Seeking Her - Analia Tempest
Copyright© 2026 by Koimiko
Chapter 2
Analia smiled at the small crowd gathered in her bedroom, feeling a mix of amusement and affection. Bo’s enthusiasm was infectious, and she couldn’t help but chuckle at the way he puffed out his chest, clearly proud of his fashion choice.
“Alright, the white it is,” she agreed, slipping into the sleek white dress they had all insisted on. It was simple but elegant, with a subtle shimmer that caught the light just enough to make her stand out. She turned to the mirror, adjusting the delicate flower Bo had chosen for her hair. It nestled perfectly behind her ear, giving her a soft, ethereal look.
Shai, always the more reserved of the two, quietly handed her the necklace with an encouraging smile. Analia fastened it around her neck, admiring how the small pendant rested just at her collarbone. The matching studs completed the look, understated but tasteful, just the way she liked it.
“You all did an amazing job,” Analia said, turning to face them. “I feel like a queen.”
Bo grinned, satisfied. “You’re gonna knock ‘em dead, Mom.”
Analia ruffled his hair affectionately before grabbing her clutch. “Now, behave for the babysitters, okay? No staying up late.”
Bo and Shai exchanged mischievous glances, but both nodded in agreement.
“Have fun at your party!” Shai called as Analia made her way to the door, her heels clicking lightly on the hardwood floor.
As she stepped outside, the cool evening air wrapped around her. Analia took a deep breath, ready for whatever--or whoever--Ngoc had in store for her tonight. With one last glance at her reflection in the window, she smiled. Maybe tonight wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Analia smiled warmly at Jason as Ngoc made the introduction. The way he had purred her name at the door had already stirred something inside her, but she kept her cool, as always.
“Jason Nishi,” Analia repeated, tilting her head slightly, assessing him. He was undeniably attractive and tall, with a strong, confident presence. His dark eyes seemed to study her intently, as though he could see beyond the surface. The Inu language she had spoken earlier had surprised him, but he didn’t let it show. he hadn’t expected her to know Inu--or at least fluent enough to recognize his heritage.
Jason extended his hand, a smile playing on his lips. “Analia Tempest,” he said, emphasizing her last name, his voice smooth. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
She raised an eyebrow as she shook his hand, feeling the firm grip. “All good things, I hope.”
Ngoc, ever the orchestrator, jumped in with a light laugh. “Only good things, I swear. You two are practically neighbors! Can you believe you’ve never crossed paths before?”
Analia let out a small laugh of her own. “I suppose it’s a big city.” But there was something unspoken in Jason’s gaze, something that made her feel like perhaps their paths had been meant to cross tonight.
Ngoc, thrilled with the chemistry already bubbling between them, continued, “Jason’s been asking about you for a while now. He’s heard all about your balancing act with the kids and work. He seems ... intrigued.”
Ngoc’s smile widened at her own handiwork, but Analia didn’t miss the way Jason’s gaze lingered a heartbeat too long. She felt it, that weight of attention, measured and patient. Not hungry. Not yet. That was almost worse.
“Intrigued?” Analia echoed lightly, reclaiming the word before it could settle anywhere intimate. She slipped her hand from Jason’s with practiced ease and turned her body just enough to break the line between them. Not rejection. Just ... distance.
Jason noticed. Of course he did.
“Only because you don’t wear your life like a costume,” he said, unbothered, voice low enough that Ngoc leaned away to give them space without realizing she was doing it. “People talk about you like you’re a myth. I prefer facts.”
Analia smiled, slow and pleasant, the kind that invited no correction. “Then you’ll be disappointed. I don’t offer explanations at parties.”
A flicker crossed his eyes. Interest sharpened, not dimmed. He inclined his head, conceding the point without surrendering ground. “Fair. Then allow me to offer a drink instead. No expectations attached.”
She considered him for a moment longer than politeness required. She could feel it, the careful restraint in him, the way his presence pressed without touching. A man used to being allowed close.
Not tonight.
“Another time,” Analia said gently. “Ngoc’s already promised me to half the room, and I intend to survive the evening.”
Ngoc sputtered something indignant, but Jason only smiled, a real one this time. Not offended. Amused.
“Denied,” he murmured, not bitter, not wounded. Almost appreciative. “I’ll remember that.”
“Good,” Analia replied, lifting her clutch and stepping past him, close enough that her perfume ghosted the air between them. “Memory is important.”
As she walked away, she felt his attention follow her, steady and patient, like something that understood waiting was part of the hunt.
And Jason watched her go, knowing one thing with absolute certainty:
She hadn’t shut the door.
She’d simply chosen when it would open.
They left without ceremony.
No lingering goodbyes, no promises to call. Ngoc clocked it immediately, her knowing smile catching Analia’s eye as Jason retrieved her coat. The hostess said nothing. She never needed to. The air between Analia and Jason had shifted into something private, sealed off from the room as surely as if a door had closed behind them.
Outside, the city exhaled.
Jason held the car door open for her, waiting until she was settled before moving around to the driver’s side. It was a small thing. Considerate. Observant. She noticed. She always noticed.
The drive began quietly. Not awkward. Just ... contained.
Streetlights slid over the windshield in steady pulses, illuminating Jason’s profile in flashes. His hands were relaxed on the wheel, posture controlled, eyes forward. No rush. No pressure. The kind of restraint that came from confidence rather than fear of refusal.
Analia leaned back in her seat, the night pressing gently against the windows. The party felt distant already, like something shed rather than escaped. Her thoughts drifted despite herself. Bao’s laugh. His promises. The way she’d once bent herself smaller to keep the peace.
Jason didn’t look at her, but he sensed the shift. Her scent changed. Subtle. Not sadness exactly. Something heavier. Memory.
He slowed slightly, letting the silence breathe instead of forcing it to behave.
And that was when the hum of the car became the only sound between them.
From there, the moment slipped naturally into what followed.
Jason wanted to say something comforting, but he wasn’t sure how to bridge the gap between them. He’d seen enough tonight to know that Analia’s strength came from what she had endured, but he hated the thought of her carrying that pain alone.
“You’re stronger than you realize,” he said finally, his voice rough but sincere. “Those pups you took in--they’re lucky to have you.”