Lila slammed the front door harder than she meant to. The week had been hell — clients changing deadlines, her assistant calling in sick, and that endless traffic on the way home. She kicked off her heels and dropped her bag on the floor, already feeling the tension knotting her shoulders.
Marcus was in the living room, reading a book under the soft lamp light. He looked up when she walked in, his calm brown eyes taking her in. He didn’t say anything at first. He just closed the book and set it aside.
“Rough day?” he asked quietly.
“You have no idea,” she muttered, rubbing her temples. “I need a drink or a long bath or something. Everything is just… too much.”
Marcus stood up. He was taller than her, broad-shouldered, with that steady presence that always made her feel safe even when s
