Eleanor paused with her teacup halfway to her mouth. She looked across the table at him, exasperation clear in her eyes. "Of course not. I've just never been very particular about food."

lan realized that made sense. She was never a picky eater; she was disciplined and restrained, traits that mirrored her relentless work ethic.

He ordered four dishes and a soup based on what he knew she liked, then added a dessert specifically for her.

The dessert arrived first. Eleanor took a small bite, pleased to find the sweetness perfectly balanced. Ian sat quietly, sipping his tea, his gaze never leaving her.

The atmosphere was tranquil and perfect, wrapped in an unspoken layer of domestic sweetness.

After dinner, they took a leisurely stroll down a historic cobblestone street, eventually heading back to the hotel around nine.

Eleanor swiped her keycard and opened her door. She turned to the man standing behind her. "Goodnight."

lan clearly had no intention of leaving things at that. He instinctively took a step forward, trying to follow her in. Knowing exactly what he wanted, she placed a hand on his chest and pushed him back gently. "That's enough. Go get some rest."

His dark gaze locked onto hers. "Give me a goodnight kiss."

It had been a long time since she had indulged in anything like this, and his direct demand made her flush. Feeling unusually shy, she leaned in and pressed a light kiss to his cheek.

Seizing the opportunity, lan wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest. He dipped his head, capturing her lips in a deep, branding kiss before finally releasing her and stepping back into the hallway.

Eleanor closed the door, her back leaning against the wood. She had intended to review her notes for tomorrow's panel, but she couldn't string two coherent thoughts together.

And it was entirely his fault. He could unravel her focus with terrifying ease.

Over the next two days, the conference schedule was packed and demanding. Each evening, lan would take her out to try local delicacies, go for a walk, and then walk her back to her door. He only ever asked for a goodnight kiss, never pushing for

more.

Finally, it was the last day. As the closing ceremony wrapped up, lan sat in his VIP seat, his gaze locked on a specific spot in the room, a knowing, predatory gleam in his eyes.

When the conference officially

ended, Eleanor walked toward the courtyard gardens, chatting with female colleague. Knowing teanor was waiting for someone, her colleague tactfully excused herself.

Eleanor breathed a sigh of relief, looking out at the crisp autumn scenery. A moment

later, a tall, relaxed figure strolled up beside her.

"It's over. You can finally breathe," lan said, his voice a low rumble. "I booked a

place for us at Maple Crest."

She looked up at him in surprise. "You booked a room?"

"Yeah. We've seen enough of the city. It's time to enjoy some nature." He took the

heavy folder of documents from her hands. "Let's go. The car is waiting."

The drive took over two hours. The autumn landscape rolling past the window was spectacular, but as the miles ticked by, Eleanor's exhaustion caughoup with her. She naturally feaned her head onto his shoulde and drifted off to sleep.

lan quietly draped his suit jacket over her, wrapping his arm around her to ensure she was comfortable.

They eventually pulled up to a hyper-exclusive villa resort in Maple Crest. Eleanor hadn't realized he had booked a private villa—which meant they would be sharing the exact same space tonight.

The driver brought their luggage into the living room. Eleanor stood in the entryway, staring at their suitcases lined up side by side, completely silent.

lan grabbed a pair of women's slippers, leaned down, and placed them neatly by her feet. "Change your shoes."

Snapping out of her daze, she realized her feet were throbbing from wearing heels

all day. She sat down on the sofa and slipped them on.

"Rest for a bit. I'll have dinner brought up to us."

The villa was designed in a traditional Japanese style, complete with sliding doors and tatami mats The massive windows looked direct out into a dense maple. forest. The autumn colors were at their peak, a gradient of fiery red burning from the foot of the mountain all the way up, looking like silent flames dancing in the twilight.