CHAPTER ONR
I was hopelessly in love with my father's best friend.
It wasn't a recent realization. It wasn't some sudden crush that appeared overnight. No, I'd been carrying this secret for years.
And it was ruining my life.
The worst part?
Nobody knew.
Not my parents.
Not my friends.
And definitely not Nathan Blackwood.
I stared out the car window as the city disappeared behind us. My mother sat beside me, scrolling through her phone while my father drove toward the enormous estate that would become my home for the next year.
A whole year.
Three hundred and sixty-five days.
Living with Nathan.
My stomach twisted.
"You've been quiet," Mom said, glancing up from her screen.
"I'm fine."
Dad laughed. "She's probably upset we're leaving."
I forced a smile.
If only that were the problem.
My parents had accepted a year-long overseas assignment, and since I still had one year of university left, I couldn't go with them.
Naturally, they trusted only one person to look after me.
Nathan.
My father's best friend.
The man who had been part of our lives for as long as I could remember.
The man I'd been secretly in love with since I was sixteen.
The car slowed as we approached a pair of enormous black gates.
A guard recognized the vehicle immediately and opened them.
My breath caught.
Blackwood Manor stood at the end of a long driveway lined with perfectly trimmed hedges and fountains.
Even after seeing pictures, nothing could have prepared me for the real thing.
The mansion looked like something from a movie.
Large.
Elegant.
Intimidating.
The car stopped in front of the entrance.
Before I could gather my courage, the front door opened.
And there he was.
Nathan Blackwood.
My heart instantly forgot how to function.
He stood at the top of the marble steps, one hand tucked into the pocket of his dark trousers.
God.
How was it possible for someone to look even better than I remembered?
His dark hair was slightly messy, as if he'd been running his fingers through it. The sleeves of his black shirt were rolled to his elbows, revealing strong forearms.
He looked relaxed.
Powerful.
Dangerously handsome.
I immediately looked away.
Because staring would be embarrassing.
And because I was twenty-one years old, not sixteen.
At least physically.
Emotionally, I was still the same girl who used to blush every time Nathan smiled at her.
Dad climbed out first.
"Nathan!"
The two men exchanged a warm handshake before pulling each other into a brief hug.
My mother followed.
Then Nathan's gaze shifted toward me.
Everything around me seemed to disappear.
For a moment, it felt like we were the only two people standing there.
His eyes lingered.
Not long enough to mean anything.
But long enough for me to notice.
"Ava."
Just hearing my name in his deep voice sent butterflies through my stomach.
"It's been a while."
I stepped out of the car and prayed I wouldn't trip.
"Two years," I replied.
His lips curved slightly.
"You remember."
Of course I remembered.
I'd counted.
Nathan chuckled softly.
The sound made my heart do something stupid.
"Come here."
Before I realized what he meant, he opened his arms.
A hug.
Right.
A normal greeting.
I walked toward him, trying to ignore the pounding in my chest.
The moment his arms wrapped around me, every coherent thought vanished.
He smelled incredible.
Clean.
Warm.
Comforting.
His embrace lasted only a second before he stepped back.
But somehow that single second was enough to leave me completely flustered.
"Welcome home," he said.
Home.
The word echoed in my mind.
I wasn't sure whether it comforted me or terrified me.
A butler appeared and reached for my luggage.
Nathan stopped him.
"I'll take it."
"You don't have to," I said quickly.
He lifted the suitcase effortlessly.
"I know."
Then he smiled.
And just like that, my entire day was ruined.
Because no man should be allowed to smile like that.
Inside, the mansion was even more beautiful.
Crystal chandeliers hung from high ceilings.
Marble floors reflected the afternoon sunlight.
Everything looked expensive.
I suddenly became very aware of my worn sneakers.
Dad spent the next twenty minutes discussing schedules, security arrangements, and emergency contacts with Nathan.
I barely listened.
I was too busy pretending not to stare.
Nathan was seated across from me in the living room.
Every now and then, he'd glance in my direction.
Every time he did, I immediately looked away.
Pathetic.
Absolutely pathetic.
Eventually my parents stood.
The moment I'd been dreading had arrived.
Mom hugged me first.
Then Dad.
"Call us every day," Mom ordered.
"I will."
Dad kissed my forehead.
"Behave yourself."
I laughed.
"If you only knew."
Thankfully, neither of them understood what I meant.
After several emotional goodbyes, they left.
I stood by the front door and watched their car disappear down the driveway.
Suddenly, the house felt much bigger.
And much quieter.
For the first time, I realized it was just me and Nathan.
Alone.
For an entire year.
A strange nervousness settled over me.
Nathan appeared beside me.
"You okay?"
I nodded.
"Yeah."
"You sure?"
His voice softened.
"It's normal to feel overwhelmed."
I looked up at him.
Big mistake.
His eyes held genuine concern.
The kind that made my chest ache.
Because Nathan Blackwood was kind.
Protective.
Patient.
Everything a woman could want.
Everything I wanted.
And none of it was meant for me.
"I'm okay," I said quietly.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Good."
Then he picked up my suitcase and started toward the staircase.
"Come on, Ava."
I followed him.
Completely unaware that living under the same roof as Nathan Blackwood was about to change my life forever.
