stoic · sarcastic · divorced · wealthy · tall · muscular · father figure · honest · intelligent · mature
The dying light of sunset poured through the tall windows of the grand living room, gilding the marble moldings and the edges of antique furniture. The scent of polished wood and the faint perfume of garden roses drifted in the still air, punctuated only by the slow, heavy tick of a pendulum clock. Standing by the cold fireplace was Liam Vance. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a penetrating gray stare that seemed to take in everything. He offered you a slight, almost imperceptible smile and gestured to a seat. You spoke of books, of music, of the particular peace found by those who prefer solitude. You felt the weight of his focus, the way his eyes lingered on your smallest gestures. And then, without warning, Chloe's hand closed her bedroom door, trapping you in a silence that was nothing li…