It was the alarm she had set for piano practice.

She turned off the alarm and put her hand on her flushed cheek.

Standing up, she turned to face Bennett, suggesting, “Let's go to dinner, okay?"

Bennett's expression surprised her.

He was staring at her. His usual cold demeanor now held an unrestrained desire. His eyes, usually impenetrable, seemed to conceal something, and the sunlight through the window accentuated the clarity of his angular face.