Ciara's eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by the certainty in his tone.
For a fleeting moment, she looked as though she might object, but then her gaze wavered, and she took a small step back.
But then Ciara's lips suddenly curled into a geeky smile, the kind that made Clyde uneasy.
Her head tilted slightly to the side, as though she were looking at something just behind him.
The subtle shift was enough to send his heart racing, a violent thump pounding in his chest.
He steadied himself, forcing his breath to slow, before finally turning around. The sight that greeted him sent a jolt through his entire being.
There, stepping out from behind the massive trunk of a gnarled apple tree, was Ryley.
He wore an all-white attire, pristine and radiant against the warm glow of the setting sun.
The fabric clung to him in all the right places, accentuating the natural grace he carried, looking as ethereal and breathtaking as ever.
