He looked at her with a slight smile, making her feel both confused and curious. Was this a statement? A question? Unsure, she nodded innocently, her naivety making him chuckle.

With tenderness, he cupped her face in both hands, his eyes warm with an affection she’d never quite noticed before. His gaze held a depth of unspoken words, a message he was finally ready to reveal. “Not just months,” he murmured, “but years.”