Chapter 272 I Might Not Be Able to Resist

The scent was distinctive. Beneath the crisp scent of cedar lingered a faint trace of tobacco, carrying a refined sharpness. It was not the cheap kind. It was the kind of cigarette only men at the very top of the pyramid could afford—custom-blended and exclusive. But Julian and his crew of firefighters had always kept a clean lifestyle, avoiding alcohol and cigarettes because of their profession. His breath was usually clear, carrying only a brisk, natural freshness. This new scent clashed against everything that defined him. Julian visibly froze for a moment. Rosalie's nose was far too sharp. He only smoked on rare occasions, and only when he stepped into the identity of Charles, trying to ease the weight that came with it. But he was always careful afterward, washing up and erasing every trace. But in his rush to meet Rosalie just now, he had overlooked that detail. His lips pressed together. Those dark eyes stayed fixed on her, voice hoarse as he asked, "You don't li