Chapter 90
Nora's POV
The event coordinator called everyone to gather near the temporary stage. Julian stepped up to the microphone, his black waterproof jacket fitting him perfectly, emphasizing his broad shoulders and lean frame.
When he spoke, his voice carried across the open space, low and commanding.
"The Silver River was once the lifeblood of the North," he began. "But industrial pollution turned it into a scar on this region. Today, we're not just restoring a river. We're planting seeds of hope for the Rust Belt's future."
His words were simple, direct, free of the usual bureaucratic fluff. He spoke like someone who actually believed in what he was saying.
When he finished, applause rippled through the crowd. Annabel was the first to clap, her eyes fixed on him with open admiration, as if no one else in the world existed.
I looked away and adjusted my camera settings.
---
The restoration work began in earnest. Federal and city officials spread out along the riverbank, rolling up their sleeves to clear debris, plant native vegetation, and install monitoring equipment.
I moved through the crowd with my camera, capturing candid shots—officials hauling stone-filled gabion cages, volunteers knee-deep in mud planting cattail seedlings, someone laughing as they struggled to untangle a fishing net from a rusted pipe.
But I made a point of staying far from Julian.
At one point, I saw him near the water's edge, working alongside a group of younger officials to lift one of the heavy gabion cages. Even with three men helping, the cage barely budged. Julian, however, seemed to handle his end with ease, his muscles flexing beneath his shirt as he lifted.
I quickly turned my lens elsewhere.
Professional, I reminded myself. Stay professional.
But then I felt it—that prickling awareness that told me I was being watched.
I glanced up and found Julian looking directly at me, his brow slightly furrowed, as if he was trying to figure something out.
I turned my back to him and walked toward the others.
Henry was crouched by the riverbank, carefully pressing a cattail seedling into the soft mud. His hands were covered in dirt, and there was a smudge of it on his cheek.
I raised my camera and snapped a few shots. "Looking good, Henry. Make sure the roots are packed tight."
He glanced up and grinned. "Thanks for the tip. I have no idea what I'm doing."
I laughed despite myself. "You're doing fine."
A shadow fell over us.
"Talking shop?"
I froze. That voice.
I turned to find Julian standing a few feet away, his expression calm but his eyes sharp.
Henry scrambled to his feet, nearly slipping into the shallow water in his haste. "Inspector General! I—I was just planting—"
"I can see that," Julian said smoothly. "You're doing well. The root system looks stable."
Henry's face flushed with a mix of pride and nervousness. "Thank you, sir."
Julian's gaze shifted to me, lingering for a beat too long before returning to Henry.
"City Hall?"
"Yes, sir. Policy and Urban Development."
Julian nodded thoughtfully. "Single?"
Henry blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Uh, yes. Yes, I am."
A faint smile touched Julian's lips. "You're young. Career-focused, I'm sure. But going home to an empty apartment every night can get lonely." He paused, his tone taking on a mentor-like quality. "I know a few women—good families, solid character. If you're interested, I'd be happy to make introductions."
Henry's eyes flicked to me briefly before returning. "That's... that's very kind of you, sir. I appreciate it."
Julian's smile deepened, and his gaze flicked briefly to me.
Something hot and uncomfortable coiled in my chest.
"I have work to do," I said abruptly, turning on my heel. "You two enjoy your chat."
---
By mid-morning, the riverbank work was largely complete, and the event shifted to the surrounding buffer forest. Volunteers spread out among the trees, clearing underbrush, hanging nesting boxes, and installing wildlife monitoring cameras.
The crowd thinned as people dispersed along the trails. I found a quiet spot beneath a large white oak tree and leaned against its trunk, letting out a slow breath.
Through the canopy above, I could see patches of sky and the glint of the river in the distance. The sounds of laughter and conversation drifted through the trees, muffled and distant.
I closed my eyes.
What the hell is wrong with me?
I'd been acting like a jealous girlfriend all morning. Avoiding Julian, running away from perfectly normal professional interactions.
And the worst part? I didn't even have the right to feel this way. Julian and I weren't together. We'd never defined what we were to each other. For all I knew, Annabel Foster was exactly the kind of woman he should be with—polished, powerful, someone who fit seamlessly into his world.
But the thought of it made my chest ache.
I'm falling for him, I realized with a jolt.
I thought about the way he'd shown up at my office during the storm, the way he'd held me in the elevator, the way he'd given me that damn brooch.
I thought about how my heart raced every time I saw his name on my phone, how I found myself looking for him in every crowd, how the world felt a little steadier when he was nearby.
Shit.
Footsteps approached from behind the tree. I didn't open my eyes, assuming it was just another volunteer passing by.
Then I heard his voice, low and quiet, coming from the other side of the oak's wide trunk.
"Are you angry?"
My eyes snapped open.