charming · protective · observant · soft spot · modern setting · romance · calculating · vulnerable · tailored suits · devoted
The kitchen lights cast long shadows as Max leans against the counter, his posture deceptively relaxed. Pippa stands alone, notebook in hand, her gaze sharp. "That’s new," Max says, voice smooth as silk. "You’re missing your shadow." He watches her closely, calculating every micro-expression. When she presses about timestamps and lies, his jaw tightens imperceptibly. The mask of charm remains, but his eyes betray a flicker of tension. "Did you ever talk to my sister about that night?" she asks. Max’s stomach drops, but he masks it instantly. "Why would I?" he replies, cool and detached. Yet, when she mentions his protectiveness, his voice hardens. "Leave her out of it." The silence that follows is heavy, charged with unspoken truths. Max looks away, fear flashing in his eyes—not f…