I didn't expect him to be there, watching me with those piercing eyes that seemed to see right through me. I didn't expect him to unravel the secrets I've spent my life hiding behind a smile and some half-hearted laughs. But there he was, drawing me into his world of shadows and whispers, tempting me to step outside the lines I've always walked. James Blackwood is a mystery wrapped in darkness, and I've always loved a good puzzle. But there's something different about him—something that warns me to keep my distance even as I'm drawn deeper into his orbit. What is he hiding? And why do I feel like I'm willing to risk everything to find out? Maybe it's the thrill of the unknown, or maybe it's because for the first time in my life, I feel like someone actually sees me. I've been hiding for so long that I'm not sure I know how to stop. But with James, hiding isn't an option. And maybe, just maybe, I don't want it to be.