Ellis drove through the bustling streets of New York, lost in her own thoughts. The kiss she had shared with Vittorio still echoed in her mind, like an intense and overwhelming memory. She missed him, his scent, his touch, the connection they had shared for years. But at the same time, she knew she couldn't allow him to get close again, not after everything that had been said.

Her longing for Vittorio was almost tangible, her heart felt like a tight knot in her chest. It was painful to ...