65: How Heartless!

After breakfast, Noah insisted on cleaning up, brushing off Vivienne’s offer to help with a wave of his hand. "Princess treatment, remember?"

Vivienne leaned against the counter, sipping her coffee as she watched him. "If you keep this up, I might get used to it."

Noah looked at her over his shoulder, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "That's the plan." He wiped his hands on the dishtowel before stepping closer to her, his gaze softening. "I’m not going anywhere, Viv."

For a moment, the playful air between them shifted into something deeper. Noah reached out, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his touch lingering just a little longer than necessary. "Last night…this morning," he began, his voice low, "I just want you to know I meant every bit of it."

Vivienne's heart fluttered at his words, but she couldn’t bring herself to say anything in response, not yet. Instead, she placed her coffee cup down and slid her arms around his neck, pulling him into a soft, lingering