Chapter 1 One

Nicole's POV

"I'll be right back, babe. Give me ten minutes and please stay in the living room." My boyfriend, Liam, said before grabbing his keys and stepping out to get something.

The door closed behind him, and suddenly... the house became too quiet. It was just the housekeeper and his elder brother, Adrian.

I sat on the edge of the couch, my legs bouncing uncontrollably. I didn't know why I felt nervous. Maybe it was because my boyfriend recently moved in with his brother or because Adrian was around. I haven't seen him in six years.

After a full minute of silence, my anxiety refused to stay still.

"Fine. I'll just... look around. Nothing serious. Just walking. Breathing." I told myself.

I wandered up the stairs, trailing my fingers along the polished wooden handrail. The hallway was lined with paintings, mostly landscapes and a few portraits. I recognized Liam in some of them, smiling with childish confidence. And then, beside him, was Adrian Ryder, Liam's older brother. The family's pride. The man I'd crushed on stupidly the first time I ever saw him years ago, long before Liam became more than a friend.

I swallowed, forcing myself to look away from the photo. You're with Liam now. Stop thinking nonsense.

My feet kept moving, and soon I noticed a door slightly opened.

I don't know what possessed me, curiosity, maybe. So I pushed open the slightly ajar door and stepped inside.

"Hello...?" I whispered but didn't get a reply.

It was a bedroom. Neat, scent of expensive cologne, dark sheets perfectly folded, a watch on the nightstand.

Then I heard the soft swish of water.

Before I could register it, the bathroom door swung open. There he was just coming out of the bathroom. Naked.

I froze on the spot, my heart slamming against my ribs.

Adrian's head turned, and his eyes locked on me. For a moment, the world shrank until it was just the two of us, and I felt my knees threaten to buckle. He looked calm and unbothered. Almost like he wasn't surprised.

"I'm so... sorry." I forced myself to turn quickly, trying to unsee what I just saw.

I blinked, trying to scramble for words that wouldn't make me sound like a total fool. "I-I was just... I mean, I wanted to take a tour." My voice faltered and trailed off.

Adrian tilted his head slightly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "You shouldn't be in here," he said, his voice low, almost amused.

My cheeks flamed hotter than I thought possible. I wanted to die or disappear.

I faced him again avoiding his torso, my entire face flushed so hot it felt like boiling water.

My voice trembled. "The door was open, I thought the room was empty-please just put something on!"

He exhaled, slow and unbothered. "Turn around."

"You can look now."

I turned back hesitantly.

He wrapped himself with a towel, water glistening on his skin, his hair pushed back in messy wet strands.

Adrian, the man I had pretended not to stare at whenever Liam showed me family photos. And here he was, half-dressed. Inches away, looking at me like I was the strange one.

He stepped toward me, and instinctively I stepped back, bumping against the doorframe. Why is he moving toward me? My chest heaved in panic.

"Why exactly are you here?"

"I-I wasn't supposed to be upstairs," I whispered, embarrassed beyond repair. "Liam stepped out for a moment and I was just nervous, and the door was open, and I wandered."

He raised a brow. "Into my bedroom."

My mouth fell open. "I swear I didn't know it was yours. I wasn't trying to... to see anything."

He rested a hand on the doorframe, studying me with those unreadable dark eyes.

"You've grown," he murmured suddenly, almost to himself.

I swallowed hard, fumbling for the courage to speak. "I'll just go."

Before I could turn, he leaned slightly against the doorframe, blocking my exit. "Not so fast," he said softly. "You don't get to just walk in and-" His words cut off as my eyes inadvertently dropped, and my face heated even more.

Oh my God. Focus. Just focus.

I finally managed to push past him, muttering a nervous apology, my cheeks burning, hands shaking. I didn't look back.

Once in the hallway, I pressed my hands to my face and let out a shaky breath. Okay, Nicole. Just... breathe. It was a mistake.

But still I had no idea why Adrian kept invading my thoughts.

______________

I don't know why I agreed to stay for lunch.

Actually... I do.

Liam smiled at me like I was the only person in the world, kissing my forehead when he came back from and I couldn't open my mouth to say, "Oh, by the way, I walked into your brother's room and saw him naked."

So here I was sitting at the Ryder dining table, hands shaking under the tablecloth, praying the ground would open and swallow me whole.

Liam sat beside me, chatting calmly, completely unaware of the panic inside me.

While Adrian sat across from us. Looking composed as if he hadn't just been bare and dripping in front of me ten minutes ago.

I couldn't look up, my spoon trembled against the bowl.

Liam leaned toward me. "Are you okay? You look flushed."

I forced a laugh. "Hot. It's just hot in here."

It wasn't hot, it was Adrian.

He hadn't spoken a word since he came downstairs. He simply sat, elbows on the table, fingers tapping lightly against his glass in slow, rhythmic beats.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Liam asked again, touching my arm gently.

I nodded fast. "Y-yes. Perfect." Another lie, because the real reason I couldn't breathe was sitting right in front of me, wearing a fitted black shirt that still clung slightly to his damp skin. His hair was still wet, pushed back in that effortless way that made his jawline look even sharper.

I felt his gaze before I saw it. When I finally, stupidly, lifted my eyes, he was already staring at me.

God. I looked away instantly, stabbing my fork into my salad like it offended me.

Liam didn't notice, but Adrian did.

He cleared his throat. "So, Nicole," he said. "I heard you're studying nursing."

My head snapped up. "Uh, yes. I mean-yes, sir."

Sir, I called him sir.

A flicker of amusement passed through his eyes. "Relax. I'm not your professor."

He said it calmly, but the sound slid through me like heat.

Liam smiled proudly. "She's top of her class."

"Is that so?" Adrian asked, his gaze shifting to Liam, then back to me. "She seems... very determined."

Then Liam laughed and leaned over to kiss my lips, and I swear my soul left my body again not because of the kiss, but because Adrian's eyes flicked to my lips when Liam pulled away.

A rush of guilt slammed into me.

"You okay?" Liam asked, noticing my stiff posture.

I forced a tight smile. "Just nervous. I have exams to prepare for."

Liam squeezed my hand under the table.

Adrian spoke quietly. "You were upstairs earlier."

My heart dropped.

Liam looked at him. "Upstairs? Really? Why?"

My mouth dried instantly. "I was just looking around. I didn't know which rooms were used."

Liam nodded casually, no suspicion in his voice.

But Adrian's gaze held mine.

"Well," Adrian said softly, "next time... be careful which doors you open."

The fork almost fell from my hand.

Liam laughed, but it seemed forced. "Yeah, this place is a maze. You probably walked into the guest room."

Adrian's lips twitched, just slightly.

"That must be it," Adrian said smoothly, his gaze never leaving mine. "A very... unexpected surprise for both of us."

My pulse skyrocketed.

Liam didn't notice.

But I knew Adrian wasn't going to forget what happened either. And even worse...neither could I.