Laura's mind returned to the day before—the way Ross had looked at her in the gallery, how close he'd leaned when making an observation about her work, and…
His smell.
Yes, that was it.
She remembered now how it had lingered—subtle yet intoxicating, warm with a hint of something she couldn't name.
It had unnerved her at the time, made her feel strangely aware of herself in his presence.
"He smells so good," she whispered to herself, almost as if saying it aloud made it more real.
It had bothered her then, because the scent didn't just smell pleasant—it stirred something deeper.
Something she had never wanted to admit out loud.
Something that, even now, made her heart beat faster in the dark.
And though she told herself it had only been a dream, Laura couldn't help but wonder—if just the memory of Ross's scent could affect her like this, what would happen the next time she saw him in person?
