The honesty in his voice startled her. For a moment, she glimpsed something raw, almost vulnerable, in his eyes. It vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by that cool, confident mask he always wore.

“I won’t jump,” she said, the words more for herself than him. “But I can’t live like this either.”

“You will,” he murmured, stepping closer, his presence overwhelming in the darkened space. “You’ll adapt. I’ll help you.”

“Help me?” she echoed, ...