A few tourists appeared in the distance, prompting Eleanor to instinctively push the man away. Sensing her sudden shyness, lan let out a low chuckle, his chest vibrating against hers.

The distant sunset scattered golden hues across the coastline, illuminating the man's breathtakingly handsome features. He exuded an effortless composure, completely devoid of any tension or awkwardness regardless of the situation. It was a calmness that made her heart race.

Eleanor's breath hitched slightly.

When he smiled, his dark eyebrows lowered, casting a profoundly affectionate gaze

her way.

Unable to handle the intensity of his stare, Eleanor looked away, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm hungry."

"Let's go. I'll take you to the restaurant."

The hotel's seafood restaurant was located on the second floor, boasting expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a breathtaking view of the ocean. Night had completely fallen, and beneath the moonlight, the shimmering sea looked like a painting.

lan had reserved a table by the window. Fine silverware was already meticulously arranged, alongside a chilled bottle of white wine.

He ordered an array of Eleanor's favorite dishes. She glanced at the menu and couldn't help but ask, "What about you?"

"Whatever you like, I like," lan replied with a smile.

Eleanor thought about it for a moment. When it came to food, lan had never been a picky eater. Joslyn loved to cook based on Eleanor's preferences, and lan had

never once complained about the meals not suiting his tastes.

lan poured her a half glass of wine and slid it toward her. He raised his own glass. "Shall we celebrate?"

Eleanor looked at him, confused. "Celebrate what?"

"Our very first official date."

Eleanor paused, then picked up her glass and clinked it against his. The white wine was sweet with a hint of tartness, carrying a crisp, fruity aroma.

The food arrived, lavish and beautifully plated. Ian placed a choice cut of seafood onto her plate. "Make sure you eat enough tonight."

Eleanor looked up and caught his gaze. A sudden memory flooded her mind, and her face flushed hot. He had said that exact same phrase on their very first date, back when he was younger and the double meaning had been far more obvious.

She had been too young and naive to understand it then. It wasn't until the next morning that she realized his demand for her to 'eat enough' was actually a thinly veiled warning about his stamina for the rest of the night.

Eleanor chose to ignore him and focused on her food.

lan smirked. Clearly, she wasn't so easily fooled anymore. But the blush creeping across her cheeks told him she vividly remembered every intimate detail of their past.

The restaurant wasn't crowded. It was quiet, filled only with the flow of soft music.

Perhaps because the food suited her perfectly, Eleanor ate until she was comfortably full. Exiting the restaurant, she wasn't in a rush to head back to the room. It was still early. There was a boardwalk tracing the coastline nearby, so they decided to take a stroll beneath the streetlights.

"Ellie," lan called out from beside her.

"Yeah?"

"How about we make time for a date every weekend from now on?"

"What if I have work?" Eleanor asked.

"I can reschedule my meetings," the man replied in a low, steady voice. "Being with you is more important."

Eleanor's work at the lab couldn't exactly be pushed back, but she offered a slight nod. "I can't make any promises."

lan smiled, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "That's fine. I'll work around your schedule."

It was already nine-thirty by the time they returned to the suite. Eleanor took her iPad out to the balcony to work, white lan went to take a shower. He emerged shortly after, wearing nothing but a towel secured,

around his waist, his damp hair

clinging to his forehead as he strode

toward the balcony.

Eleanor was entirely engrossed in a medical journal on her screen when she caught

the sliding glass door opening in her peripheral vision.

She looked up, and her breath hitched in her throat.

lan stood by the railing, gazing out at the night view, his body radiating the warmth of his shower. Droplets of water cascaded from the ends of his hair, trailing down his broad shoulders, over the muscularidges of his back, and disappearing

rtraline down his bread

beneath the edge of his towel.

He had an incredible physique.

Beneath a perfect golden ratio, his body was sculpted by years of rigorous discipline —lean, firm, and powerfully built.

His shoulder blades shifted with his movements, looking like a pair of folded wings.

He held a small towel, casually drying his hair. The dampness deepened the color of his silver-flecked roots. As the strands fell across his forehead, they accentuated the sharp, tailored line of his eyebrows and made his dark

ગ

eyes look even more predatory.

"What are you looking at?" He arched a brow, flashing a low, teasing smile.

Eleanor quickly averted her eyes. "Nothing."

lan walked over and took a seat on the sofa right next to her. Eleanor couldn't stop

her peripheral vision from darting toward him.

"Ms. Sutton," the man said.

Eleanor looked up.

"Your iPad is upside down."

Eleanor glanced down. It wasn't upside down at all.

She glared at him in annoyance. The man let out a deep laugh, his expression completely relaxed, visibly thriving on the joy of teasing her.

"Dr. Sutton, what's more important? Your paper, or me?" he asked suddenly, a hint of genuine jealousy lacing his tone.

He had been eagerly anticipating having her undivided attention during their date, yet here she was, fully immersed in her work.

Without even lifting her head, Eleanor shot back, "Are you always this childish?"

lan leaned in, his masculine scent enveloping her with a dominant, aggressive edge. Eleanor immediately pressed a hand against his bare chest to keep him at bay. "Stop it."

He seized the opportunity to capture her hand, bringing her fingers to his lips for a soft kiss. "I'm not doing anything. I just missed you."

"I'm right here, aren't I?" Eleanor muttered, completely losing her train of thought for

work.