Page 1 of Echoes of Us
PROLOGUE
Ashley spotted him before he saw her.Seated at a corner table, he leaned back in his chair, one arm draped lazily over the backrest.His dark hair caught the low light, and his sharp profile was softened only by the faint flicker of a candle on the table.
Her steps faltered.Handsome, sure–but men like this always were.Too polished, too self-aware.
“Miss Carter?”His voice cut through the low hum of the restaurant as his gaze found hers.
She nodded, stepping forward, and he stood to greet her.Tall–of course–with gray eyes that studied her like a formula he’d already solved.When he offered his hand, she hesitated a heartbeat too long before taking it.
“Cole Westwood.”
“Ashley,” she said, her voice steadier than she felt.
He gestured for her to sit, and she caught a glimpse of his faint smile–not broad enough to be welcoming, but enough to leave an impression.He sat across from her, his movements unhurried, as if he had all the time in the world.
“You’re not what I expected,” she said, surprising herself with the admission.
“And what did you expect?”His voice was low, almost teasing, though his expression remained unreadable.
Ashley tilted her head, considering him.“Someone less punctual.And maybe less… put together.”
He smirked, but the sharpness in his gaze softened.“Well, I’m here to exceed expectations.”
She laughed despite herself, the sound light but uncertain.He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table, and she noticed the faint calluses on his hands–unexpected for someone who wore his confidence like a tailored suit.
As the evening unfolded, the layers of practiced charm began to slip.He didn’t try to impress her, didn’t offer grand stories or hollow compliments.Instead, he listened–really listened–his head tilting slightly as she spoke, his questions pointed but not intrusive.
When she mentioned her work in behavioral science, his brow furrowed, and for a moment, she thought she’d bored him.
“That must take a certain kind of patience,” he said finally, his tone thoughtful.
“It does,” she replied, unsure whether to explain further.
He nodded as if filing the information away.“You don’t meet many people who value patience anymore.”
The simplicity of the statement caught her off guard.Most men tried to impress her with clever quips or exaggerated interest.Cole, it seemed, was comfortable in the silence between words.
By the time dessert arrived, the conversation had shifted.She found herself laughing at a dry comment he made about their server’s overly dramatic wine-pouring technique, and when she tried to catch her breath, she realized how long it had been since she’d laughed like that.
When the bill came, she reached for her wallet, but he stopped her with a slight shake of his head.
“This one’s on me,” he said, and for the first time that evening, his smile reached his eyes.
Outside, the cool night air brushed against her cheeks as they walked to her car.
“I’ll admit,” she said, glancing at him, “Sarah might have undersold you… just a little.”
He didn’t reply immediately.Instead, he looked at her as if weighing his words.“I’m glad to hear it.”
She opened the car door, but before getting in, she hesitated.Something about the way he stood there, his hands in his pockets, his gaze steady but almost… careful, made her pause.
“Good night, Cole,” she said softly.
“Good night, Ashley,” he replied, his voice quiet.
As she drove home, the city lights blurred around her, and she felt something she hadn’t in years.It wasn’t excitement or nerves, but a quiet certainty that settled in her chest, and refused to leave.
CHAPTER1
