Shadows of the Spotlight

Chapter 23

Then, abruptly, a song began to play, breaking the spell. It took a moment for me to realize it was Arc's phone. The sound seemed to snap him out of whatever trance he'd been in, and he shifted, glancing over before letting his hand fall away. With a quiet exhale, he got up, picked up his phone, and left the bedroom to take the call.

Still caught in a daze, I took a moment to gather myself, my heartbeat gradually slowing as I untangled from the blanket. The weight of what had just happened—or almost happened—left me reeling, struggling to piece together my thoughts.

I stepped out of the bedroom and saw Arc leaning against the window, his bare back to me, muscles flexing as he stretched one arm up. His skin caught the morning light, highlighting the smooth definition along his shoulders and down his spine. My gaze trailed lower, noticing how his gray joggers hung low on his hips, offering a clear, unguarded view of his toned back.As if feeling my eyes on his back he suddenly turned around and looked in my direction

The sight of his well-defined chest and abs took me by surprise, his frame radiating both strength and ease. Even from a few feet away, I could see the lines of his muscles, each one well-defined. He wasn't just fit—he looked effortlessly powerful. My gaze traveled back up to meet his, and I could feel my cheeks heating up as I saw his smirk, an amused spark in his eyes that told me he'd caught me admiring him.

He murmured a quick "I'll call you later" into the phone before hanging up, his gaze never leaving mine. I felt a flutter of panic as he started to step toward me, closing the distance with an amused, almost mischievous look. I scrambled for a reason to escape before my face could betray any more of what I was feeling.

"I—I just came to tell you," I stammered, trying to steady my voice, "that I'm going into town for some errands, so I'll be back later."

Without waiting for a response, I blurted out a quick "bye" and turned on my heel, practically fleeing back to my room. The moment the door closed behind me, I let out a sigh of relief, my pulse racing from the entire encounter. I leaned against the door, trying to calm the flurry of nerves, but the image of Arc's knowing smile and that dangerously close look in his eyes lingered.

I quickly typed a message to Jessica, letting her know I was heading out for some errands. Her reply came almost instantly: Just inform Arc, and you're good to go. I responded with a quick thumbs-up emoji, grabbed my purse, personal phone, and car keys, and hurried out of the hotel. Only after I'd been driving for about ten minutes did it hit me—I didn't have a destination in mind.

I considered calling Evelyn, but after last night's event, she was probably exhausted, and I didn't want to disturb her. Running through possible places in my head, I finally settled on one. With a sigh of relief at having a plan, I adjusted my route, letting the quiet of the drive ease some of the tension from earlier. The open road stretched ahead, offering a much-needed escape, even if just for a little while.

I quickly parked in front of a small, single-story house with a charming, cozy feel. The exterior was painted a warm, inviting shade of cream, with flower boxes lining the windowsills, overflowing with bright geraniums and trailing ivy. A small, neatly trimmed front lawn and a cobblestone path led to the front door, where a hanging wreath added a touch of homey warmth.

As I reached the door, I rang the bell, and within seconds, my father opened it. He was a man in his late fifties, yet his fit physique and the energy in his eyes made him look much younger. His short, neatly combed silver hair gave him a distinguished appearance, and he wore a casual button-up shirt tucked into well-fitted jeans—a classic, well-maintained look.

"Surprise!" I called out, grinning as his eyes widened. He feigned shock, a hand going over his heart before he broke into a warm smile and pulled me into a hug.