Did I Startle You?

A brief flicker of joy warmed Alexander's heart.

It vanished instantly, replaced by a cold dread as he remembered.

Theodore Vance was returning to Crestwood.

His presence never brought anything good.

Only complications.

Only deliberate attempts to disrupt Alexander's carefully constructed peace.

This was why Alexander monitored Theodore's movements so closely.

Why he planned for every contingency.

His primary goal was always the same: to keep Evelyn safely out of the fray.

These dark thoughts clouded his mind.

His brow furrowed.

His expression grew stern and distant.

Evelyn noticed the change from her place in the pool.

He was lost in thought again.

Something was troubling him, something heavy.

She stopped swimming and pushed her wet hair back from her face.

Lately, Alexander was always at his desk.

He worked relentlessly.

When Evelyn returned from her design studio, she often found him still in the study.

Hours would pass without him seeming to notice.

If she didn't intervene, he would work straight through the night.

He would forget to sleep entirely.

A wave of concern washed over her.

She needed to pull him away, even for a moment.

Since he couldn't join her in the water...

A mischievous idea sparked in her mind.

She grinned, took a deep breath, and dove beneath the surface.

Alexander finally snapped out of his brooding.

He realized he hadn't seen Evelyn come up for air.

A knot of panic tightened in his chest.

"Evelyn!" he called out, wheeling himself closer to the pool's edge.

Silence.

He called her name again, louder this time.

His eyes scanned the still, undisturbed water.

A cold fear gripped him.

Had something happened?

Driven by sheer alarm, his hands gripped the arms of his wheelchair.

He tried to push himself up.

Splash!

Evelyn erupted from the water right beside him, laughing.

Alexander jolted back, his eyes wide with shock.

"Alexander! Did I startle you?" she teased, her face glowing with playful triumph.

Relief flooded through him so intensely it left him breathless. "You're alright."

"Of course I'm alright!" she said, blinking water from her lashes. "I'm an excellent swimmer. Nothing ever happens to me here."

She laughed again, a bright, clear sound. "I knew I could get a reaction from you! See? You're not as unshakable as you pretend to be."

Understanding dawned. She had staged this whole scene just to scare him.

His initial shock melted into amused exasperation.

He shook his head slowly. "You're incredibly childish."

His voice held a faint note of scolding, but his eyes were soft, full of undisguised affection.

Completely unrepentant, Evelyn splashed a wave of water directly at him. "So what if I am?"

The water hit his shirt and trousers, soaking them instantly.

Alexander looked down at his drenched clothes, then back at her.

His eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous purr. "Evelyn, are you sure you want to provoke me? Aren't you afraid of the consequences?"

Confident in her advantage, she grinned victoriously. "You can't even get in the water. How exactly are you going to catch me?"

A slow, predatory smile spread across his face. "What if I told you I have my ways?"

"I wouldn't believe you," she challenged, her confidence unshaken. "If you can, then you can do whatever you want."

"Really? Anything I want?" His gaze intensified, locking with hers. A playful challenge danced in their depths.