His kindness in that moment left her feeling somewhat abashed.

Claudia had been telling herself that she needed to stand her ground. It wasn't enough to take the first step toward reconciliation with Bennett simply because he had come to pick her up.

Yet now, Aurora's revelation that Bennett had waited for her outside the apartment building for an hour and a half left her in shock.

Any semblance of cold detachment she'd been clinging to vanished instantly.

The more Claudia pondered this, the more guilt gnawed at her. The succulent beef noodles she'd been enjoying suddenly became flavorless.