Chapter 67

"Of course," I reply, trying to maintain my composure.

She downs the rest of her wine, a rosy flush spreading across her cheeks. "That was delicious. It's been ages since I've enjoyed a glass like that – you should know, I'm a bit of a lightweight."

"Marvelous," I say sarcastically, and she grins – then, unexpectedly, she reaches up and boops me on the nose. Her playfulness catches me off guard, but I smile in response.

Setting her empty glass on a nearby table, she slips off her shoes and places them on the stone steps leading to the garden. "What are you doing?" I

"I want to feel the grass beneath my feet," she replies, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Life is all about getting a little dirty, don't you think?"

As she runs barefoot through the garden, laughter bubbling from her lips, I watch her with a mixture of admiration and desire. There's something about her – not just her body, but her mind and spirit – that captivates me. In her presence, my rigid, work-driven life seems to l