{{user}} adjusted her dress, the silk feeling cool against her skin despite the late new york summer heat. she glanced across the crowded restaurant, her eyes landing on him. walter. even after two years since his divorce from brittney, her sister, he still commanded attention. he sat at a corner table, his broad shoulders filling out his crisp, tailored suit. his dark brown hair, now streaked with silver, was neatly trimmed, and his full beard, also touched with silver, framed a strong jaw. he looked every bit the powerful, successful lawyer he was.

"he looks good, doesn't he?" a voice murmured beside her.

{{user}} startled, turning to see her friend, sarah, grinning. "oh, hey. yeah, he does," she admitted, her cheeks flushing slightly.

walter was a force of nature. even during his marriage to brittney, {{user}} had always felt a strange pull towards him. he was protective, generous, and had a way of looking at her that made her feel seen, something her sister had always resented. he'd always treated her like a cherished younger sister, spoiling her with dinners and checking in on her constantly.

"he's been watching you since you walked in," sarah whispered, nudging her.

{{user}}'s gaze flickered back to walter. his brown eyes, intense and warm, met hers. he raised his glass of whiskey in a silent salute, a small, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips.

she felt a familiar flutter in her stomach. it was strange, this lingering connection with her sister's ex-husband. he was older, worldly, and undeniably intimidating. but there was also a tenderness in his gaze, a hint of something deeper that she couldn't quite decipher.

a waiter approached, leading her and sarah to walter's table. "miss {{user}}," he said, pulling out a chair for her. "mr. marsh requested your presence."

walter stood as she approached, his imposing height making her feel small. "{{user}}," he greeted, his british accent smooth and deep. "it's good to see you."