MY SUGAR MUMMY IS A BEAUTIFUL VAMPIRE

Tessa now found herself hyper-aware of Josh's presence, the subtle shift of his body as he moved, the faint hint of his cologne that seemed to envelop her senses.

As they walked, Tessa found herself hyper-aware of Josh's presence, every subtle shift of his body sending a shiver of awareness down her spine. She couldn't help but notice the faint hint of cologne that seemed to envelop her senses, a new addition to Josh's usual scent.

'Wait, when did he start wearing cologne?'

The realization caught her off guard, a small detail that suddenly felt significant in the grand scheme of things. Not to mention, she couldn't shake the feeling that his house was unusually neat, far tidier than it usually was on her regular visits. She hadn't stayed over in days, too caught up in the demands of her job to spend nights at his place.

But as she mulled over these observations, a nagging thought crept into her mind. Was she the one paying more attention now, noticing every little detail about Josh and his surroundings? Was she becoming obsessed with seeing him, using the investigation as an excuse to spend more time together?

The notion made her pause to think in her head. A flicker of doubt worming its way into her thoughts. It couldn't be true, could it? She had a job to do, a mission to uncover the truth. But as she replayed their interactions in her mind, she couldn't deny the growing sense of attachment she felt towards Josh.

It wasn't just about the case anymore; it was about him. About the way his smile lit up his face, the warmth in his eyes when he looked at her, the way his presence calmed the storm of emotions swirling inside her.

But was she blurring the lines between personal and professional? Was she allowing her feelings for Josh to cloud her judgment, to distract her from the task at hand? The thought left her feeling unsettled, a knot of uncertainty tightening in her chest.

As they stepped out into the cool night air, Tessa drew in a deep breath, her lungs expanding with the crisp embrace of the city. Josh's hand lingered at the small of her back, a point of contact that seemed to sear through the layers of her clothing and brand her skin with its warmth.

"Tessa," he began, his voice a low rumble that sent tremors skittering along her nerve endings. "You know you can't keep going like this, don't you?"

She turned to face him, her eyes searching his features in the muted glow of the streetlights. She expected different words from him as whenever he seemed tensed up like that, he would ask her out and she would turn him down.

However, today of all days, he was tensed up for a different reason and she now was going to have to give a different response other than the resounding "Yes" she had in her mind.

"What choice do I have, Josh?" she countered, her voice laced with a brittle edge. "I have to get justice for my dad, and I can only do that by uncovering the darkest secrets of Rose Shelley."

Josh's hand lifted, his fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from her face in a gesture that was achingly tender. "And we will," he assured her, his voice soft yet unyielding. "Get it? We will. But not at the cost of your own well-being. We can't do that if you run yourself into the ground."

Tessa's breath caught in her throat, her heart thundering in her ears as Josh's fingers lingered against her cheek. The world seemed to contract, narrowing until all that existed was the heat of his touch and the intensity of his gaze.

"Josh..." she whispered, her voice a mere breath on the night air.

He leaned in closer, his forehead almost touching hers, the warmth of his breath fanning across her lips. "Let me help you, Tessa. Relax and focus on your bright career. Just give me charge, give me all the other details and watch me you handle it. I promise I'll deliver," he murmured, his voice rich with an undercurrent of emotion that threatened to sweep her away.

"Let me shoulder some of this burden, if only for a little while."

Tessa's resolve wavered, her defenses crumbling beneath the onslaught of Josh's earnest plea. She wanted nothing more than to surrender to the solace he offered, to lose herself in the depths of his compassion and find solace from the storm that raged within.

But even as her heart yearned for that connection, her mind rebelled, the weight of her responsibilities like an anchor tethering her to reality.

"I can't," she choked out, her voice thick with unshed tears. "Not until this is over, not until Rose has paid for all her treacherous crimes."

"You don't trust me then?" Josh asked.

Josh's fingers traced the curve of her jaw, his touch feather-light yet searing in its intensity. "Then let me walk beside you, every step of the way," he vowed, his eyes burning with a fierce determination that matched her own. "You don't have to carry this burden alone. I know you are smart and probably feel somethings need best be kept secret.

But perhaps if you share with me, we can resolve this even faster. I'm just trying to help," Josh said earnestly.

In that moment, suspended between heartbeats, Tessa felt something shift within her. A hairline fracture in the armor she had so carefully constructed, a fissure through which the light of Josh's unwavering compassion seeped.

She had always been career first before anything up until the revelation in form of the disc she had in her father's study.

But now...

..She wanted to lose herself in the light seeping from Josh, to bask in its warmth and find solace from the storm that raged within. But fear held her back, hesitation born of a lifetime of guarding her heart from the slings and arrows of the world.

First hand she had learnt no one could be trusted upon her Father's demise. And even then, her instincts were sharp enough to sense foul play.

Josh however seemed to sense her inner turmoil, his expression softening as he searched her face. "Just promise me you'll consider it," he murmured, his voice a gentle entreaty. "Promise me you won't shut me out, Tessa. Not completely."

A tremulous smile curved Tessa's lips, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I promise," she whispered, the words carrying a weight that belied their simplicity.

Josh's hand found hers, his fingers intertwining with hers in a gentle embrace. "That's all I ask," he said, his voice rich with a depth of emotion that threatened to undo her.

"It's kind of cold and dark. Heard what happened with Becky right? You really shouldn't drive home this late," Josh after looking around his neighborhood said.

"Right, thing is...I didn't come with a change of clothes," Tessa said.

"Since when did that become an issue?"