Page 57 of Fade With Me

I struggled to find my voice, the tightness in my chest making it hard to breathe. I just stared at him, his gesture hitting me harder than I expected. Finally, I whispered, my words cracking, “Thank you. Really. This…this is the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”

His face lit up with a smile, and he gave a subtle nod, silently saying, “You’re welcome.” His grin widened as he leaned in slightly, his energy contagious. “Try it on!”

I mirrored his enthusiasm, clasping my hands together and shifting from foot to foot, eager to move. “Okay!” I exclaimed, my voice bright, my body buzzing with the excitement he’d sparked in me.

He stepped out, giving me space and privacy. I dropped my towel and slipped into the dress. The fabric was impossibly soft against my skin, like slipping into a dream. I ran my hands along the sides, marveling at how it fit perfectly. Zeke clearly had a talent for sizing things up.

When I emerged from the closet, his eyes widened, taking in every detail of my transformation. “Wow…” His voice caught, thick with awe. “You…you look absolutely gorgeous.”

A flush spread across my face as I met his gaze, my heart fluttering from the sincerity of his words. “Thank you,” I murmured.

He didn’t look away, his expression lingering with a tenderness that made it hard to breathe. Then, suddenly, a spark of inspiration lit his eyes. He raised his hand and, with a slow, deliberate motion, dimmed the lights in the room. With a flick of his finger, soft, ambient music filled the air, a gentle melody that wrapped around us.

He sank into a low bow, one hand sweeping out in a fluid, almost theatrical motion. “May I have this dance, Your Highness?”

I returned the gesture with a graceful curtsy, my smile matching his. “Of course, kind sir.”

The moment our fingers intertwined, a spark of electricity shot through me, unexpected yet thrilling. Zeke placed his other palm gently on my lower back, and we swayed together, moving in perfect harmony, as though we had been dancing like this for a lifetime.

Suddenly, a thought hit me, and I laughed. “Can you believe I actually thought you were a hitman?” I shook my head, half amused, half embarrassed. “Like, an actual assassin for some shady mob.”

Zeke arched a brow, his face perfectly neutral. “No, I’m not intimidating at all,” he said, lifting his shoulders in a mock attempt at offense.

I rolled my eyes and gave him a once-over—he was, undeniably, very intimidating. And of course he knew it.

“It was the flashy clothes, the car, and the way Sal had it out for you. I honestly thought maybe he got in over his head and owed you money or something.”

His expression shifted, clearly entertained. “Sounds like the kind of trouble Sally would get into. Butme? A hitman?” He tilted his head, eyes wide in feigned disbelief. “Youreallythought that?”

I nodded, still trying to wrap my head around it. “Well, you’ve got this…mysterious vibe going on.”

He gave a small shrug, his lips curling into a smile that was part mischief, part charm. “I’ll take that as a compliment.” Playfulness crept back into his voice. “But seriously…you went into the woods with someone youthoughtwas a hitman? We need to work on your survival instincts.”

I looked down, the quiet intimacy of the moment settling between us.Zeke reached up and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

“I don’t know. I guess I just always felt safe with you,” I murmured, meeting his gaze.

Without thinking, I rested my head on his shoulder.

In that instant, a deep comfort settled over me, like I was finally returning to a place I hadn’t realized I’d been missing. The warmth of his body, the quiet weight of his hand on my hip, and the soft music wrapped around us like a cocoon.

Zeke’s voice, low and tender, brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. “I promise, when all this is over, I’ll take you to the perfect place to wear that dress.”

I smiled against his neck, contentment flooding through me. “Thisisperfect,” I whispered, barely audible over the music.

For a moment, it felt like time had stopped—just the two of us, suspended in something rare and fleeting, something that felt like peace.

twenty

Isnapped awake, sitting upright in bed, my heart pounding. Panic gripped me momentarily as I looked around, disoriented. But then my eyes adjusted to the familiar surroundings of Zeke’s guest room. I exhaled, releasing the tension in my chest, and sank back into the pillows.

This bed washeaven.I couldn’t remember the last time I’d slept so soundly. My gaze drifted down to the shirt I was wearing, Zeke’s shirt, and a smile tugged at my lips. It still carried his scent, a comforting reminder of thenight we shared.

I felt a wave of gratitude as I looked at my dress, now restored to perfection. Zeke’s magic had worked wonders, and there it was, hanging neatly in the closet, good as new.

A knock at the door broke my thoughts. “Come in,” I called.

Zeke walked in, his movements casual, as if he owned the place—though I guess he kinda did. He flopped down beside me on the bed with a playful bounce, leaning back against the headboard. Resting his hands behind his head, he flashed me a cheeky grin. “So, how’d you sleep?” he asked, his gaze briefly drifting over the wild mess of my curls before locking with mine.

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