His deep, magnetic voice resonated behind her. “Ms. Scott.”

Elise’s heart stuttered.

She hadn’t noticed his approach, and a flicker of apprehension kept her from turning.

Her pulse was racing, a frantic drumbeat against her ribs.

She took a deliberate breath, willing her heart to slow, before finally facing him.

He stood there, bathed in the twilight, a vision in his tailored tuxedo. A massive bouquet of crimson roses rested in his arms, the scene so perfect it felt surreal.

Her carefully regained composure shattered instantly. Her heart hammered wildly against her chest.

“My apologies for the wait.” His smile was devastating, a work of art that stole the air from her lungs.

Elise dropped her gaze, a faint smile touching her lips. “So, this entire day was for my surprise? I thought you were in business meetings.”

“Who says this isn’t business?” William chuckled, the sound low and intimate. “Haven’t I been diligently negotiating an acquisition?”

She let out a soft, incredulous laugh. An acquisition? Was that how he saw her?

He gently took her hand, his fingers lacing with hers, and guided her to the elegantly set table.

The tropical night on Ayro Island was cool, a gentle sea breeze caressing their skin as they sat. It was utterly relaxing.

As they dined, Elise marveled at this side of him. She had never pegged William Levine as a man capable of such profound romance.

She had assumed their trip would conclude with a simple, straightforward departure. This… this was a storybook ending.

A memory she knew would be etched into her soul forever. A night where her heartbeat refused to settle.

Then, the poignant notes of a violin drifted from the shore.

Elise watched, mesmerized, as William set down his cutlery. He moved around the table, his posture elegant, and extended his hand to her. “A dance, Ms. Scott?”

Her breath hitched. Slowly, she placed her palm in his.

They began to sway, a slow, intimate movement synced to the violin’s melody. Their breaths mingled, each soft exhale audible in the space between them.

“Has this trip met your expectations, Ms. Scott?” William’s voice broke the delicate, charged silence.

“It has,” she whispered, nodding slightly.

“But it hasn’t met mine,” he stated bluntly.

Her brow furrowed. “What? Is there something else you wanted to do?” They had experienced so much already. She felt she had given everything, played her part completely.

Then he leaned close, his warm breath ghosting her ear as he whispered, “There’s still you.”

Elise fell silent. That single word rendered her speechless, stirring a deep, quiet longing.

Their gentle swaying ceased. Her fingers tightened their grip on the fabric of his tuxedo jacket.

His gaze was intense, tracing the lines of her face—flawless even without makeup. It drifted over her features before finally settling, with heavy intent, on her parted, scarlet lips.

“May I, Ms. Scott?” he asked, his voice a husky murmur.

Nervousness gripped her. Could she? Would she instinctively push him away?

And yet…

She rose onto her toes, closing the small distance between them. Her soft lips met his in a tentative, decisive kiss.

Both their hearts skipped a beat in unison. Elise closed her eyes, surrendering to the moment.

Her tongue tentatively sought entry, a shy exploration that met his.

She wanted this. She needed to try. Perhaps William held the key to helping her forget the painful past she was desperate to leave behind.

Or perhaps he could be the one to help her finally make peace with its complicated, messy weight.