Page 109 of Secret Heir For The Billionaire Twin

The honesty in his voice takes some of the playfulness out of the moment.

“Neither do I,” I tell him. “Not yet.”

His eyes narrow slightly.

“That worries you.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

I look down at my wine before answering.

“Because I came here expecting to understand the Blackwells better. I didn’t expect to start caring about how the story affects the people inside it.”

Julian says nothing for a moment.

The air between us changes.

“I thought distance was part of the job,” he says.

“It is.”

“And now?”

I meet his eyes.

“Now it’s more complicated.”

His gaze holds mine long enough that I feel the warmth climb slowly beneath my skin. The staff clears the plates and leaves us alone with the wine. Julian reaches for his glass.

“Is there anyone waiting for you back in Philadelphia?” he asks.

The question catches me completely off guard.

“Waiting for me?”

“A man.”

I stare at him. “That was subtle.”

“I wasn’t trying to be.”

I laugh despite myself.

“No. There’s no one waiting.”

“Was there?”

I take a sip before answering.

“Henry.”

Julian’s expression remains neutral, but his attention sharpens immediately.

“How long?”

“A little over two years.”