Simmering Affection

Vance set his phone down and looked at him. "She's just not that into you."

Declan felt the sting of the blunt words, but he had to admit they were true—Elise really wasn't interested.

He was all rough edges and direct talk, and a strong, self-reliant woman like Elise would naturally find his lack of polish off-putting.

Back then, she'd made an effort to get closer, testing the waters, but Decl