Eleanor stared, surprised to find Tyler.
Soaked in sweat, breathing hard, tie crooked clearly a man who'd sprinted straight over.
"Why are you even here? I didn't invite you"
Her tone landed wrong, and Tyler's face flashed with irritation.
"Didn't have to be invited to show up. And I didn't come empty-handed, either"
He thrust a paper bag at her.
Eleanor had assumed it was a standard opening-day gift the kind meant to signal prosperity. Like the gold pixiu that had come jointly from Caleb and Isabelle.
Instead, the bag held a dress.
A light blue lace shirtdress, soft and airy, straight from Valentino's new summer line.
Not the kind of gift someone gave a stranger's business launch. Personal, unmistakably.
Reading her confusion, Tyler cleared his throat and mumbled, lower, "Mine c
