Catherine's POV
Tessa walked several paces ahead of us. I knew she was doing it on purpose, her quick strides a clear attempt to give us space, though her occasional backward glances told me she was missing nothing. Gabriel and I walked side-by-side, and I could feel the heat radiating from him, a steady warmth that seemed to pull at me. Every time I glanced over, his eyes were fixed on me, tracing the lines of my face.
"Thanks," I said quietly, my voice barely rising above a whisper. "For stepping in for Tessa. Lucy is... she is always out of control."
"She's annoying. I don't understand how Julian tolerated her," Gabriel replied, his tone flat and dismissive as if he were discussing a minor clerical error rather than a public assault. "She doesn't know when to stop. She's always had a problem with boundaries, but you... you shouldn't have to worry about her. Your 'boyfriend' clearly isn't here to protect you when it actually matters, but you can always count on me."
