And if I’m paying,” he added smoothly, “I should at least make sure the quality meets my standards.”...