He lowered himself carefully, almost reverently, as if the offer itself deserved respect. “You’re very kind,” he murmured, voice barely above the hum of the engines. His gratitude felt deeper than the moment deserved, carrying something Elise couldn’t quite name.
Mara slid into her own seat with a light grin, mouthing, You’re doing it again. Elise laughed softly. Helping strangers wasn’t unusual for her, but something about this man left her quietly unsettled like she’d stepped into a moment whose meaning she didn’t yet understand.