The café had grown quiet, the last patrons slipping into the night, leaving Lila alone with Elias behind the bar. He’d seen her linger, her gaze unapologetic, and now, as he locked the door, the air hummed with possibility. Elias moved with a quiet strength, his dark eyes holding a promise, his presence a magnet that drew her closer. The scent of whiskey and cedar clung to him, wrapping around her, and Lila felt her heart thud, her body alive with anticipation. “You’ve been watching me,” Elias said, his voice low, a smile curving his lips as he stepped closer. “What’s on your mind?” Lila’s breath caught, her thoughts a whirlwind of the fantasies she’d spun: his hands mapping her body, his lips claiming hers, his touch igniting every nerve. “You,” she admitted, voice soft but steady, her fingers brushing his arm. The touch was a spark, igniting them both, and Elias didn’t hesitate. His hands found her waist, pulling her against him, his mouth capturing hers in a kiss that was slow, d...