Chapter 1617

Shortly after hitting the road, they caught a red light. Ian reached across the console to grasp Eleanor's hand. "Why are your hands so cold? Did you skip dinner?"

"I ate at the cafeteria," Eleanor replied, rubbing her hands together, suddenly realizing how deeply the late autumn chill had settled in.

"Next time you work late, I'm having food delivered directly to your office." lan didn't trust that the cafeteria food was substantial enough for her.

Eleanor shook her head. "Don't worry about it. I never eat much at night anyway."

Ian cast a glance at her but didn't argue, simply squeezing her hand a little tighter to share his warmth.

Eleanor leaned her head against the window, her mind still racing with the implications of the day's data. It was monumental; she needed time to process it all.

A thought struck her, and she turned to look at the man beside her. If he hadn't pulled strings to secure that cutting-edge equipment, her experiment would have likely been delayed by a year, maybe two, or possibly even longer.

In this day and age, scientific research was a brutal race against the clock. The analyzer lan had gifted her had just pushed her at least a year ahead of the competition.

As Eleanor gazed at him, her eyes filled with a profound tenderness she wasn't even aware of.

"What is it?" lan, always hyper-aware of her, turned his head to meet her stare.

"I want to thank you," Eleanor said softly, completely sincere.

lan raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious. "Thank me for what?"

"For the equipment you bought. Because of it, we made a massive breakthrough tonight."

lan smiled. "Well, then it sounds like my money was incredibly well spent." His tone then shifted, brimming with unmistakable pride. "You have to remember, I'm investing in a future Nobel laureate."

Eleanor couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, stop it."

lan's smile turned serious. "I mean every word."

Eleanor let out a soft sigh, the sheer joy she had been suppressing finally spilling over into her eyes. "I think... I really did it."

lan looked back at her, his gaze heavy with fierce affection and undeniable pride. "I always knew you could."

"I think I found the exact answer I've been looking for." Her eyes were impossibly bright, sparkling with uncontainable excitement.

Warmth flooded lan's chest. The fact that she chose to share her greatest triumph with him first was an ultimate display of her reliance and absolute trust.

"Congratulations," he beamed.

By the time they arrived home, it was ten-thirty Serena tiptoed down the stairs, pressing a finger to her lips as the couple walked in under moonlight. "Evelyn is out like a light. She's sleeping so peacefully.

"Thank you so much, Serena," Eleanor whispered gratefully.

"Don't mention it," Serena smiled brightly. "I'll head out now. You two get some rest."

With that, Serena quickly showed herself out.

Eleanor went upstairs to peek at her daughter before quietly backing out of the room. When she stepped into the master bedroom, she desperately needed a hot shower to unwind. "I'm going to wash up," she told lan.

lan reached out, pulling her in for a gentle hug, and pressed a kiss into her hair. "Go ahead."

Eleanor looked up at him. The man's eyes were exceptionally bright, sparkling with a hint of a smile and a heavy dose of anticipation.

Her face flushed hot as she turned and darted into the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later, Eleanor emerged with her long hair pinned up. The man was already in bed, having warmed the sheets for her.

lan was leaning against the headboard, dressed in dark grey silk pajamas, The warm, golden glow of the bedside lamp hit him from the side, throwing his sharp, sculpted features into perfect relief-broad shoulders, defined collarbones, and the faint, tantalizing shadow of his chest muscles.

Looking up from his iPad, the silver streaks falling across his forehead only made his dark, brooding eyes look even deeper and more intense.

Eleanor climbed into her side of the bed. The man reached over with a long arm to click off the lamp, and within seconds, he hauled her flush against his chest.

Eleanor planted her hands firmly against his chest. "Stop, I still have to go to work tomorrow."

"I know." The man dropped a kiss to her forehead. "That's why I'm not going to wear you out tonight. Go to sleep."

His large hand began stroking her back in a slow, rhythmic motion, just like coaxing a child to sleep.

"Goodnight."

Eleanor was truly exhausted to her core. Within moments, she surrendered to a deep sleep.

The man was a man of his word. Early the next morning, Eleanor shifted in her sleep and brushed against something hard. Her face instantly flushed scarlet as she threw off the covers and bolted out of bed.

By the time Eleanor emerged from her morning shower, lan was already up, casually shrugging on a robe. He looked over at her and asked, "Are you free for lunch on Saturday I've made reservations with a few top authorities from Kingston, and I want you to come with me."

Eleanor was slightly surprised, but knowing that anyone lan leveraged his network

to invite would be a titan in the medical field, she nodded immediately. "Yes, I'm

free."