Unexpectedly Yours

1

The Characters

Maya

Maya had the kind of beauty that didn't demand attention.

She had warm brown skin, soft dark-brown eyes, and long, naturally wavy black hair that usually fell over her shoulders. Her features were delicate, with full lips and a small nose that gave her face a gentle appearance.

She wasn't particularly interested in dressing to impress anyone. Most days, she'd choose comfortable jeans, simple tops, sneakers, and her favorite little accessories.

Maya was pretty.

She just didn't think about it.

She was twenty-two, worked at an office downtown, and had gotten used to living alone. She liked her quiet life exactly the way it was.

Lucas

Lucas was the kind of man people noticed without him trying.

Tall, broad-shouldered, and effortlessly attractive, he had thick black hair that was always slightly messy, as though he couldn't be bothered to make it perfect. His dark eyes were sharp and unreadable, framed by thick eyebrows.

His jawline was defined, his complexion warm, and there was something about his expression that made him look permanently unimpressed.

Lucas dressed simply—dark shirts, jeans, sneakers, occasionally a watch on his wrist.

He rarely smiled.

And when he did, it was usually so brief that people wondered if they'd imagined it.

At twenty-four, Lucas was quiet, private, and reserved.

Some people called him arrogant.

Maybe they were right.

Or maybe they simply hadn't gotten close enough to see the person underneath.

Evan

Evan was Lucas's complete opposite.

He was tall, lean, and had slightly curly dark hair that never seemed to stay in place. His brown eyes were bright and expressive, and his easy smile made him look like he was always planning something.

He dressed casually but somehow always managed to look good.

Evan was twenty-four too, Lucas's best friend, and his roommate.

He talked too much.

Laughed too loudly.

And noticed absolutely everything.

Especially when Lucas started acting differently around Maya.

Daniel

Daniel had been part of Maya's past long before Lucas became part of her present.

He was twenty-three, with neatly styled dark hair, deep brown eyes, a charming smile, and a polished appearance that made him look effortlessly put together.

He knew exactly what to say.

Exactly when to say it.

And once upon a time, Maya had thought he might be the person she'd end up with.

She was wrong.

Or at least, she thought she was.

---

CHAPTER ONE

Maya liked her life. It wasn't exciting,It wasn't glamorous. It wasn't the kind of life people wrote songs about.But it was hers.

Every morning, she woke up at exactly 6:30.

She would stare at her ceiling for approximately thirty seconds, wondering why mornings existed in the first place. Then she'd drag herself out of bed.

Coffee.

Shower.

Work clothes.

Hair.

Keys.

Out the door.

Repeat.

It was predictable and Maya liked predictable.

That was why she immediately disliked the moving truck parked across the street.

She stood in front of her apartment window, holding a mug of coffee in one hand while staring through the glass.

A large white moving truck occupied most of the driveway of the house opposite hers.

People were carrying boxes inside.

Maya narrowed her eyes.

"So much for peace."

The house had been empty for almost two months. She'd gotten used to it.

No loud music.

No noisy children.

No random neighbors knocking on her door.

Perfect.

Now someone was moving in Maya took another sip of coffee.

"Please be quiet people."

A box nearly slipped from one of the movers' hands.

Maya winced.

"Definitely not quiet."

She was about to walk away when the front door of the apartment opened.A man stepped outside.

Maya stopped.

He was tall.

He wore a black T-shirt that fit loosely over his shoulders, dark jeans, and white sneakers. His black hair looked slightly messy, and he had one hand in his pocket as he looked around the street.

Maya stared for a second longer than she intended.

Oh.

Maya immediately stepped away from the window.

"Nope."

She turned around and walked toward her kitchen.

Why had she been staring?

She didn't know him.

She didn't care about him.

And she definitely wasn't going to become one of those neighbors who watched people move in.

Before she could think further, there was a knock at her door.

She froze.

Who was knocking this early?

She placed her mug down and walked toward the door.

Another knock.

Maya looked through the peephole.

The same man from across the street stood outside. Her eyebrows lifted.

Seriously?

She opened the door halfway.

"Yes?"

The man looked at her.

Up close, he was even more intimidating.

His expression was calm.

Almost too calm.

"Hi."

His voice was low and surprisingly polite.

Maya waited.

He glanced toward the street before looking back at her.

"I'm Lucas. I just moved into the house across from yours."

"I noticed."

His eyebrow lifted slightly.

Maya immediately regretted the words.

Of course you noticed.

You were practically spying on him through the window.

Lucas gave the faintest hint of a smile.

"Right."

Maya crossed her arms.

"Is there something you need?"

"I think one of our boxes was delivered here by mistake."

"Oh."

She glanced behind her.

"Do you know what it looks like?"

"Brown box. My name should be on it."

Maya nodded.

"Wait."

She closed the door.

Lucas stared at the door for a moment.

Then Evan appeared behind him.

"She closed the door in your face."

Lucas glanced at him.

"She went to look for the box."

"Sure." Lucas sighed.

"Evan."

"What?"

"Go away."

Evan grinned. The door opened again, Maya held out a box.

"This?"

Lucas took it.

"Yeah. Thanks."

"No problem."

Lucas nodded.

"See you around."

Then he walked away.

Maya slowly closed the door.

She leaned against it.

"Great."

She covered her face with both hands.

Maya slowly lowered her hands from her face.

‎"Get yourself together."

‎She pushed herself away from the door and picked up her coffee. One sip.

‎Cold.

‎She frowned at the mug.

‎"Of course."

‎She walked back into the kitchen, poured the coffee into the sink, and glanced at the clock.

‎6:58 a.m.

‎She had exactly thirty-two minutes before she needed to leave for work.

‎Perfect.

‎She could put the entire interaction out of her mind.

‎By the time she reached the office, the embarrassing incident would be nothing more than a distant memory.

‎At least, that was the plan.

‎---

‎

‎The office was already busy when Maya arrived.

‎Phones were ringing.

‎People were walking around with files.

‎Someone was arguing with the printer.

‎The usual.

‎Maya placed her bag beside her desk and sat down.

‎Her coworker, Sarah, looked over.

‎"You look distracted."

‎"I'm not."

‎"You just stared at your computer for ten seconds without turning it on."

‎Maya looked down.

‎The screen was, in fact, black.

‎She pressed the power button.

‎"I was thinking."

‎"About?"

‎"Nothing."

‎Sarah narrowed her eyes.

‎"That means something."

‎Maya sighed.

‎"It's just my new neighbor."

‎Sarah's eyebrows shot up.

‎"New neighbor?"

‎"Yes."

‎"Male?"

‎Maya hesitated.

‎"Yes."

‎"Handsome?"

‎Maya stared at her.

‎"How did you .."

‎Sarah gasped.

‎"He is!"

‎"Keep your voice down."

‎"You have a handsome new neighbor and you didn't tell me?"

‎"Because it's not important."

‎Sarah leaned closer.

‎"What does he look like?"

‎"Like a man."

‎Sarah stared at her.

‎"Very descriptive."

‎Maya rolled her eyes.

‎"He's tall. Quiet. That's it."

‎"Is he single?"

‎"I don't know."

‎"Have you spoken to him?"

‎"Unfortunately."

‎Sarah smiled.

‎Maya immediately knew she was going to regret telling her anything.

‎"What happened?"

‎"Nothing."

‎"Maya."

‎"He came to my door."

‎Sarah's smile widened.

‎"At seven in the morning?"

‎"He wanted a box."

‎"Oh."

‎A pause.

‎"Still romantic."

‎"It's not romantic!"

‎Sarah laughed.

‎Maya was about to answer when the office manager stepped out of his office.

‎"Everyone, may I have your attention for a moment?"

‎The room gradually quieted

Maya turned toward him.

"We're expecting someone new today. He was transferred from our central branch and will be joining the operations team."

Maya barely listened.

New employee.

Fine.

She reached for her coffee.

Then the manager continued.

"His name is Lucas Bennett."

The office door opened.

Maya slowly turned toward it.

Lucas walked in.

The same black-haired man from across the street.

The same man who had stood at her door that morning.

The same man she had accidentally spent several seconds watching through her window.

He looked around the room.

Then his eyes landed on her.

For the first time that morning, his calm expression changed.

Recognition.

Maya's stomach dropped.

Lucas walked toward them.

The manager smiled.

"Lucas, this is Maya. She'll help you get settled."

Lucas stopped beside Maya's desk.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then the faintest smile appeared on his face.

"Good morning, neighbor."

Maya closed her eyes.

This was going to be a very long day.