CH 1-10

Summary

🌶️🌶️🌶️When Daniella moves to a new city, all she wants is a fresh start. What she finds instead is a bond that defies logic, limits, and every rule written. Three men—each dangerously hot, fiercely loyal, and maddeningly different—fall for her in ways she never imagined. But desire isn’t simple. Love isn’t safe. And the past refuses to stay buried. Now, tangled in passion and hunted by darkness, Dani must decide: can she trust them not just with her heart, but her life?

Chapter 1

POV: Daniella

I didn’t move to this town to fall for anyone. Neither for anyones.

I came for a clean slate, a stable job, and, if I was lucky, a shitty little apartment with decent water pressure and no ghosts of my past. Romance wasn’t part of the plan. I was done with men—especially the dangerously charming kind who smiled like they’d never been hurt.

So of course, the first person I met was exactly that kind.

“Hey,” the guy behind the gym counter said, eyes gleaming with something too warm for a stranger. “First time here?”

His voice was smooth. Friendly. Teasing. But what really got me was the way his hazel eyes sparkled, golden flecks catching in the light like fire.

He was… hot.

Tall and athletic, with dark blond hair pulled into a short bun, a jawline that could cut glass, and arms that definitely didn’t skip arm day. He wore a tight black tank that clung to his chest like it was made for him.

Shit.

“Is it that obvious?” I asked, trying not to blush under his gaze.

“A little,” he said, grinning. “But you’ve got potential.”

He held out his hand. “I’m Robert Heinmeir. But everyone calls me Bob.”

I took it, pulse already speeding up. His hand was warm and confident, his grip just firm enough to make my knees soften for half a second.

“Daniella,” I said. “Daniella Moore, new in town. New job. New everything.”

“Clean slate girl,” he nodded with approval, like it meant something more. “Welcome to FitZone. I’m a personal trainer here—if you want help getting started, I’ve got you.”

Before I could reply, the gym door swung open behind me.

And two more men walked in—both stunning in completely different ways.

The first one had rich brown hair, just messy enough to look careless but not lazy. His dark eyes scanned the room like he was gathering intel. He wore a button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up, exposing tanned forearms and long fingers. Intense. Quiet. Smart. Definitely the brooding type.

The second man moved with a kind of casual authority that made my breath hitch. He was taller, broader, with black hair, ice-blue eyes, and a calm, commanding presence that made my skin buzz. Everything about him said protector. Enforcer. Dangerous.

And they were walking toward me.

My heart thudded hard against my ribs. My palms went a little damp. My lungs forgot how to breathe for a second.

Bob lifted a hand. “Speak of the devils. Daniella, meet my roommates. Nathaniel Martin and Adrian Bauer, Nate and Ace.”

“Daniella Moore, they live with you?” I asked, trying to sound neutral even as my body screamed what is this place and how do I never leave it?

“Unfortunately,” Nate muttered, barely looking at me—until he did. His eyes lingered for a beat too long, like he was analyzing me molecule by molecule.

“Job transfer or heartbreak?” Ace asked, his voice low and steady.

I blinked at him. “Excuse me?”

He shrugged one shoulder. “Newcomers usually fall into one of those categories.”

I hesitated. “Little of both.”

Ace’s mouth twitched, barely a smile. “Welcome, then.”

Bob clapped his hands dramatically. “Okay, so—new rule. You two don’t talk to her. At all. That way she doesn’t become off-limits.”

Nate snorted. “Too late. We already saw her.”

“I saw her first,” Bob shot back, mock-serious, crossing his arms like he was laying down the law.

Ace arched a brow. “Or you’re just trying to call dibs.”

“She walked in, made eye contact with me, and I was being friendly.”

“You were drooling,” Nate muttered.

“I was smiling,” Bob countered.

Ace gave me a look—calm, amused, sharp. “What exactly did you walk into, Daniella?”

“I honestly have no idea,” I said, trying not to laugh.

“Okay, enough,” Nate said, stepping in like the voice of reason—which somehow made him even more attractive. “We all saw her. So, she’s off-limits. End of discussion. She’ll be our friend. Nothing romantic.”

And just like that, they were back to being weirdly intense about a rule I didn’t understand.

Bob groaned. “I hate this rule.”

“Is it a real rule?” I asked.

“Oh, it’s real,” Nate replied. “We made a pact years ago. No romantic involvement with people we all hang out with. Keeps the peace.”

“You say that like you’ve had… incidents,” I said slowly.

All three of them said nothing. Which was a very loud answer.

“Wow,” I blinked. “Are you seriously arguing about who’s allowed to flirt with me—while I’m standing right here?”

That broke them.

They laughed. Loud and unapologetic.

And yet, beneath the teasing and the banter, something unspoken flickered between us—a crackling tension, sharp and undeniable. I felt it in my chest, in my breath, in the heat gathering low in my belly.

This wasn’t harmless.

“I like her,” Nate said, eyes not leaving mine.

“Too bad she’s off-limits,” Bob added, flashing a grin that landed somewhere between charming and lethal. “Unless you want to find another trainer.”

“Wait—are you my trainer now?”

“If you want me to be,” he said, his voice dipping into something husky and warm. “I’ll take care of you.”

My mouth went dry. My whole body leaned into the moment, into him, into the promise curling behind those five little words.

God help me, I wanted to say yes.

If I thought training with Bob would be simple, I was wrong.

It was heat and tension disguised as fitness.

He led me through the machines, demonstrating each move with smooth, practiced ease, his body a constant distraction. Every time he touched me to adjust my form—his hands firm on my hips, a brush along my lower back—I felt it everywhere.

Heart pounding. Breath hitching. Skin buzzing like I’d been plugged into the wall.

“You’re really tense,” he said, stepping behind me during a set of lunges.

“No idea why,” I muttered, staring straight ahead at the mirror, trying not to look at the way his eyes lingered on my legs.

“Hmm,” he said, low and teasing. “Must be the new-girl nerves.”

Or the fact that he was all golden skin and heat at my back.

From across the gym, I spotted Nate and Ace leaning against the wall, both sipping smoothies and watching us like this was some kind of private show. Nate gave a slow smirk. Ace didn’t smile—his stare was intense, unreadable.

Great. No pressure at all.

“You’re doing fine,” Bob murmured, stepping in again. His hand slid over my waist, his breath near my ear. “You don’t have to be perfect. Just keep moving.”

My legs almost gave out—not from the lunge, but from the way his voice wrapped around me.

“You really don’t care about that rule, huh?” I asked, more breath than voice.

He straightened and shrugged, cocky grin in place. “I hate that rule.”

“Thought it was sacred.”

“It’s not real if it stops me from doing this right.”

“This?” I raised a brow.

He didn’t answer. Just reached out, tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear, and let his fingers trail a moment longer than they needed to.

My stomach flipped.

By the time we finished the session, I was flushed, breathless, and sore in places I didn’t know had muscles.

Nate and Ace called out goodbyes from the lobby.

“You coming?” Nate asked Bob.

Bob shook his head. “I’m closing up in a bit. I’ll see you guys later.”

They exchanged a look, then left.

I stayed behind, grabbing my bag from the locker room. The space was quiet now, echoing with the hum of overhead lights and the distant clang of weights. I didn’t hear Bob come in—just felt his presence behind me as I closed my locker.

“You survived,” he said, voice lower in the empty room.

“Barely.”

“You’ll be sore tomorrow.”

“I already am,” I said, and turned to face him.

We were too close. The kind of close that could be brushed off as accidental—if either of us wanted it to be.

I didn’t step back.

He didn’t move either.

Bob reached out, fingers skimming the strap of my gym bag. “You’re stronger than you think.”

“You barely know me.”

“I’m a trainer,” he said. “It’s kind of my thing.”

I laughed, soft and unsure.

Then he leaned in—and everything slowed.

His hand came up to my face, thumb brushing the corner of my mouth. His eyes flicked down, then back to mine, searching. Asking.

I didn’t stop him.

His lips touched mine—slow and soft at first, like a question.

And when I answered by leaning in, he deepened it.

The kiss went from warm to wild in a heartbeat.

His hand slid into my hair, the other gripping my hip. I melted against him, tasting salt and heat and something that made me want to burn it all down for another second. My back hit the locker door, and his mouth claimed mine like he’d been starving for it.

God, he tasted good.

I gasped when he pulled back, just enough to let us breathe.

“I want to see you again,” he said, voice rough. “Same time tomorrow?”

My head spun. I should’ve hesitated.

I didn’t.

“Yeah,” I breathed.

His smile was pure trouble. “Good. I’ll make you sweat.”

Chapter 2

POV: Daniella

I didn’t sleep.

Every time I closed my eyes, I felt his mouth again—warm, sure, and tasting like heat and danger and every wrong thing I wanted.

Bob My new personal trainer. My new off-limits personal trainer.

And I’d kissed him. Let him kiss me. Pressed my body into his like I didn’t care about rules or reason or reality.

God, what the hell had I done?

I shifted in bed, tangled in my sheets, still wearing the oversized T-shirt I’d thrown on after my shower. It was nearly dawn now, and the air was cool against my skin, but I was burning. My lips tingled. My body still hummed in places I didn’t want to name.

Worse, when I did finally drift off for twenty, maybe thirty minutes, my dreams betrayed me.

Bob’s hands on my hips. Nate’s voice in my ear—low, teasing, smooth as velvet.

Ace’s eyes on me. Not touching. Just looking.

But that gaze felt like a touch.

I woke up gasping.

What is happening to me?

I’d come to this town to start over. Clean slate. New job. No drama.

And now I couldn’t think straight because three ridiculously hot men had decided I was off-limits—only for one of them to break the rule the same day.

And I’d let him. No. I wanted him to.

“I’ll take care of you.”

His words echoed in my chest like they belonged there.

I pressed my hands to my face and groaned.

Okay, Daniella. Focus. You have a real job now. Be normal. Be professional. No kissing. No swooning over gym gods with abs and rules.

The clinic was clean and bright, humming with soft conversation and the faint scent of coffee and mint oil. I arrived early and made a beeline for the staff breakroom, still trying to shake off the way my body remembered Bob’s kiss. His voice. The way I’d nearly melted in the locker room.

No. Focus. New day. New job. New Daniella—one who didn’t let hot personal trainers turn her into a puddle of hormones.

“Hey!” a voice called from behind me, chipper and warm. “You’re the newbie, right?”

I turned and found a woman with rich brown skin, soft curls bouncing around her face, and the kind of open, instant smile that made people feel safe.

“I’m Maria. Physical therapist here. If you’re looking for the good coffee, it’s not in the machine—it’s hidden in the bottom drawer of that cabinet.” She pointed like she’d done it a hundred times.

I laughed. “Daniella. Or Dani.Not Dan though, unless you’re picking a fight.”

Maria grinned. “Duly noted. You new in town?”

“Yeah. Just got here a few days ago. Still figuring things out. Trying to make some friends.”

“You’ve got one now,” she said without hesitation. “Me.”

That made me smile. “Thanks. I’m… making some others too. At the gym.”

“Ooooh,” Maria said, dragging out the word. “Well, now I’m curious.”

I waved her off, laughing. “It’s nothing. Just new people. But yeah, gym’s been… interesting.”

We chatted a little more—Maria was funny, bright, clearly someone I could count on—but I didn’t say anything else. Some things felt too new, too messy to say out loud. Especially when I was still tangled in them.

But when the workday ended and I changed back into leggings and a soft, form-fitting tank top, my stomach flipped.

Because I wasn’t just heading to the gym.

I was heading to them.

And even if Bob had asked to meet me again—same time, same place—I couldn’t stop wondering if I’d see Ace. Or Nate.

The gym buzzed with the sound of music and machines. The smell of sweat, metal, and protein powder hit me the moment I walked in. Familiar. Strangely comforting.

And then I saw him.

Nate.

He stood near the smoothie bar, holding a tall cup in one hand, sweat still glistening on his neck like he’d just finished training. His gray shirt clung to him in all the right places, and he looked up the second I stepped inside.

Eyes locked. Smile slow.

“Dan,” he said, stepping toward me like he’d been waiting. “Hey.”

Dan?

Only my brothers had ever called me that. But from him… it felt different. Teasing. Personal. Intimate.

“Hey,” I said, trying not to stare. He looked like the cover of a fitness magazine—but smarter. Like he could bench press me and solve a rare brain disorder.

“Bob asked me to let you know he’s running a few minutes late,” he said, holding out his smoothie. “You want some?”

I blinked. “You’re offering me your smoothie?”

“Yeah,” he said, licking a drop off his lower lip—slowly. His eyes didn’t leave mine. “I’m clean. Doctor’s honor.”

I hesitated, then took it, sipping slowly from the straw. His mouth had been here. His lips had touched this.

I looked up at him, and something in me tightened. God, he was beautiful.

His lips—full, curved, smooth—should have been illegal. I imagined running my tongue across them. Feeling them crush against mine. I wanted to know if he kissed like he talked. Thoughtful. Deep. Slow.

Then his phone buzzed. A hospital logo lit the screen.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

He glanced at it, then back at me. “Yeah. Just a reminder. I’ve got a few more patients this evening.”

I tilted my head. “You work at the hospital?”

“Yeah. Pediatric neurology.”

“Wow,” I said, honestly impressed. “I didn’t know that.”

“I don’t usually lead with it.” He shrugged, modest. “But yeah. Kids mostly. It’s a lot, but I love it.”

I smiled. “That’s incredible. I just started at a new physio clinic, actually.”

He lit up. “That’s awesome. Actually… do you mind if I get your number? I’ve got a couple of patients who’d really benefit from physio. Might be good to send them your way.”

I raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Professional number? Or personal?”

He stepped closer, voice low. “Both. Definitely both.”

Heat licked up my spine as I handed him my phone. He tapped in his number, then sent himself a text from mine.

“Now I’ve got you,” he said softly, almost like a secret.

“Who’s got who?” a voice interrupted from behind me.

I turned. Bob.

He was in black again, hair damp from a shower, eyes dark and teasing. He looked down at me with the same cocky heat he had last night—only now, I saw something else under it. Hunger.

“I do,” Nate said casually.

Bob shot him a look, then turned to me. “You giving your number to everyone now, baby doll?”

My stomach flipped. “You didn’t ask.”

“I’m asking now.”

I handed him the phone without a word. He added his name with a little fire emoji. Of course he did.

“Hey, don’t leave me out,” came a quiet voice behind us.

Ace.

He was standing there with arms crossed and a crooked smirk. When I handed him the phone, his fingers brushed mine—barely. But I felt it all the way down my spine. He didn’t say much, just typed Ace and handed it back.

“I feel like I’m in a weird episode of The Bachelorette,” I muttered.

Bob grinned. “Only difference is we’re all keeping you.”

I swallowed.

Bob tilted his head. “You ready to train, sweetheart?”

I nodded, heat rising in my chest. “Let’s do it.”

The training floor was quieter now. Most of the late crowd had cleared out, leaving behind the hum of machines, the faint clang of weights, and the electric current pulsing between me and Bob.

Nate had said his goodbyes with a warm squeeze of my hand and a grin that lingered in my bloodstream way longer than it should have. But the second he stepped away, it was like the air changed. Denser. Hotter.

Bob took over.

“You warmed up already?” he asked, voice low, fingers adjusting the strap on my wrist guard like it was a necklace, not gym gear.

“Yeah,” I said, breath hitching. “Warmed up. Definitely.”

“Good,” he murmured, eyes locked on mine. “Because I’ve been thinking about this session since last night.”

“Just the session?” I teased, trying to hide the shiver racing down my spine.

He smirked. “Start with your arms. I’ll spot.”

And he did. His hands lingered a second too long. His body moved just a little too close behind mine. Every time I lifted, I felt him—heat, breath, presence. It was maddening.

Halfway through, Ace strolled over, towel draped around his neck. His quiet calm was a strange contrast to Bob’s fire, but the way he looked at me—steady, almost unreadable—lit something deep in my belly.

“You’re torturing her,” he said to Bob, his tone lazy but amused.

“She likes it,” Bob answered, not even looking away from me. “Don’t you, baby doll?”

I gave a breathless laugh. “I plead the fifth.”

Ace leaned against the wall. “You know, if you need backup, I can run the next set with you.”

“Team effort?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

He shrugged, but the corner of his mouth twitched. “You’re worth the effort.”

Between sets, the three of us chatted—light, teasing. I found out Ace was into photography, had a dry wit that came out in flashes, and could spot someone’s form from across the room like it was instinct. Bob rolled his eyes at half of what he said, but the affection between them was obvious.

They were friends. Family, almost.

And somehow, I was being pulled into their gravity.

When the last rep was done and I was panting, sweat-soaked, and high on endorphins, Bob passed me a towel and grinned. “You crushed it.”

“You crushed me,” I muttered.

He laughed. “So, I’ve got a question.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Only one?”

“Come have a beer with us,” he said, towel slung over his shoulder. “Back at the apartment.”

Ace glanced over, quiet but watchful.

I hesitated. “Nate won’t be there?”

“He’s working late at the hospital,” Bob said, then added with a grin, “I asked for a beer, not a foursome.”

I rolled my eyes, but he was right—I knew the reason I was hesitating. It wasn’t about being tired, or overwhelmed, or needing to be up early.

It was them.

The three of them.

I’d tried to walk away from the heat, the pull, the impossible tangle of chemistry and charm and unspoken rules.

But it was already too late.

“I could definitely use a beer,” I said, wiping the sweat from my neck. “After the case I finished today, I earned it.”

Bob’s smile was slow and satisfied, the kind of smile that promised trouble.

Ace just grabbed his bag, gave me a look like he already knew I’d say yes.

Chapter 3

POV: Daniella

I took the quickest post-workout shower of my life, nerves buzzing beneath my skin like a current I couldn’t turn off. I didn’t even bother drying my hair fully, just twisted it up and hoped the air outside would do the rest.

When I stepped out of the locker room, they were already waiting for me.

Bob leaned casually against the gym’s glass doors, keys twirling around his finger like he didn’t have a single worry in the world. Ace stood next to him, hands in his pockets, quiet and observant, blue beautiful eyes looking straight at me. They looked like something out of a movie—two flavors of temptation, both impossible to ignore.

Bob grinned when he saw me. “There she is. You clean up nice, beautiful.”

Beautiful. It hit me low and warm, curling in my chest.

“Ready?” he asked, pushing the door open and gesturing me through.

“Depends,” I said, teasing. “Are you always this dramatic or is it just for me?”

Ace chuckled. “Mostly you.”

Their apartment was way too nice.

High ceilings, exposed brick, and low lighting that gave everything a warm golden glow. It didn’t scream three guys live here, it whispered it—with leather couches, a spotless kitchen, and a scent I couldn’t place but now wanted bottled and labeled Trouble. Warm spices, cedarwood, a hint of bergamot. And probably sin.

Bob kicked the door closed behind me. “Make yourself at home, Danny.”

He tossed his gym bag to the side and walked straight to the kitchen, cracking open two beers. He handed me one, the bottle cold against my palm, and our fingers brushed.

Heat curled through me. Again.

“I like the place,” I said, sipping. “Didn’t expect it to be this… civilized.”

Bob smirked. “That’s all Ace’s fault. I’d be fine with bean bags and bad lighting.”

“I have standards,” Ace called from the hallway, reappearing in a fitted T-shirt that made my brain short-circuit. “And a back that doesn’t tolerate bean bags.”

I laughed, the beer already buzzing in my blood.

Bob grabbed a blanket from the back of the couch as we settled in. “It’s cold. You’ll need this,” he said innocently, draping it across our laps—strategically making sure his leg pressed against mine under the softness.

Sneaky bastard.

He handed me a beer, and we started a card game that involved a lot of bluffing, yelling, and fake accusations of cheating. Bob lost every round but swore he let us win. Ace just smirked and kept score like a smug king.

At some point, Bob’s hand slipped under the blanket and rested on my thigh. I tried not to react, but my whole body tensed, then melted when his fingers traced a slow, infuriating line just above my knee. Casual. Playful. Deliberate.

“You’re squirming,” he murmured low, his breath ghosting over my ear.

“You’re provoking,” I muttered back.

“Not even trying. Yet.”

To distract myself, I turned to Ace. “So, what kind of law do you practice?”

“Corporate,” he said, sipping his beer. “Contracts, litigation. I just closed a case today, actually—something involving a high-end tech merger. No sleep for the last three days.”

“Sounds intense.”

He shrugged, but there was pride in his voice. “It is. But I like the pressure. Keeps me sharp.”

“You seem sharp.”

“Do I?” He looked at me then, something unreadable flickering behind those ocean blue eyes. “What about you? What makes you tick?”

I blinked. “I’m a physiotherapist. Just started at a clinic downtown.”

His eyes softened. “Helping people heal. That’s good work.”

For a moment, it felt like we were the only two in the room.

But then Ace stood, rolling his neck. “Alright. I need a shower. Don’t let Bob convince you to break any rules while I’m gone.”

“I’m an angel,” Bob called after him.

“You’re a menace,” Ace said, disappearing into the hallway.

The second the bathroom door clicked shut, I stood to grab another beer, grateful for the break from the heat blooming between my thighs.

But I didn’t make it far.

Bob followed. When I opened the fridge, he stepped behind me, his chest against my back, his hand closing gently over mine as I reached for the bottle.

“Let me,” he murmured.

I turned, breath catching.

And then he kissed me.

It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t careful.

It was everything.

His lips crashed into mine with all the pressure of a man who’d been holding back for too long. His hand cupped the back of my neck, the other sliding to my waist, pulling me into him—into the hard line of his body, into the unmistakable press of his arousal against my stomach.

I gasped, and he swallowed the sound like it belonged to him.

My hands were in his hair before I even knew what I was doing, tugging, anchoring, needing. He groaned, a low, raw sound that vibrated against my mouth, and his grip tightened.

“Beautiful,” he whispered into my lips. “You taste like sin.”

I was melting. Burning. Drenched in heat and needing more.

Until—

The front door creaked open.

Bob tore his mouth from mine just as Nate walked in, a duffel bag over one shoulder, still in scrubs, his curls messy from the wind.

His brown eyes flicked between us, lips parting slightly. “Am I early?”

“Nope,” Bob said, casual as hell, already putting space between us. “Perfect timing.”

I blinked, trying to compose myself, heart slamming against my ribs.

Nate gave me a small smile. “You look flushed.”

“I—I just grabbed a beer,” I said, grabbing one and holding it out to him. “Want one?”

He took it, his fingers brushing mine, eyes narrowing slightly. “Thanks, Dan.”

The nickname sent a jolt through me. So different from beautiful, but it landed just as hard.

Bob leaned against the counter, cracking open his own bottle, acting like he hadn’t just made me see stars. Like we weren’t hiding something.

Maybe we were.

Maybe I didn’t care.

The kitchen light buzzed low above us, casting a golden haze over everything. I still tasted Bob on my lips, the ghost of his kiss heavy with heat, and the weight of it was only amplified by the arrival of Nate.

He leaned against the counter beside me, a beer in one hand, his other still brushing water droplets from his neck with a towel. His eyes flicked to mine. Not casual—never that. Curious. Calculating.

Bob stood just a little too close behind me, his fingers grazing the small of my back as he reached for another beer from the fridge.

“You okay?” Nate asked, head tilting. “You look a little… flushed.”

I forced a breath. “Just warm. Probably the workout.”

Bob gave a soft laugh behind me. “Yeah, I run her pretty hard.”

I elbowed him gently, trying not to combust on the spot.

Nate raised an eyebrow, smirking as he took a sip. “Speaking of running hard—I’ve got this new case. Pediatric neuro. Spinal trauma, post-op rehab. The hospital’s physio team’s overloaded, and honestly, they’re a mess.”

My heart lifted. “You want me to consult?”

“I want you to save the damn kid. And probably the department’s reputation while you’re at it.” He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I was wondering if I could come by the clinic tomorrow? Get a feel for how you work?”

Bob straightened slightly. “She’s got a full morning—”

“I’ve got time,” I cut in quickly, turning to Nate. “Come by after lunch. I’ll walk you through everything.”

“Perfect.” His gaze didn’t waver. “Thanks, baby girl.”

Time slowed.

My breath caught.

Bob’s knuckles tightened on the beer bottle.

“What did you just call her?” Bob asked, his tone light but sharpened with something under it.

Chapter 4

POV: Daniella

Nate blinked once. “Baby girl. It slipped.”

I didn’t move. Couldn’t. The way Nate said it—it didn’t feel accidental. It felt like a step forward. A line he was daring me to cross with him.

And I wanted to.

God, I wanted to.

Before I could answer, Ace’s voice broke through.

“Are you guys drinking all the cold beers without me?”

He strode in from the hall, hair damp from the shower, dark shirt sticking to his chest in all the right places. He looked good enough to sink my teeth into.

“Back in time for the party,” I teased, welcoming the distraction.

Ace walked over to grab a beer, giving me a once-over that was way too brief and way too intense.

“What’d I miss?”

“Just shop talk,” Bob muttered.

Nate smiled, slow and cool. “And nicknames.”

Ace raised a brow. “Oh? I haven’t picked one yet. I’ll need time.”

“Take your time,” I said, trying to keep my voice level, though the tension between them all wrapped around my spine like a live wire.

We stood there, all of us, sipping beers like it was normal. Like we weren’t standing in the middle of a slow-burning fire.

But the truth was—I didn’t want to run from the heat.

Not anymore.

And they didn’t seem eager to put it out.

Ace sat across from me now, his long legs stretched under the small kitchen table, swirling his beer bottle between his palms. He was calm, quiet—watchful. But there was something behind his eyes. Something deep.

“You from around here?” he asked, voice smooth and low.

I shook my head. “Not really. I moved here for the job. Needed a change of scenery.”

His gaze didn’t move from mine. “Good change?”

I hesitated, and then glanced around at the three of them—Nate leaning against the counter again, flipping through something on his phone; Bob pretending not to be watching me over the rim of his bottle; and Ace, right here, looking like he could see straight into the mess of my thoughts.

I smiled faintly. “So far? Yeah. A good change.”

Ace gave a small nod, like he approved of my answer, then looked away. But the energy didn’t fade. It just shifted again. Coiled tighter.

I turned to Nate. “So… tomorrow?”

He looked up. “After lunch. I’ll bring coffee, and you can show me how much smarter you are than our entire rehab department.”

“Deal,” I said.

But it was getting late. And I had an early start at the clinic.

I stood, brushing my hands on my thighs. “Alright. I should go.”

Bob was already rising. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

“You don’t have to—” I started, but he was already moving.

“You do realize,” Nate said, pointing his bottle at Bob, “this is exactly why we made the rule.”

“Yeah,” Ace chimed in, smirking. “You’re about to break it in real-time, and we’re all just supposed to pretend it’s fine?”

Bob didn’t even look back. “I’m just making sure she gets to her car safely.”

“Uh-huh,” Nate said, deadpan.

“Scout’s honor,” Bob added, opening the door.

I rolled my eyes and waved to the others. “Night, boys.”

“Night, Dan,” Nate said.

“Night, Moore,” Ace added, and something about the way he said my last name gave me goosebumps.

Outside, the night air was crisp, cooler than before. Bob walked beside me in silence until we reached my car. I turned to him, expecting a casual goodbye.

But he didn’t stop.

He opened my door, waited for me to sit, then crouched beside me in the open space between the door and the driver’s seat.

“You’re seriously not gonna follow the rule,” I said, voice low.

He smirked. “I hate that rule.”

“You made the rule.”

“And I’m breaking it.”

His hand found my knee.

Heat flared instantly.

“I shouldn’t want this,” I whispered.

“But you do.”

I didn’t get the chance to answer.

Because Bob leaned in and kissed me—and the moment our mouths touched, everything else vanished.

The rule. The danger. The consequences.

None of it mattered.

Only him. Only now.

And when he climbed in, closing the door behind him, the only sound was our heavy breathing and the click of the lock.

Bob loomed over me in the cramped space between the console and the driver’s door, his chest rising and falling with deep, controlled breaths. My seat was already pushed all the way back, but somehow his body filled every inch of the space around me. I could feel the heat radiating from him, his scent—clean sweat, mint, something undeniably male—wrapped around me like a net I didn’t want to escape from.

His hazel eyes locked on mine, unreadable and dark with intent. One hand came to my face, large and warm, his thumb brushing slowly across my cheekbone. My breath caught.

“I still can’t believe you’re real,” he murmured, voice thick and low, vibrating against my skin.

Then he kissed me.

And just like that, I forgot how to breathe.

It wasn’t a gentle kiss. It was deep and hot and so full of need I felt it down to my toes. My hands flew up to his arms, to the hard line of his shoulders, clutching at him like a lifeline. His mouth moved with mine like he knew every step of this dance already, like he’d memorized it before we ever touched.

When he paused, just enough for air, I gasped, “We shouldn’t be doing this.”

His lips curved into a dangerous grin. “The fact that we shouldn’t is exactly what makes it so fucking hot.”

Then his mouth dropped to my neck, and I tipped my head back, completely lost. His tongue traced the line of my pulse. I whimpered. My thighs pressed together from the pressure building inside me.

He didn’t stop.

His hands slid down my body, slow and reverent, until they were gripping the tops of my thighs. I felt my skirt bunch as he pushed the fabric higher, exposing skin to the cool night air and to the heat of his touch. His mouth returned to mine, more forceful this time, and I melted beneath him.

I’d never felt like this. Not with anyone. Not even close.

With Bob, it wasn’t just the heat—it was how he looked at me, like I was worth breaking rules for. It was the way he touched me like he needed to, like something in him would unravel if he didn’t. It was the way he made me feel: alive, sexy, wanted.

And I wanted him just as much.

My hands explored his chest, his stomach, the solid line of muscle beneath his hoodie. He groaned into my mouth as I let my fingers drift lower, over the waistband of his sweatpants, pausing just long enough to make him twitch under my touch.

He broke the kiss and pressed his forehead to mine, eyes hooded. “You’re playing a dangerous game, beautiful.”

I bit my lip, staring at his mouth. “I like dangerous.”

He growled something low and filthy under his breath and claimed my lips again—hard, urgent. One hand slipped between my legs, dragging my panties to the side with ease. I was already soaked for him.

“Fuck,” he whispered. “You’re so wet for me. God, you’re perfect.”

His thumb brushed over my clit, slowly at first, like he wanted to memorize my reactions. My hips jerked into his touch, and a moan escaped me before I could stop it.

“Don’t hide it,” he said, his voice low and coaxing. “Let me hear how good I make you feel.”

Then he slid one thick finger inside me, and my entire body shuddered. He didn’t rush. He moved with maddening precision, curling just right, while his thumb teased me in circles. His other hand slipped under my shirt, finding my nipple and rolling it between his fingers.

My breath came in ragged pants, the buildup crashing into me like a wave I couldn’t fight.

“Oh my God, Bob…”

“I got you, beautiful. Let go for me.”

And I did.

The orgasm tore through me, raw and unexpected, my cry swallowed by his mouth as he kissed me through it, holding me tightly as I trembled beneath him.

I was gasping, my lungs trying to catch up, but my desire for him only grew. My body was still trembling from the orgasm, my skin flushed and hypersensitive, but my hand had a mind of its own. It slid down, boldly cupping the thick, rigid length of him beneath his sweatpants.

Jesus.

He was massive. Hot and hard and pulsing beneath my fingers.

Chapter 5

POV: Daniella

Bob’s breath hitched as I stroked him through the fabric. Then, without a word, he moved.

It shouldn’t have been possible in the cramped space of my front seat—but somehow, he made it happen. One moment I was beneath him, the next he’d shifted us so I was straddling his lap, his back pressed against the seat, mine against the steering wheel. His strength was effortless. He moved me like I weighed nothing.

I sat over him, feeling his heat, his tension, the pressure of his cock between us, still clothed but demanding attention. My skirt had bunched high around my hips, and the thin fabric of my panties was already soaked through.

With shaking hands, I tugged the waistband of his sweatpants down just enough to free him.

And God.

He was thick. Long. Perfectly sculpted. My eyes widened.

“I don’t think it’s gonna fit,” I murmured before I could stop myself.

That cocky, wicked grin lit up his face. “You can take it, beautiful,” he whispered. “I know you can.”

His voice was low, almost reverent, but laced with raw hunger.

I bit my lip and reached down, shifting my panties aside. He ripped a condom wrapper with his teeth—somehow both fast and smooth—and rolled it on in one practiced move. Then he lined himself up and met my gaze.

“Come here,” he said softly.

I sank down slowly, inch by inch. My breath caught in my throat. He filled me so deep, so wide, that it stole every thought from my mind. My hands gripped his shoulders, and I moaned—loud and raw—when I bottomed out.

“Fuck, you feel…” he didn’t even finish. His head fell back against the seat. His jaw clenched, muscles twitching as he fought to stay still.

I held still too, stunned by how full I felt. No one had ever stretched me like this before. I felt… wrecked already. And I hadn’t even moved yet.

His knuckles were white where he gripped the edges of the seat, holding himself back.

He was letting me lead.

And that—being the one in control—turned me on even more.

So I moved.

Slow, teasing rolls of my hips. He let out a broken groan, hands still locked in place like he was resisting the urge to slam up into me. His restraint was beautiful. His body shook with it. But I wanted more.

I wanted him to lose it with me.

I started to ride him harder, feeling the way his cock dragged over every sensitive nerve inside me. I ground down until he hit that spot that made stars explode behind my eyes. My moans turned into gasps, into little broken cries.

“That’s it,” he groaned. “Ride me just like that. You’re so fucking good, Dan… So tight. So perfect.”

His hips started moving with mine, syncing into a rhythm that drove me higher. My body was on fire. My hands splayed over his chest, my nails digging into his hoodie, my thighs trembling with effort and pleasure.

“God,” I choked out. “I’m gonna— I’m close again.”

He reached between us, thumb finding my clit without hesitation. His voice was ragged as he whispered, “Come for me again, beautiful. Let me feel you fall apart.”

It only took a few more strokes.

My whole body locked, a cry ripping from my throat as my second orgasm crashed through me. I clenched around him so hard I felt him twitch inside me—and then he let go too.

He came with a deep grunt, hips thrusting up once, twice, as he spilled inside the condom. His forehead fell to my shoulder, arms finally wrapping around me, holding me close.

We stayed like that, tangled in the dark, our breaths mingling, our bodies slick and trembling. His fingers gently traced the curve of my spine, up and down, again and again.

I didn’t just feel wanted.

I felt cherished.

The silence that followed wasn’t empty. It pulsed with everything unsaid. My body was still wrapped around his, skin damp, breath shallow, and I could feel the echo of him deep inside me even though we were no longer moving.

He exhaled against the curve of my neck, slow and warm, like he didn’t want to break the moment either.

I didn’t know what to say.

I’d just had sex with Bob. In my car. In the dark. On the street outside their apartment.

And it hadn’t just been sex. It was… intense. Emotional. A line crossed.

I slowly lifted my head to look at him. His hair was messy, his cheeks flushed, eyes heavy-lidded—but there was something gentle there, too. Not regret. Not detachment. Just… care.

He brushed a knuckle down the side of my cheek and gave me the smallest smile. “You okay?”

I nodded, too overwhelmed to speak.

“Did I hurt you?”

“No,” I whispered. “No. You were—” My voice broke. “You were perfect.”

His arms tightened just a bit more, pulling me into his chest. “Good. That’s all I wanted.”

We stayed tangled like that for another few moments, letting our heartbeats slow, letting the weight of what we’d done settle in. I was still straddling him, the air cooling between our bodies, my skirt wrinkled, my panties askew, his sweatshirt haphazard on his shoulders.

And suddenly the world felt very real again.

“I can’t believe we did that,” I whispered.

Bob hummed low in his chest. “I can.”

I pulled back slightly to look at him. “Really?”

His gaze locked onto mine. “Dani, I’ve wanted you since the second I saw you. You feel it too—I know you do.”

I did.

God, I did.

“But we said we’d be friends,” I murmured. “There’s a rule. Your friends…”

“I know.” He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated but calm. “And I care about them. So damn much. But this… I couldn’t stop myself. I don’t want to stop.”

There was so much conflict in his voice. Desire. Guilt. Longing.

“You think they’ll know?”

“Not if we’re careful.” He paused. “But I don’t want to hide this either.”

I looked away. “It was just one time.”

“Was it?” he said, voice soft. “Because I already want it again. I want you again. All of you. And not just for sex.”

My heart stuttered.

His hand curled around the side of my neck, thumb tracing my jaw. “I really like you, Daniella. I mean it.”

That was the moment I felt my defenses crack just a little more. The sweet way he said my name. The gentle warmth behind his intensity. The raw honesty in his words.

He kissed my forehead and gently helped me back into my seat. He tucked himself in and helped me fix my clothes too, like it mattered to him that I looked comfortable. That I was okay.

“I’ll drive you home,” he said. “You shouldn’t be alone right now.”

“I was gonna—”

“Nope,” he cut me off, already buckling in. “You had two beers and a mind-blowing orgasm. You’re not driving anywhere, beautiful.”

I almost laughed, and that helped shake the tension.

“But how are you getting home?”

“I’ll grab a cab,” he said easily. “You matter more.”

My chest ached at the way he said it.

As we drove in silence for a while, I could feel the questions burning inside me. So I asked, softly, “What are you gonna tell them? Nate and Ace?”

Bob didn’t answer right away. Then, with a smirk that was both playful and full of heartache, he said, “I’ll tell them we had a really long, deep talk. One that was too good to cut short. And that I’d like to have that talk again sometime.”

I stared at him.

He glanced at me. “Unless you regret it?”

“No,” I whispered. “I don’t regret it.”

His fingers found mine between the seats and gave them a slow, grounding squeeze.

“Good. Because I don’t either.”

I barely remember how I made it up the stairs. My body was still humming, too aware of every place Bob had touched, kissed, held. He’d waited until I unlocked the door, kissed me one more time—a long, slow, toe-curling kiss that ended with his teeth gently tugging on my bottom lip—and whispered against my mouth, “Sleep well, beautiful. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Then he turned, got into the cab he’d called before even walking me up, and disappeared into the night.

I leaned on the door for a long second before locking it, then stumbled inside like I’d been drunk—not on alcohol, but on him. On all of them. On the impossible situation I was sinking into with a smile on my face and a tangle in my stomach.

I stripped off my clothes, tossed them in a pile, and walked to the bathroom in nothing but my underwear. I stood under the shower, letting the hot water burn down my back, and ran my fingers over the places that still throbbed from his hands, his mouth, his cock. I’d never felt that full in my life—not just physically, but emotionally. Like something had been cracked open.

And that scared the hell out of me.

I wrapped myself in a towel, crawled into bed, and stared at the ceiling, my wet hair clinging to my shoulders. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. I moved to this town for peace, to start over. Not to fall—face first and legs open—into the first gorgeous guy who looked at me like I was more than the sum of my past.

And not just one. No. I was already tangled in three.

Ace with his sharp tongue and quick wit.

Nate with his quiet strength and soulful eyes.

And Bob—with his flirtatious smile, filthy mouth, and surprisingly tender hands.

I wanted them. All of them. And the part that terrified me the most? I didn’t feel guilty. Not really. I just didn’t want to lose them. Their friendship. Their connection. That stupid rule hanging between us was more than just a boundary—it was a landmine. And I’d stepped right on it.

I turned on my side, hugging my pillow, and shut my eyes. But instead of sleep, I got images. Bob’s mouth on my neck. Nate’s lips wrapped around a straw while his eyes lingered on mine. Ace’s fingers brushing mine when he handed me my beer, the way he’d watched me like he was already imagining more.

God. What would it be like… all three of them?

Chapter 6

POV: Daniella

God. What would it be like… all three of them?

It was a dirty thought. A smug, forbidden fantasy. But it didn’t stop me from pressing my thighs together.

I groaned and flipped onto my stomach. No. I had to be smart. Careful. But a small part of me—the part that had said yes in the car without hesitation—was already too far gone.

Sleep came slow, thick, and full of twisted dreams I couldn’t untangle by morning. I woke to the sharp buzz of my phone and a text waiting on the screen.

Bob 🔥: Last night was… goddamn. Can’t stop thinking about you. I’ll be at the gym, same time. Can’t wait to see you, beautiful.

I stared at the message and let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. It wasn’t a one-night thing. It wasn’t a mistake to him. And the flutter in my chest told me it wasn’t to me either.

Still, my heart did a little jump at the thought of seeing Nate. And Ace. And pretending like everything was fine. Like I wasn’t breaking all the rules.

I got out of bed, grabbed a mug of coffee, and stood by the window watching the early morning light stretch over the quiet street.

Maybe this was my new beginning.

A messy one. A dangerous one. But maybe—just maybe—it was mine.

Maria’s eyes met mine the second I walked into the clinic. She didn’t even try to hide the smirk pulling at her lips.

“You’re glowing,” she said, her voice sing-song and smug as hell.

I blinked. “I am not.”

“Oh, you are. That’s a very post-orgasmic glow you’re rocking, Daniella.”

I laughed, even if my cheeks burned. “I think that’s just called moisturizer.”

She rolled her eyes. “Sure, call it what you want. But damn, girl… whatever you’re doing, keep doing it.”

I shrugged, unable to stop the grin tugging at the corners of my mouth. “Thanks, I guess.”

We laughed together before the day swept us into work. One patient after another. A sweet kid with scoliosis. An elderly man recovering from hip surgery, who insisted I reminded him of his granddaughter. I smiled and talked, and moved through the motions like normal. But inside me, everything was buzzing.

Because I couldn’t stop thinking about lunchtime.

Nate.

He had texted me mid-morning, at first saying he’d bring coffee and stop by quickly. But his second message made my stomach twist in anticipation.

Nate: Decided to bring lunch instead. Hope you’re hungry. And not just for food.

I bit back a smile, tucking the phone away. This was not normal behavior. None of this was. I had literally had sex with his roommate the night before. In my damn car. And now I was giddy over having lunch with Nate, the man who called me baby girl and looked at me like I was something fragile and precious.

I answered him with a short “See you soon :)”, then finally texted Bob back too.

I’ll be at the gym later, same time. Looking forward to it.

His reply was instant.

Bob🔥 : Can’t wait to see you, beautiful.

And now I was checking my phone like a high schooler with a crush. Except… I had three.

No messages from Ace yet. But I was starting to get the feeling he didn’t text much—he watched. Calculated. Waited.

I was in the middle of updating a patient file when I called out the next name from the list. “Alexander Blackburn?”

The name hit me like a punch to the gut.

Not the same man. Of course not. But the name…

Alexander.

My breath caught in my chest.

And suddenly I was there again.

Back in college, wearing that blue dress he used to love, waiting outside the library. He had looked at me like I hung the moon. He was charming, brilliant, magnetic. But it didn’t take long for that charm to twist into control. His jealousy. His cruelty. The emotional manipulation, the gaslighting. The bruises—some on my body, most on my mind.

He cheated. And it was the slap I needed to run. Fast. Quiet. Without looking back.

I had changed cities. Changed my phone number. Changed my damn self.

And yet… the name still made my hands tremble.

Tears stung the corners of my eyes before I could stop them. My body remembered. My heart… it ached.

Maria caught sight of me, frozen in the doorway, staring at nothing. I must’ve looked exactly how I felt—wrecked.

“Mister Blackburn, I’ll take you. Come with me,” she said gently to the man, motioning toward her office. Then she turned back to me, her voice softer. “Take a break, Dani. You can return after lunch.”

I mouthed a thank you, unable to speak through the tight knot in my throat.

I slipped into my office, letting the grief carried by that name—Alexander—wash over me. The tears fell freely now, hot and unforgiving. I’d cried too many tears for him already. He didn’t deserve any more.

I was still sitting there, motionless, when the door creaked open.

“Dan?”

I looked up.

Nate stood in the doorway, a paper bag in one hand, his brows creased with concern. He looked stupidly beautiful—like always. The blue shirt clung to his broad chest and arms in all the right ways, and those dark pants made him look like he belonged in a boardroom or a battlefield. Powerful. Commanding.

But right now, his perfect face was all softness and concern.

And it was all for me.

He took one look at me and set the bag down. “Hey. What happened?”

I wiped under my eyes fast, embarrassed. “Nothing. It’s stupid. A name just threw me off.”

He didn’t buy it, not for a second. He walked over slowly, carefully, like I might bolt.

“You don’t have to tell me,” he said gently. “But I’m here. If you want to.”

I swallowed the knot in my throat. “It was my ex. He had that name.”

Nate said nothing, but he reached for my hand. His warmth anchored me.

“It wasn’t good, huh?”

I shook my head. “It was… bad. Really bad.”

And the dam broke. I told him. Not everything. Not the worst parts. But enough. Enough to feel the weight lifting off my chest as the words came.

“I didn’t even know who I was anymore by the end of it,” I whispered. “He tore me apart, little by little, until I wasn’t even sure I deserved to be happy again. That I could trust again.”

Nate didn’t speak. He just leaned forward, took my face in his hands, and pressed the softest kiss to my forehead. My body stilled under the touch.

“You deserve happiness, Dani,” he murmured. “You deserve people who protect your heart, not break it.”

His voice cracked on the last word, and I felt it—all of it. The empathy. The care. The quiet fire in him.

And something else.

Something dangerous and magnetic and forbidden.

But in that moment, I didn’t pull away.

I stayed close.

Because I wanted to believe him.

I wanted to believe I could start over. And maybe… this was how.

I wiped the corner of my eye with the tissue Nate handed me, trying not to look as emotionally wrecked as I felt. He gave me a few more seconds before nudging the brown paper bag toward me.

“Lunch,” he said, almost too casually. “Figured you’d appreciate something better than vending machine crackers.”

I smiled through the last of my tears. “Please tell me it’s not tuna.”

He feigned offense. “Tuna? Do I look like a sad sandwich man to you?”

“Little bit.”

He laughed, and it was low and warm and perfect. “Careful, baby girl. I know where you work.”

My stomach flipped again. That nickname—fuck, I liked it too much.

I opened the bag and found a grilled chicken salad, slices of ripe avocado, a soft focaccia roll, and a bottle of that fancy hibiscus iced tea I always grabbed after a long shift. My gaze flicked up to him, suspicious and stunned.

“How did you know I liked this?”

“I pay attention.”

“You stalk me,” I accused, narrowing my eyes. “Social media?”

“I observe,” he said with a playful smirk. “Big difference.”

This meant he cared.

That hit harder than anything else.

I arched a brow. “Right. And you just observed I’m a salad-and-hibiscus-tea kind of girl?”

“I also observed—and assumed—you work your ass off, skip meals, and stress yourself into headaches.”

That shut me up.

My heart stuttered, and suddenly the salad felt like so much more than food.

We sat together at the tiny table in my office—my desk, technically—and started eating. It should’ve been awkward. But it wasn’t. The quiet between us buzzed with something unspoken, like electricity in the air before a storm.

“So,” I said, chewing a bite. “You mentioned a patient?”

Nate nodded, swallowing. “Yeah. Seventeen. Car accident last month. He’s recovering from a mild TBI—concussion, some balance issues, fine motor stuff. Broke his femur too, which complicates things. He’s healing okay physically, but he’s moody as hell. Bailed on PT—didn’t click with the last therapist.”

“What’s his name?”

“Jordan. Smart kid. Just needs someone who’ll talk to him like a person, not a diagnosis. That’s you.”

I blinked. “Me?”

“You’re sharp, Dani. You read people—you just do it quieter than most. You’ll get through to him.”

I tilted my head, eyes narrowing. “And how do you know I’m smart and sharp?”

He leaned back, cocky and relaxed, full of that easy Nate confidence. “I can read people.”

I snorted. “Oh please. That’s such a line.”

“Nope. Learned it from my dad. He’s scary good at it. Ace is freakishly talented too—reads a room like it’s a map. I’m not as fast, but I notice things.”

“Like what?” I challenged.

He didn’t hesitate. “Like how you check your phone when you’re nervous but never actually open anything. How you say yes even when you mean maybe. And you like things that make you feel in control, but secretly love when someone else takes it.”

The air left my lungs.

That last line hit like lightning. Hot and direct.

I stared at him. Breath caught. Speechless.

Then he leaned in just a little, his voice going low and soft.

“I also know you’re incredible with people. That you care too much. That your laugh’s real and beautiful. That you came here to rediscover yourself—and you will. You’ll remember how amazing you are. Because I see you, Dani. Even when you don’t want to be seen.”

My chest tightened. There was no snappy comeback. No defense. Just a spreading warmth and the slow, dangerous urge to close the space between us.

I looked at his lips.

He looked at mine.

My breathing turned shallow, heart galloping inside my chest. I wanted to kiss him. God, I needed to kiss him.

The silence thickened, heavy with tension. His fingers brushed mine across the desk—barely there, but I felt it everywhere. My whole body lit up like a wire exposed.

He leaned closer.

Closer.

My emotions were a hurricane, pulling me toward him. I could already feel the ghost of his mouth on mine.

And then—

Chapter 7

POV: Daniella

The door swung open.

“Dani!” Maria’s voice was cheerful, completely oblivious. “Sorry, love, your break’s over. We’ve got a walk-in with a swollen knee and a grandma wielding a cane like Thor’s hammer.”

I blinked, the spell snapping.

Nate pulled back, throat clearing, a smirk twitching back to his lips—but the fire in his eyes hadn’t cooled.

“Guess that’s my cue,” he said, rising to his full height.

I stood too, still a little breathless.

“Thanks for lunch,” I murmured.

He leaned in, warm breath tickling my ear. “I’ll bring dessert next time.”

He straightened, handing me a file.

“This is Jordan’s chart. I asked them to schedule an appointment with you. We’ll stay in touch—for this case, and others.”

“Great,” I said, gripping the folder a little too tightly. “Thanks, Doctor Martin.”

And just like that, he walked out—leaving my knees weak, my heart racing, and my brain an absolute disaster.

I closed the clinic door behind me with a long exhale, the weight of the day still lingering on my shoulders—but lighter, somehow. Talking to Nate… crying in front of Nate… had cracked something open in me. And now it ached, but it also breathed.

Maria was locking up the front desk when she turned to me with a raised brow. “So… earlier. You okay now?”

I gave her a tired smile. “Yeah. Better.”

“Was it the name?” she asked softly. “Alexander?”

My throat tightened again, but I nodded. “Yeah. My ex. Same name. He… he’s part of why I moved here. Some people leave towns to find themselves. I left to escape mine.”

Maria’s face changed. Gentle. Fierce. Protective. “If he ever comes near this place, I’ll take him down with a thermometer to the eye.”

I laughed, blinking back the sting in my eyes. “Thank you. Seriously. For earlier. You saw me unraveling and just… handled it.”

She winked. “What are friends for if not to shove old ghosts out of the room?”

I gave her a quick, grateful hug.

Then, of course, she leaned back and smirked. “Okay, now tell me—was it just the sex you had that had you glowing today? Or did a certain ridiculously handsome doctor have something to do with it?”

My cheeks warmed instantly. I tried—and failed—not to smile. “He’s just a friend from the gym.”

Maria crossed her arms like a lawyer in court. “Mmhmm. That kind of gym friend.”

I rolled my eyes. “We had lunch.”

“Oh? Was it a long lunch, or just a bite… or did he give you a taste of something more?”

“Maria!”

She laughed all the way to her car. “Get it, girl!”

I shook my head, grinning like an idiot, and headed toward the gym.

By the time I walked into the familiar scent of sweat, rubber flooring, and metal weights, the glow Maria teased me about had morphed into something hotter. Something tense. Anticipatory.

Ace was already there, lounging against the front desk like some kind of Calvin Klein ad, a shaker bottle in one hand and a pistachio protein bar in the other.

He looked up, smirked. “Hey, Newbie.”

“Hey,” I said, dropping my bag by the bench. “Leg day?”

“Every day is leg day if you believe hard enough,” he said, tossing the bar toward me. “Here. Pre-workout fuel.”

I caught it, eyebrows lifting. “Pistachio?”

“It’s the best. You’ve got taste if you like it.”

“I love pistachio,” I said, already tearing the wrapper. “Especially with white chocolate.”

His smile twisted into something smug. “I knew there was something classy and sweet about you.”

I took a bite and arched a brow. “Are you flirting with me, Ace?”

“Depends,” he said, stepping closer. “Is it working?”

Before I could answer, the door swung open.

And there was Bob.

Tall, solid, warm smile aimed right at me—his eyes drinking me in like it had been longer than a single day. My stomach flipped.

He came up beside me, nodding to Ace. “Hey, man.”

“Hey,” Ace replied, clapping his shoulder. “You two training today?”

Bob glanced at me, his grin crooked and a little devilish. “Yeah. I promised someone a good burn.”

“Oh, it better burn,” I said, grabbing my water bottle.

As we walked toward the mats, I quickly texted Nate.

Me: Are you coming to the gym today?

He replied almost instantly.

Nate: Stuck at the hospital. Would rather be there though. Miss that laugh of yours already.

I bit my lip, smiling.

“Something good?” Bob asked, catching the expression.

“Nate. He’s not coming today.”

Bob’s eyebrows rose, just slightly. But he said nothing—just adjusted his stance as we began to stretch.

And then he saw me drop into a side lunge, then a low squat. His voice dipped to that low, teasing rumble I was starting to associate with goosebumps and poor decisions.

“Damn, Dani. You’re really flexible.”

I smirked. “Is that your professional observation as my trainer?”

“Oh no, this is strictly personal. And now all I can think about is testing that flexibility again—preferably somewhere with fewer clothes involved.”

I tried not to blush. Failed spectacularly.

He leaned in as I held my stretch. “You know, if we weren’t in a public gym, I’d already have you pinned to the mat.”

I looked up at him, lips parted, breath a little shallow. “Promises, promises.”

He growled low under his breath.

We hadn’t even started our first rep yet, and I was already on fire.

The gym was nearly empty by the time I finished.

Ace had waved goodbye with a cocky grin and a pistachio protein bar in hand, teasing something about me needing to recover after being bent like that. He didn’t even specify what that was—and he didn’t have to. My body remembered.

I still had a flush on my face when he left, and it had nothing to do with the workout.

I made my way to the showers, needing the scalding water to quiet everything—my heart, my muscles, my thoughts. Especially my thoughts.

Nate hadn’t come. Caught up at the hospital, he said. But he’d texted again, sweet and direct: Rain check on the gym. But I’m not done with you, Dan.

That shouldn’t have made me blush. But it did.

And Ace… God.

He’d given me that smile. The one that made me feel like he saw through clothes, walls, defenses. There was something about him—commanding, grounded, magnetic. And those intense, almost unreal blue eyes, like they could read my soul.

He hadn’t even touched me, and I was still buzzing.

Then there was Bob.

Bob, who had touched me. Who had stretched me and filled me and ruined me—all while making me feel like the most cared-for woman on earth.

The memory of last night still pulsed through my body like a secret. A truth etched in skin.

I leaned into the tile, hot water cascading over my shoulders, trying to breathe all of it out.

But I was playing with fire. Three fires. And I loved the burn.

I knew it was wrong. I should just focus on one guy and stick with it—but every time I thought I’d made up my mind, one of them proved me wrong.

I shouldn’t be flirting with three guys. And I definitely shouldn’t be flirting with three guys who are friends and live together.

But who was going to stop me?

Because every time my mind tried, my body betrayed me.

Maybe this was part of rediscovering myself.

I’d promised I would live every adventure I wanted, that I’d find myself again.

And I was definitely doing it.

I heard a noise behind me—soft, low, deliberate.

I turned fast.

And there he was.

Bob.

He stepped under the spray like he belonged there. Like I was the only thing he came for.

He was already naked. His perfect, sculpted body glistened, droplets clinging to his skin, steam rising off his broad chest.

His hazel eyes locked onto mine, and in that moment, the air was thicker than the steam.

“Hey,” he said, like he hadn’t just broken into my thoughts and shattered every attempt at self-control.

“Hey,” I echoed, breathless.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about last night,” he said, voice low and husky with heat. “About you. I saw the lights still on in the showers and…”

His gaze dragged over me, slow and dark. “I needed to see you.”

Chapter 8

POV: Daniella

My pulse thundered.

“You’re dangerous,” I whispered.

He smiled like that was a compliment. “Then why haven’t you moved?”

I didn’t have an answer.

Or maybe I did—because I reached for him. Grabbed his wet shoulders and pulled his mouth to mine like I was starved.

Because I was.

Starved to feel.

The kiss was instant heat, immediate surrender. Tongues, teeth, breath—all crashing together.

His hands slid over my back, finding my waist, pulling me into the hardness pressed against me. He was already thick, already ready.

And so was I.

No words. Just need.

He turned me gently, pressing me to the tile, lips still devouring mine. One hand slipped between my thighs, finding how soaked I was—and not from the water.

“Fuck, Dani,” he murmured against my neck. “You’re already there for me.”

“I’ve been there since the second you walked in,” I gasped.

He exhaled and shook his head slowly. “Then I need to make you come—just to make sure this is what you want.”

And then he knelt.

That monument of a man dropped to his knees for me.

“Bob, what are you—?”

I couldn’t finish.

He lifted one of my legs over his shoulder, and a second later, his mouth was on me. His tongue was firm, hot, relentless. He sucked my clit like he knew exactly how to tear me apart.

I moaned and saw stars.

“God, Bob, this is—”

I couldn’t finish that sentence either. I just cried out again when he sucked harder.

“Amazing? Wonderful?” he said against me. “Just like you taste. Sweet as I thought.”

His tongue slid back in and I gasped, my hands flying to his hair, clutching those blond locks and pushing him closer.

The pleasure built fast. Too fast.

My hips bucked, thighs trembling, and I came—loud, raw, wild.

I was still breathless, legs shaking, when he kissed his way back up. His hazel eyes met mine, gleaming.

“I love the sound you make when you come,” he said. “I’d make you come all day just to keep hearing it.”

I smirked, still dazed. “I’d love that.”

He grunted—deep, desperate—and his hands grabbed my hips, lifting me against the wall. I wrapped my legs around him, water pounding down on both of us. It was primal. Messy. Wild.

He reached behind, fumbling just a second before sliding on a condom. I didn’t even know where he got it—maybe the universe wanted this as badly as we did.

And then he was inside me.

Stretching me.

Filling me.

Inch by inch.

I moaned, the sound swallowed by steam and tile and his lips crashing over mine again. The feeling was magic.

He moved—slow at first. Like savoring. Like remembering.

Then deeper. Harder. Our bodies smacked wetly, slipping, grinding. It was filthy and beautiful. My back hit tile, his fingers bruised into my hips, and I couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe.

I felt everything.

His cock filled me again and again. I clawed at his shoulders, bit into his neck.

He touched every place I wanted to be touched. Sparks of pleasure crashed through me, wave after wave, until I was wrecked.

“You feel even better than last night,” he groaned. “Like you were made for me.”

“Fuck,” I panted. “I’m gonna come—”

“Come on me, beautiful. Now.”

And I did.

Shaking, moaning, full-body pleasure crashing down like the water above us.

The explosion tore through me.

He followed a second later, body tensing, jaw tight, a low growl rumbling from his chest.

We stayed like that for a beat. Tangled. Drenched. Spent.

The water had gone cold. We didn’t even notice.

He finally lowered me down gently, kissed my shoulder, then my temple.

“You okay?” he asked softly.

“Yeah.” My voice was hoarse. Used. “You?”

He smiled. “Better than okay.”

We dried off, still laughing, still brushing against each other like we couldn’t quite stop. But it was gentler now. Warmer.

I thought he’d leave.

But instead, he picked up the soap and started washing me—soft, slow, tender.

That’s when my mind started trying to rationalize what just happened.

Because that? That wasn’t just sex.

He gave me a bath.

He kissed me slow. Tender.

“If I didn’t have late clients at another gym right now, we’d already be on round two,” he murmured.

I smiled.

Outside the shower, the world would return.

Complications.

Rules.

Feelings.

But right now?

We just burned.

I left the gym feeling like a contradiction. Whole and wrecked at the same time.

My body ached—in the best ways—and my skin still tingled from Bob’s touch. But it wasn’t just that. It was everything. The intensity of last night with him. The sweetness of Nate in the clinic. The magnetic pull of Ace in the gym.

Three men. Three flames. All so different. All so… impossible.

I knew I shouldn’t be flirting with them. I knew it. They were friends. They lived together. Nothing good could come from this.

But I couldn’t help it.

I liked how it felt.

And I loved how they made me feel.

I flopped onto my couch with a deep sigh, hair damp, muscles tired. The silence of my apartment wrapped around me like a blanket, but my mind was anything but still.

I grabbed my phone.

Me to Bob:

Hope your client didn’t notice you left smelling like sin.

A few seconds later, he replied with a photo. He stood behind an older man mid squat, giving a thumbs up and a smirk.

Sin who? I’m an angel.

I laughed out loud.

Me to Nate:

Are you still at the hospital?

He responded almost immediately, sending a photo of his computer screen filled with patient charts.

Drowning in charts, but surviving. Miss your face.

Me: Miss yours too. Can I steal you for coffee tomorrow?

Nate: Steal me anytime.

God. They were both working. Busy. Focused. And yet… still making time for me.

It warmed something in me. Something I’d forgotten could be warm.

And then my screen lit up again.

Ace.

A photo. A pistachio and white chocolate dessert sitting in a basket, still in its package. His caption:

Ace: Saw this at the supermarket. Thought of you.

Bought it. For you.

My heart flipped.

Me: You’re soft when you want to be, huh?

Ace: I’m always soft for good things.

You’re a good thing.

I stared at the screen, breath catching. That was so simple. So unexpected. So him.

Me: Stop being cute. I’m already overwhelmed.

Ace: Maybe you like being overwhelmed.

Maybe you deserve a little sweetness.

And someone who remembers what you like.

Fuck.

He was dangerous in a whole different way.

Me: Are you flirting with me or trying to destroy me?

Ace: Both.

I’m efficient.

I couldn’t stop smiling.

I curled under my blanket, warm from the inside out. My phone buzzed again—Bob, teasing me. Nate, asking if I got home safe. Ace, sending a “sweet dreams” with a green heart.

Three voices in my pocket.

Three hearts pressing into mine.

I closed my eyes, fingers still curled around the phone, and drifted off—overwhelmed, adored, and more alive than I’d felt in a long, long time.

I woke up smiling.

Ridiculous.

But also… kind of perfect.

My body still hummed from the night before—every muscle deliciously sore, every memory sharp and heated. Bob. The shower. The steam. His mouth. His hands. The way he gave me a bath after like I was something precious.

And then there was Ace’s message.

And Nate’s.

And Bob’s teasing.

Three men on my mind before my feet even hit the floor. I should’ve felt guilty. I didn’t. I felt alive.

As I stood in front of the mirror getting ready for work, I caught the glow in my skin. Not just from sex. From attention. From feeling wanted. Seen. Enjoyed.

My phone buzzed on the counter.

[Group Created: The Core Four]

I blinked at the screen and laughed.

Ace: Made this for easy communication. And also because I have plans for tonight. Cheese. Wine. Maybe a fire. Y’all in?

Bob: Will there be beer?

Ace: You’re so uncultured. Can’t take you anywhere.

Nate: I’ll drink anything that comes with a side of “baby girl.”

Me: I love this already. Do I need to bring anything?

Ace: Just your amazing brain and that perfect body of yours.

Me: So… is this a date? Because now I don’t know what to wear.

Nate: You could wear a lab coat and still be the hottest one in the room.

Bob: Or wear nothing. I vote nothing.

Ace: We’ll settle for you in leggings. Or a dress. Or whatever makes you feel dangerous.

Me: Leggings and a dress? Damn, should I throw in heels and a whip while I’m at it?

Bob: Now you’re speaking my language.

Nate: I have no complaints.

Ace: Not one of us does. Just be there. 8 p.m. I’ll cook.

God, I was in trouble. And I loved it.

Still smiling, I slipped my shoes on and grabbed my keys. I had to go to the clinic for a few things before the weekend. I sang along to the radio, the morning sun warm through the windshield, still floating in flirtation and wine-night dreams—

Until my car jerked.

Coughed.

Died.

“Shit,” I muttered, pulling to the side of the road. The engine refused to turn back on. Completely still. Completely dead.

My pulse ticked up. In my old town, I’d call my brother. Or maybe even my dad. But here? I didn’t have that safety net.

I had… them.

Me (to The Core Four):

Me: Okay, anyone know a good mechanic? Or want to play one? Because my car just gave up on life, and so did I.

Bob: Shit. I’m mid-class. I can’t leave or this guy will drop the weights on his face.

Nate: I’m buried at the hospital. If I could teleport, I would.

Ace: Send me your location. I’m on my way, Princess.

Princess.

Fuck. A nenickname.

I stared at the screen, a smile tugging at my lips, my stomach flipping. Why did that word make me feel so… warm?

Me: Princess? Really?

Ace: It fits. Don’t argue. I’m coming to save the day.

Bob: Dibs on calling her “Your Highness” now.

Nate: I prefer Queen.

Me: You three are insane.

Ace: And you like it.

I did. God help me—I really did.

I dropped my phone into my lap and waited on the side of the road, smiling like an idiot, heartbeat fluttering. Ace was coming. For me. Not just to fix my car, but because he wanted to.

And I was about to spend the night with all three of them.

Wine. Cheese. Fire.

And tension that could melt more than chocolate.

Chapter 9

POV: Daniella

The sound of a car pulling up snapped me from my spiral of nerves.

And then I saw him.

Ace stepped out of a sleek, charcoal-gray Audi, every inch of him composed and commanding. Dark navy suit, black shirt underneath, no tie. His jacket hung open just enough to hint at the strength beneath the tailored fabric. Hair styled, jaw clean-shaven, those insane blue eyes, his expression unreadable but intense. Even the morning sun seemed to pause to admire him.

God, he looked like the kind of man who crushed court cases and hearts before breakfast.

And he was walking straight toward me—like I was the only thing he saw.

I stood there, stunned, until he reached me and held something out.

“I brought you this,” he said, casually, like it wasn’t the most thoughtful thing anyone had done in forever.

A small box of white chocolate-covered pistachio truffles.

My favorite.

“You remembered,” I whispered.

He shrugged one shoulder. “Saw them and thought of you. Sweet, with a little edge.”

I laughed, nerves dissolving a little. “You sure that’s not describing you?”

“No,” he said smoothly, a glint in his eye. “I’m not that sweet.”

I took the box, fingers brushing his, and our eyes caught. For a breath, the whole world narrowed to just that.

Then he turned to my car, eyes scanning it with practiced ease. “Let me take a look.”

He popped the hood, examined it for a minute, then pulled his phone. “I’ll call for a tow. It’s not starting anytime soon.”

“Great,” I muttered, slumping onto the hood.

Ace stood beside me, arms crossed, the sun catching on his watch and the sharp lines of his suit. Too elegant. Too in control. Yet here, with me, waiting on a mechanic like it was no big deal.

“Thanks for coming,” I said quietly.

“I told you, Princess,” he replied, eyes still on the road. “I come when you call.”

My heart did a thing.

We shared a few of the sweets while waiting. The chocolate melted on my tongue, soft and indulgent. But it was his presence—grounded, calm, watching me like he actually saw me—that made me feel like I could breathe.

I don’t know what shifted, but suddenly the air got heavier. Quieter.

“I haven’t told many people this,” I said, surprising even myself. “But I didn’t just move here for a new job or a new city.”

Ace turned to me, that lawyer-sharp attention now completely focused.

“I had a boyfriend,” I started, voice low. “Alexander. He was… charming. The kind of guy everyone loved. But behind closed doors, he changed. It started with control. Who I could talk to. What I could wear. Then came the lies. The manipulation. The guilt games.”

Ace didn’t speak. He just listened. Completely.

“He never hit me. Not at first,” I added. “But when he finally did, it was like this light switch in me flipped. I realized how much I’d let him take. My space. My safety. My voice.”

I swallowed, staring down at the box in my lap.

“The same week I found out his dad was into some serious shit—fraud, trafficking, illegal connections—I caught Alexander cheating on me. That was it. I packed a bag and ran. And I haven’t looked back.”

Silence hung between us, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.

“And then,” I said, my voice cracking, “there’s my mom. She died five years ago. Cancer. She was the glue. After she passed, it was just me and my brother and sister. My dad… he moved when I was a kid. We talk, but it’s… distant.”

Ace nodded slowly. “I’m sorry.”

I gave a small smile. “Me too.”

“I know what it’s like to have your path chosen for you,” he said after a pause. “My dad’s a judge. Big reputation. He always expected I’d follow. Be like him. Better than him.”

“But you didn’t want that?”

“I wanted law,” he said, “but not his world. Not his pressure. In college, I started to suffocate under it. Then came Bob.”

I snorted. “Of course.”

Ace chuckled. “He was chaos. Messy, late to class, always eating cereal out of measuring cups. But he taught me balance. Taught me how to breathe again.”

He looked away, just for a second.

“We met Nate before that. He was the golden boy. The heart. We were a disaster together—and perfect, somehow. After graduation, we all wanted out. Clean slate. So we moved here.”

I let his words settle. Something warm bloomed in my chest.

“I’m lucky I met you guys,” I said softly.

Ace’s eyes cut back to mine. “No. We’re lucky we met you.”

The tension stretched. My heart thudded as he stepped closer, one hand brushing a strand of hair from my cheek.

His eyes dropped to my lips.

I forgot how to breathe.

He leaned in—just enough for the world to fade, for everything to narrow to the space between us.

Then a loud honk shattered the moment.

We jumped apart as the tow truck pulled up.

Ace exhaled through his nose, smiling to himself. “Of course.”

I grinned, breathless, heat still pooling in my stomach. “Cockblocked by a tow truck.”

He smirked, his voice low and rich. “Don’t worry. I’m very patient.”

He helped me into his car once everything was settled, the smooth leather cool against my thighs. I glanced at him as he started the engine, and all I could think was—

What the hell was I going to wear tonight?

Ace parked right in front of the clinic, engine still humming. He didn’t rush me out. Just sat there with one hand draped casually on the wheel, the other on his thigh, looking so put together it almost made me dizzy.

I turned toward him, words catching on the tip of my tongue.

“Thank you,” I said finally, quiet but heavy with meaning. “Not just for the ride. For the sweets. The help. The… everything.”

He shrugged like it was nothing, like he didn’t just save my morning and make my chest ache in confusing, thrilling ways.

“I already texted the mechanic,” he said. “They’ll tow it straight to the shop and keep me updated. I’ll handle it.”

“You’ll—wait, really?”

“Yeah,” he said, eyes flicking to mine. “You’ve got patients to focus on. Let me take care of this part.”

That. That right there was what undid me.

The quiet way he took control, not to dominate, but to support. To lighten.

I reached across the console, resting my hand on his forearm. “You’re kind of dangerous, you know that?”

He smirked. “You’ve got no idea.”

I leaned in, impulsive, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. His skin was warm. I lingered a second too long. The scent of him—cologne, fresh and sharp—wrapped around me, and I almost did it. Almost turned my head and kissed him for real.

But I didn’t.

I pulled back, breath shallow.

His phone buzzed. He glanced at it, then exhaled with a low groan.

“What is it?” I asked.

He locked the screen again. “Reminder. I’m spending the weekend with my father.”

“Oh,” I said, trying not to read too much into the way his jaw tightened. “That bad?”

“Imagine spending forty-eight hours trying not to disappoint a man who thinks breathing wrong is a character flaw,” he said dryly. “Judge Bauer. Everyone’s favorite pillar of righteousness.”

I winced. “Yikes.”

“That’s why I planned tonight,” he added, softer now. “Needed something good before I deal with… that.”

I hesitated. “Would it help if I came in?”

He stared at me, eyes unreadable, then shook his head with a wry smile. “It’d help me. But you’d hate it. And I’m not dragging you into Bauer-land just so I can survive it.”

I nodded. “Well… I’ll be a message away.”

He leaned a little closer. “Don’t tempt me.”

A beat passed. Charged. Quiet.

I opened the door before I did something reckless again.

“Tonight,” I said, stepping out. “Cheese. Wine. And maybe a little mischief.”

His grin turned devilish. “I’m counting on it.”

He pulled away, and I stood there a second longer than I should’ve, watching the elegant car disappear into traffic.

Inside the clinic, the scent of antiseptic and coffee greeted me, but nothing could clear the haze of Ace from my head.

Maria was at the front desk, scrolling on her phone. She looked up, blinked, then grinned wide.

“Well helloooo, was that another hot man dropping you off?”

I rolled my eyes, heat rushing to my cheeks. “He’s a friend.”

“Is he a doctor too?”

“Nope. Lawyer.”

Maria let out a low whistle. “And fine. Seriously, Dani—where do you keep finding these Adonis-types? First Mister doctor hot. Now this one. I’m starting to think you’ve got a secret app or something.”

“Just dumb luck,” I muttered, heading to the breakroom to hide my blush.

She called after me, laughing. “If dumb luck starts handing out tall, dark, and dominant, I’d like to subscribe!”

I tried to focus on work. Really. But between patients, my mind kept drifting.

To the way Ace’s voice dropped when he called me Princess.

To the way Bob made me feel things under the water, and how he still kissed me like I was fragile after.

To Nate, sending texts between charts, checking in like I mattered in his busy, brilliant world.

Tonight was going to be… a lot.

And I couldn’t wait.

Chapter 10

POV: Daniella

My phone didn’t stop buzzing.

Nate: Car okay? Everything sorted?

Bob: You safe, beautiful?

Me: Yes! All good. Ace took care of everything.

Bob: Of course he did. Mr. Responsible.

Nate: We’re still kidnapping you tonight.

Ace: You’ll be without a car until next week. Which means you’re officially under our care now.

Bob: Our delicious responsibility.

Me: Is that a threat or a promise?

Bob: Both. Speaking of which… I’m bringing lunch. You deserve a reward.

Me: I’m at work!

Bob: Then you’ll get a professional visit. With noodles.

Ten minutes later, Maria popped her head into my office, eyebrows arched high enough to scrape the ceiling. “Guess what?”

I already knew.

I stood and walked out just in time to see Bob entering with a takeout bag in one hand and two ice teas in the other. His gym shirt hugged every sculpted inch of him, his hair still slightly damp, like he’d showered just to show up fresh.

He grinned when he saw me. “Told you I was coming.”

I tried not to smile back. Failed.

“You didn’t have to—”

“Didn’t I?” he cut in, lifting the bag. “Chinese. Extra dumplings. And iced tea, because someone told me you were more of a tea girl.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Someone?”

He gave me a not-so-innocent look. “Nate.”

My eyebrows shot up. “So you do talk about me.”

“Guilty,” he said, voice low and rough now.

He stepped closer, his scent wrapping around me—spice and sweat and something so male. “Just how to spoil you properly. Nothing scandalous.”

I laughed, tension breaking. “You’re ridiculous.”

Bob leaned in, brushed his lips against my temple, then whispered, “Maybe. But you keep letting me in the door.”

I did. And I was glad for it.

We sat in my small office, the door cracked just enough for professionalism, but not enough to stop the charged air between us. We ate. Talked. He asked about my patients, genuinely interested. I told him about Maria’s hilarious attempt at matchmaking via clipboard assignments. He told me about a sweet old woman he was training who kept trying to introduce him to her granddaughter.

“You didn’t take the bait?” I teased.

He raised a brow. “Why would I? I already have my eye on someone.”

I swallowed hard.

He leaned in, slow, patient, giving me every chance to pull away.

I didn’t.

The kiss was soft. Gentle. Sweet in a way that surprised me. His lips moved like he had all the time in the world. No rush. No pressure. Just presence.

Just fucking good.

Bob’s lips lingered on mine as we pulled apart, the air between us thick and charged.

He leaned in again, voice low, gravel-smooth and dripping with heat. “I’d love to bend you over this desk right now.”

A pulse of want throbbed through me, heat spreading from my core to my skin. I smiled, breathless, whispering, “Tempting.”

His eyes darkened. “Don’t test me, beautiful.”

When we pulled apart, I sighed, a little breathless. “You’re going to ruin me, aren’t you?”

He grinned. “Too late.”

I bit my lip, loving the fire in him, but I still managed, “You’ll have to behave… Tonight is wine and cheese night, remember? With your friends.”

He exhaled, smirking, but there was something raw underneath it. “That damn rule again.”

“You made it,” I reminded him.

His gaze held mine, something deeper flickering behind the flirt. “Yeah… and I’m getting real tired of it.”

Bob stood and stretched, his arms over his head like a walking thirst trap. “Text me if you get hungry again.”

“I think I’m full for now.”

His smirk turned positively sinful. “Just for now.”

He left me with that, walking out like he didn’t just short-circuit my brain. With a wink for me, and a wave to Maria at the desk.

The second he was gone, Maria stormed in like a gossip hurricane.

“That was another one! That makes three. Are you opening a clinic or collecting hot men like Pokémon?”

“They’re friends,” I muttered.

Maria snorted. “Right. And I’m a virgin.”

I tried to focus again, but it was useless. Between texts, kisses, and Bob feeding me dumplings, I was a distracted mess.

And the night hadn’t even started yet.

My phone kept lighting up, each buzz sending a jolt through me. It was stupid how much I hoped it would be one of them. Or how much I dreaded it.

Then I saw the name on my schedule.

Jordan.

My heart did a little somersault.

Seventeen. The patient Nate had sent my way after that car accident. He was still recovering from a mild TBI—concussion, balance issues, coordination problems. And a fractured femur on top of that. The last therapist apparently didn’t connect with him, and Nate thought maybe I could get through.

I hadn’t expected much. But the session had just ended, and… I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

He’d been withdrawn at first, barely looking at me. But when I switched gears—slowed things down, brought in some simple balance work, added breathwork—he softened. Opened up. Even smiled at the end.

And that look he gave me before leaving… like he hadn’t felt safe in weeks until now.

I grabbed my phone without thinking.

Message to Nate:

“Just finished Jordan’s session. He was amazing. Guarded at first, but once we worked in some balance and breathwork, he relaxed a lot. I think it helped. He looked lighter when he left. You were right to send him my way.”

I hit send and leaned back in my chair, biting the inside of my cheek.

A soft buzz of satisfaction mixed with something warmer—something messier—curled in my stomach. It always did when I messaged Nate. Like I needed his approval more than I should.

And of course… with him, nothing ever came without a string or two attached.

My phone buzzed barely a minute later.

Nate:

Knew it.

He needs someone like you. You get under people’s skin in all the right ways.

Glad he opened up. Honestly, you were the first person I thought of when I saw his scans and intake notes. He didn’t need just therapy—he needed someone who’d actually see him.

I stared at the screen, heartbeat kicking up again.

It was more than just professional. Maybe it was always more. The way he said someone like you, the way he knew what I could do—what I am capable of—even when I didn’t always believe it myself.

I typed, deleted, retyped.

Finally, I settled on:

Thank you for trusting me with him. I’m really glad you did.

Sent. Simple. Safe.

Even if nothing about this—about us—ever really felt safe.

Still reeling, I grabbed my phone and dropped a message in the group:

Dani: Black or red?

They jumped on it immediately.

Bob: Red.

Ace: Red.

Nate: Definitely red.

Dani: Why did you all just vote red without asking why?

Ace: Instinct.

Bob: Hoping it’s lingerie.

Nate: I trust you to make everything look good.

Dani: I was talking about dresses… but noted.

Nate: Speaking of… I’m picking you up.

Dani: I can grab a cab.

Nate: You could. But we’re spoiling you. Get used to it.

I smiled down at my phone like a complete idiot.

Nate showed up right on time, looking devastating in black slacks and a button-down, sleeves rolled to his elbows, stethoscope probably thrown in the back seat. Handsome in a way that made my breath hitched. His scent filled the car when I slid in—clean and masculine, tinged with subtle citrus and something deeper I couldn’t name.

“You didn’t have to do this,” I said as he pulled out.

“I know,” he replied, glancing at me with a half-smile. “But I wanted to.”

We drove through the soft haze of dusk, music low, windows cracked just enough to let in the breeze. It felt calm. Easy. But under it, the tension simmered. Always.

“I was thinking earlier,” he said, drumming his fingers against the wheel, “about how fast you’ve become a part of our lives.”

I looked over. “Is that… a good thing?”

He smiled. “It’s the best thing.”

That warmth bloomed again inside me.

Once home, I changed quickly, heart beating too fast as I pulled the red dress over my head. It clung to me in all the right places, cut low but not indecent. Sexy. Bold. Confident. Me.

When I stepped back into the room, Nate’s eyes swept over me slowly, like a tide pulling back. Controlled. Hot.

“That’s why you asked.”

“You approve?” I teased, smoothing my hands down the dress.

“Are you trying to kill us tonight?” he said, breathless.

“Maybe.”

When we arrived, Bob opened the door with a beer already in hand. His eyes dropped to my body, lips curling. “Red was the right call.”

Ace stepped in behind him, wine bottle in one hand, eyes sharp and slow as they dragged up my legs, over my waist, settling on my chest and then my eyes. “Fuck,” he muttered, barely audible. “You’re dangerous.”

“I’m just on theme,” I said sweetly, stepping past them with a sway in my hips I knew they were watching.

Bob growled under his breath.

Ace cleared his throat, then held out the bottle. “Red. Cabernet. Full-bodied. Like you.”

“Smooth,” I said, smiling up at him.

“You’ve got me in the mood to say inappropriate things,” he replied, too close, too warm, “but I’m trying to be a gentleman.”

“Don’t strain yourself,” I teased.

The apartment was softly lit, music playing low in the background. A tray of cheeses and fruit waited on the coffee table. Wine glasses. A couple of beers for Bob. Everything perfectly arranged—of course, by Ace.

The three of them flanked me like instinct, and I felt it again: like I was the center of gravity in their orbit.

And God help me—I loved it.