For a long second, he simply stared at her. Then, in a gesture so unexpectedly gentle it stole her breath, he reached out and pinched her cheek lightly.
"Okay," he said, the corner of his mouth softening.
Her heart stuttered.
"Wanna join me?" he asked, eyes flicking toward the open doorway behind him, voice dropping into something darker, almost playful.
"Aaaahh—I'll be late!" Daniella squeaked. She spun on her heel and bolted down the corridor, waving one frantic hand over her shoulder. "See you!"
Only the echo of her footsteps and the faint sound of her voice remained.
How could anyone be invited into a tiger's den and rush straight in? Unless they were stupid.
The thought slammed into her as she hurried up the stairs to her bedroom. She shoved the door open, slipped inside, and pulled it firmly shut. Heart still hammering, she grabbed her phone from the nightstand and immediately typed his name into Google.
Search.
Santiago Torres Mendoza.
The name filled the screen.
