Chapter 226

Claire Richards turned around. Julian Archer just walked in from outside, wearing a plain white shirt. Maybe it had started drizzling while he was in the yard—his hair and shoulders were a little damp. He looked at her, his gaze soft but unreadable, like a thin mist blurred his eyes. Calm, gentle, and hard to see through. “I slept fine,” Claire said with a light tone, sounding cheerful. She casually looked away as she reached for some tissues on the coffee table. Walking over, she handed them to him. “Your hair’s wet. Better dry it off.” “Thanks,” Julian said as he took the tissues and gave his hair a quick rub before settling down on the couch. Claire went back to the kitchen and made a pot of black tea. “Here you go, Mr. Archer. Warm yourself up a bit.” She handed him a cup, setting it gently next to him. Very thoughtful and warm. Julian was holding a tablet, seemingly reviewing some files. He glanced down at the tea she’d given him, took a sip, and said, “You don’t have to fuss, Cla