Chapter 1The Girl with the Sweetest Smile

My mom sent me on an errand to my brother’s place, to drop something off for his girlfriend.

So I did what any sister would do: I barged right in.

And was greeted by the sight of a half-naked god with abs so sharp they could cut glass.

My brain short-circuited. But, hey, love is love.

With a quavering voice and tears welling in my eyes, I managed to stammer, “So… you’re the lucky lady? Hi!”

My brother’s voice, dripping with venom, echoed from behind me.

“Full points for politeness, Ellie. But my actual girlfriend is standing right behind you.”

Me: ???

* * *

Oh. My. God.

I whipped around to meet the gaze of my brother’s actual girlfriend—a woman with stunningly beautiful eyes. My face instantly went supernova-hot. I wanted the floor to swallow me whole, to randomly teleport me to another dimension. Anywhere but here.

My brother, Ethan, grabbed me by the collar of my shirt, his voice a furious whisper in my ear. “Ellie, what in the hell is going on inside that head of yours?”

Then he bent down, snatched a white T-shirt from the sofa, and chucked it at the guy. “Put this on, man. My girlfriend can’t stop staring.”

A pang of grief shot through my heart.

I couldn’t speak for his girlfriend, but my eyes were definitely glued.

And I hadn't gotten a good enough look yet!

The man just let out a low, amused chuckle. He casually pulled the shirt over his head, and a few drops of water from his damp hair flicked onto the back of my hand. They felt cool against my skin.

“What are you doing back so early?” he asked Ethan.

Ethan shot him a glare. “Mom called and said my little sister was on her way. I was worried her overactive imagination would conjure up some home invasion scenario, so I came back to make sure you were safe.” He paused, his voice dropping an octave. “Turns out, she imagined a boyfriend-in-law instead.”

The last words were ground out between clenched teeth.

I was being publicly shamed and didn't dare utter a single word in my defense.

The guy, however, looked completely relaxed. He sized Ethan up with narrowed eyes.

“Ethan, buddy,” he said, his tone laced with amusement. “Even if my tastes suddenly took a sharp left turn, you’re not exactly the kind of prize I’d be after.”

“So, relax.”