His pleased expression made my knees go weak. “I figured it was, because it’s mine too.”

“What’s the chair for?”

He didn’t take his gaze off me as he made his steady approach. He seemed to gain authority as he closed in. “That’s not important right now. Everything fits, right?”

My throat welled shut as he stood over me, his attention trapping me in place. I nodded slowly, transfixed by how dazzling his eyes were. Flecks of caramel mixed with rich mocha.

“Good. Turn around,” he commanded. “And hold still.”

I TURNED IN PLACE on my quivering legs, eager to follow Carl’s orders without knowing what they were about. There...