Ethan Carter had never been one to second-guess himself. Confidence came as naturally to him as breathing, and women had always been just another conquest. But as he sat in his car outside the café where he and Vivian had just met, he realized something unsettling.
He wasn’t just playing anymore.
For the first time, the thought of losing interest, of moving on to the next challenge, didn’t sit right with him. The bet, which had once seemed like an exciting dare, now felt like a noose tightening around his neck. Because the truth was undeniable—he was beginning to feel something real for her.
He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly. He had to be losing his mind. Vivian Hayes was off-limits in every possible way—his teacher, older, more experienced, and bound by rules that could r
