"Aren't you just going to leave without talking to me?" the unexpected visitor asked, her voice trembling slightly even as she tried to mask it behind a cute little pout.
Riley froze mid-step. He turned around slowly, his brows lifting.
"Evelyn? What are you doing here?" he asked, unable to hide the surprise in his tone.
Evelyn stood by the doorway, framed by the afternoon light.
She was the daughter of a respected village elder, praised by everyone as the most beautiful girl in the village.
Her long dark hair was neatly braided, her pale cheeks tinged pink from running, and her big brown eyes shimmered with something between hurt and determination.
To the men of the village, she was a goddess.
To Riley—who had been with women whose beauty rivaled divine beings—she was lovely, yes, but still just a gentle spark compared to the blazing radiance he had already known.
Not that he would ever say that out loud.
