Page 8

I'm dabbing on the last touches of lip gloss when Cindy shrieks from the living room.

"Oh. My. God. Tyler, get over here!"

"What? I'm not done?—"

"Trust me, you want to see this."

I shuffle to the window in these death-trap heels. Cindy points down to the street where a sleek black car idles at the curb.

"Look what Mr. Moneybags is carrying."

My heart skips. Through the twilight, I spot Alonzo stepping out of his car, his arms full of... something. "Are those flowers?"

"Girl, those aren't just flowers. That's a whole garden."

The doorbell chimes and my stomach does a backflip. I've never gotten flowers before. Not even on Valentine's Day.

I open the door and forget how to breathe. Alonzo fills the doorframe, cream suit perfectly tailored to his broad shoulders. But it's what he's holding that stops my heart – an explosion of red roses, bigger than my torso, alongside a plush teddy bear and what looks like the fanciest chocolate box I've ever seen.

His golden eyes rake over me, lingering on the places where Cindy's borrowed dress hugs my curves. Heat floods my cheeks, and I resist the urge to cover myself. The way he looks at me – like I'm something precious and delicious all at once – makes my knees weak.

"These are for you." His voice rolls through me like thunder.

I reach for the gifts, my fingers trembling. The roses smell divine, and the bear is softer than clouds. The chocolate box has gold lettering I can't pronounce.

"I..." Words fail me. I'm standing here in borrowed courage and borrowed clothes, while this man looks at me like I'm the most fascinating thing he's ever seen.

Cindy swoops in like a hurricane, snatching the gifts from my arms. "Here, let me take those." She practically dances to the kitchen with my presents.

My mouth opens to protest but before I can speak, her hands plant firmly on my back. "Out you go!"

The gentle shove sends me stumbling forward, right into Alonzo's personal space. His cologne wraps around me – something spicy and expensive that makes my insides flutter.

My cheeks burn as Cindy's finger jabs up at Alonzo's face. He towers over her, but she doesn't back down an inch. "Now, Tyler is my best friend, and she hasn't been on a date with a decent guy in a long time, so I'm allowing you to take her out on one condition..."

Alonzo's lips curve into that dangerous smile. "Yes?"

"Don't behave yourself." Cindy's words hit me like a splash of ice water. "Trust me, she needs it bad! If you have her home before midnight I'll kill you."

The door slams behind us with a bang that makes me jump. I stand frozen, mortified heat crawling up my neck as Alonzo's golden gaze slides down to meet mine. That smile of his grows wider, showing teeth.

My heart pounds against my ribs. The things Cindy said... the way he's looking at me... it's exactly what I've been reading about in my romance novels. The kind of man who takes control, who knows what he wants.

A shiver runs through me that has nothing to do with the evening air.

He extends his hand, palm up, and I stare at it like it’s a live grenade. His fingers are long, elegant, yet there’s a strength in them that’s impossible to ignore. My heart’s doing gymnastics in my chest, and I’m pretty sure my palms are sweating. This is so not the kind of thing I’m used to. I’m more of a “netflix and chill with takeout” kind of girl, not “mystery billionaire with a voice that could melt butter” kind of girl.

"Come with me, Lovely," he says, and the way he says it—smooth, velvety, with just a hint of command—sends a shiver down my spine. It’s not harsh or demanding, but it’s not aquestion either. It’s an invitation, but one I don’t feel like I can refuse.

I hesitate, my brain and my body at war. My brain’s screaming, “What are you doing? This guy is way out of your league!” But my body? My body’s already leaning toward him, my pulse racing like I’m halfway through a marathon. I can practically hear my parents’ voices in my head, warning me about men like him—men who are too smooth, too confident, too… everything. But then I remember Cindy’s words, and the way she pushed me out the door like she was shipping me off to my destiny.

"Don't be afraid," he purrs, andgaze snaps onto me with an intensity that’s both thrilling and terrifying. "I do not bite… unless you want me to."

My stomach does a somersault, and my toes curl in my heels. There’s a heat in his gaze that makes me feel exposed, like he’s seeing every secret fantasy I’ve ever had. I’ve read about men like him—alpha males who know what they want and take it—but this? This is real, and it’s overwhelming.

I take a shaky breath, my hand hovering just above his. “I don’t even know if I’m ready for this,” I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Ready for what?" he asks, his tone light but his eyes still burning into me. "A date? A conversation? Or perhaps something more?"