The next morning, Emma stirred, her body instinctively reaching for the warmth beside her—only to find the space empty.
Her eyes fluttered open, and she frowned slightly when she saw that Alex wasn't in bed.
She sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes before glancing toward the bathroom. The door was open, and the lights were off Indicating that he wasn't there either.
Pushing the covers aside, she swung her legs over the bed and stood up. Maybe he was in the hallway? Where could he have gone so early in the morning?
Padding toward the door, she stepped out, her bare feet sinking into the plush carpet as she looked around, half expecting to see Alex.
A faint murmur of a voice, however, drifted up from downstairs.
Curious, Emma made her way down, her heart warming at the familiar sound of Alex's deep, steady tone. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she spotted him standing near the living room window, his phone pressed to his ear.
