Mikael kissed her hand. He didn't take his eyes off her face. Kiera had waited the entire day for this moment. She looked into his eyes and felt her heart swell with love for him. Love and adoration among other things. She had her coat tucked under her left arm and for a second, she was vividly aware of immediate her surroundings. How his lips felt against her skin, how the soft material of the coat tickled her inner arm, how the wind ruffled her hair, and how the air tasted when she sucked it in through her teeth. His scent invaded her nostrils. It made her feel dizzy. "Kiera," he said softly. "You don't know how long I've waited for this moment. You look absolutely stunning.""Thank you," she said, looking down at her outfit as if she didn't know what she was wearing when she bought the dress online specifically for the special occasion. "You look great, too.""Thank you," he said. "Ready?" Kiera nodded eagerly and he opened the door for her. He was driving another car today. It

Kiera had once fallen into a public swimming pool when she was six years old. The feeling was indescribable. She was young and helpless and everything about the moment terrified her although she got over the fear eventually when she grew up and learned how to swim. She was sinking lower and lower and her flailing limbs were of no assistance to her. Oxygen was leaving her lungs quickly and she soon ran out of air. There hadn't been time to cry for help. She fell in and she kept falling. She looked up and she saw how blue everything was from beneath the surface. She saw the legs of the other swimmers and she even saw toys at the bottom of the pool. It was one toy—a cheap red plastic car. She didn't know why she noticed it. She just did. She was rescued by a stranger, someone who had seen her fall. She wasn't sure how long she was in the pool before the person reached her, but to her, it felt like she had been under the water for ages. Water hadn't gotten in her lungs, thankfully, and

Kiera approached the gate slowly. She ran out without even bothering to think about what she was wearing, which were old pajamas that were not in the slightest flattering. She had slippers on her feet and her hair wasn't combed or anything. It was too late to turn back around, though. Mikael was looking at her in a way she couldn't describe. His eyes were hooded and he looked like he hadn't slept a wink last night. It made her feel immediately guilty but she stopped herself before she went down another spiral of self-hatred. She didn't know what he was doing at her gate or what he wanted to say to her. It was risky to assume that he was coming to apologize. She tapped the button next to the intercom and the gate opened. She was sure that Simone would wonder where she had gone but she couldn't wait for her to return. Her bedroom was on the other side of the house. Mikael stood up straight once they were standing face to face. He glanced at her clothes and her face burned. She said

Kiera returned home and discovered that Simone was awake and in the kitchen. She had just started preparing dinner when she walked into the kitchen carrying the cheesecake. Simone wiped her wet hands on a kitchen towel and asked, "What's this?" "I bought a cheesecake for dessert. It's strawberry, your favorite."A smile lit up her face. "I'll put it in the fridge, then. I'm sure it's going to be delicious. I'm making a vegetable curry with flatbread.""I'll make the bread," Kiera announced and got started with the preparations. As she worked, she realized that Celia was on her mind. She wished it weren't the case but she couldn't deny it. The encounter disturbed her more than she thought it would and it was strange to think that a stranger could have such an effect on her. She hadn't thought of the men who attacked her that night as much as she was thinking about Celia. She thought of telling Simone the story and getting her opinion but something stopped her. She felt it was silly.

Kiera finished by applying lipstick. Mikael would arrive at any moment and she wanted to be downstairs to greet him. Leaving him alone with Simone and Kane would be awkward and the last thing she needed was to make him feel uncomfortable. The mauve lipstick complimented her skin tone well. She loved how confident she looked and felt. Things were finally happening. It was all becoming real.Sharing Mikael with her family meant more to her than anyone would ever guess. It was making him official, in a sense, even if it was only in her heart. He was coming to her home and he'd sit at her table. It meant a big deal to her. And sure, there was the incident that left the atmosphere tense but it was something that Mikael would easily overlook. But she couldn't say that the mood was altogether sour; she and Simone were on speaking terms. Kiera was glad when Simone approached her with the menu with a smile on her face. They discussed the three-course meal they'd serve and Kiera agreed that