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Sarah stood in front of Buckingham Fountain with Tae.  She gazed into its flying, crystal waters.

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed.

Tae was staring at her face when he answered a little breathlessly, “Isn’t it, though?”

Sarah turned to gaze at him, surprised to interrupt his stare.  She smiled at him, a little sheepishly.  How long had he been looking at her?  They’d been here standing in front of the fountain for several minutes.  Not talking.  Just enjoying the mist in the cool night air and the lights shimmering in the vapor from the flowing waters.  At least, that’s what Sarah had been doing.  But as she gazed back at Tae, she had the odd feeling that he had been studying her face the entire time.

Her breath caught in the back of her throat as she absorbed the beauty of his perfectly chiseled features.  Her eyes traveled from the dark fringe completely hiding his forehead and one of his eyes from her view to the other chocolate eye that perused her.  His eyes were stunning.  Exotic.  Dark, yet promising light somehow.  If she weren’t careful, she’d fall into those fascinating, cocoa waters and be consumed.  Her eyes skipped down the straight slope of his perfect nose, dove into the deep divot above his upper lip, and finally landed on those two wide, pale red lips that framed his mouth most often in a boxy smile.  But right now, they were carrying a serious cast.  As though he were pondering something earth-shaking.  Knowing Tae, he probably was.

She wanted to ask him what he was thinking, but another part of her didn’t want to shatter the moment they were having.  So they stood staring at one another for several minutes.  Sara could practically hear the seconds ticking by.  She didn’t even notice the two boisterous young men walking by until one of them shoved her into Tae.

Startled, Tae reached out to steady her.  She saw his face react as though in slow motion.  It was comical.  His eyes widened in surprise.  And his mouth dropped open.  But his arms safely caught her, dragging her into the security of his embrace.  Briefly, her cheek contacted his strong chest.  Sarah wished she could stay there all night long.  Her eyes fluttered shut as she rested against his strength for a moment. 

Tae was in no hurry to release her.  He bent his head and whispered into her ear, “Are you all right?”

His breath was teasing her skin.  She grinned in pleasure as she nodded her head against his chest.  “I’m fine,” she whispered.

She hadn’t realized how cold she was until Tae’s warm arms had surrounded her.  Now she shivered.

“You’re chilly?” he asked.

She answered, “I’m fine.”

Tae grinned.  “Is that your favorite BTS song?”  He was speaking into her hair.  She found that she rather liked his voice whispering through her long, dark tresses.

She laughed.  “No, but I do like it.”

“You know what I think?”

“What?” she raised her eyes to his.

“I think you are cold.”  Then sadly, he took his heat away from her as he pulled back, releasing her, and shrugged out of his brown leather jacket.  He held it up.  “Here,” he whispered as he helped her put her arms into it while she protested.

“No, Tae, I don’t want you to get cold.”

He flashed his white teeth at her as he responded in like, “I’m fine.”

She laughed and hugged his toasty coat to her frame.  Then she watched in wonder as he bent over her and began to button it up.  All the way up, until even her neck was basking in the warmth of his beautiful – and she rather suspected, very costly – coat.

He gazed down at her and released his boxy smile on her.  “You look good in my jacket.”  Then he glanced towards the lake.  “Now that you’re adequately clothed, want to walk along the lakefront with me?”

She nodded.  She’d go anywhere with Tae.  Then suddenly, she smiled with joy as Tae slid his hand along hers and interlocked their fingers.  Apparently, he was going to keep her fingers warm as well.  She shoved her other hand into the pocket of his jacket as they set out for Queen’s Landing.