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CHAPTER TWO

ETHAN

C harlotte and Oliver were moving to Long Island before the wedding. They had bought a house and had been renovating it since the engagement. The week after meeting Sebastian, they invited me to celebrate again. I headed over there after class, half-hoping he would be there, but it was just their friends and Henry with his latest girlfriend. I didn’t ask Charlotte if he was coming, but after a couple of hours, I assumed he wasn’t.

Sebastian Langley was the most intimidating person I had ever met. Everything about him—from how he stared, keeping his eyes fixed on mine without looking away for a second, to how he held himself—was daunting. He had this insane confidence, he knew how attractive he was, and I’m sure enough people told him daily. He probably got anybody he wanted. It was difficult to imagine someone saying no to him.

He was tall and imposing, his hair kissed with silver—not too much, but still there. It didn’t make him look older but rather distinguished. He was also incredibly well put together; you could tell he was meticulous by how much effort he put into his appearance. Sebastian Langley was—objectively—a very attractive man.

Everything about him screamed adult . He was older than I thought, making him ten times more intimidating. I had figured that conversation with him would grow stale in seconds, but he made it incredibly easy. In the days after we met, I told Maya, my roommate and best friend, all about it. It wasn’t much, but I still went over it in my head about a million times. Maya, always eager for gossip and unwavering in her support, listened to my obsessive rant over and over again.

The Langleys were like celebrities. They were one of the most influential families in America. Their wealth stemmed from real estate holdings that went back generations. Sure, they were very well off, but when a family of millionaires gives birth to three stunning adult males, everyone takes notice. They were constantly spotted in the media, going about their lives and mostly trying to keep to themselves.

I’d been getting used to the idea of Charlotte and Oliver for years now—it didn’t faze me—and I’d been around their same crowd all my life. Maybe not exactly the Langleys, but close. But Sebastian? I just couldn’t wrap my head around it being him. The man I had seen for so many years, the one I heard my friends regularly singing praises to—that Sebastain Langley— was the one who had been hitting on me. On me .

Now, stepping out onto the terrace for a smoke, the whole encounter flashed before my eyes again. My thoughts were interrupted as Henry walked out with a drink in hand, his signature toothy grin plastered in place as he spotted me.

“Young Ethan, how are you?” he asked, sitting beside me.

“Good. You?”

He shrugged with a grimace. “Marisa is turning into a pain. I shouldn’t have brought her to this.”

I chuckled. “Are you hiding?”

“Yeah. I knew bringing her over to Oli’s love nest was a bad idea. Perfect brother getting married gives her the wrong idea, you know?” He reached for my vape and took a drag without asking.

Henry—or Henny, as his brothers affectionately called him—looked like Sebastian, making it easy to recognize them as siblings. They all had the same dark-brown eyes and coffee-colored hair. They even had similar smiles.

“She’s imagining the ring on her finger?”

He snorted.

Their laughs were different, though. Henry’s was loud, just like him, with those occasional mocking snorts. Oliver always looked away or covered his mouth when he found something hilarious.

And then there was Sebastian. I didn’t know him well enough to make an informed guess, but his laughs, like his smiles, were controlled. He seemed to design every laugh specifically for each person and situation. I didn’t know what his real laugh sounded like.

“She’s probably asked Char about the carats in hers by now,” he said, handing back my vape after another drag. “Do you have a girlfriend, Ethan?”

“Nah. I just started college; it seems like a bad idea.”

“It is. Enjoy your youth. Mess around. Then get tied down,” he advised me.

Henry didn’t seem like the type to want to commit. He was attractive enough to keep getting away with his bad breakups, which were constantly being reported, at least according to Maya.

“Is that your plan?”

“I guess if I find the right one. I mean, what they have is nice, isn’t it?” He nodded toward the house. “It’s just hard to sift through the gold diggers. Oli’s lucky he found your sister. It’s not easy to date.” He sounded more serious than I had ever heard him.

I hadn’t thought about that.

People were always after their name or their money. It must have been a pain to date as a Langley. There wasn’t much personal information shared about them other than their dating lives. The Langley brothers were tight-knit, and not much got through their defenses.

“Is that why your brother won’t settle down?” Immediate regret washed over me as the catlike smirk grew on his face.

“No, Ash is just a lost cause.”

He kept staring.

My cheeks burned as I tried to look disinterested. “What?”

“Why are you asking me about Ash?”

I pressed my lips together. “I’m not asking you about him. It was just one question,” I clarified, but his smile didn’t waver.

“You better be careful around him, young Ethan. Ash has a way of pulling people in, even when they don’t want to be,” he warned.

My eyes dropped to my lap.

“He asked me about you tonight.”

I glanced back up and Henry chuckled.

I knew it was bait, but I couldn’t help it. “Why?” I thought he’d forgotten I existed by now.

“He asked me if you were here.”

I bit my lip, knowing he wanted me to keep pushing. “He’s not coming?” I asked, noticing his satisfied grin as he shook his head.

“Workaholic.” He widened his eyes. “Don’t you want to know what else he said?”

“It looks like you’re the one dying to tell me, so...” I made a “carry on” gesture.

“He said I could give you his number if you asked about him.” He lowered his voice and leaned closer, even though we were alone. “I promise I won’t tell the happy couple.”

I understood why he did it. It felt like something that should be said in hushed tones. The fact that Sebastian was interested in me was beyond scandalous.

I took another drag. “You already have my number. You could have just given it to him,” I pointed out.

“Yeah, but he said it doesn’t count that way,” Henry replied.

I shook my head. It felt like falling into a game I didn’t want to play. “I don’t mind if he has my number.”

He laughed again. “I knew it.” Henry pulled out his phone and my stomach dropped. Was he going to do it right now?

“It’s not like that. You’re my brother-in-law, and you have my number. He can have it too. It doesn’t have to be a secret,” I said dismissively.

“Mm-hm,” he mumbled, scrolling through his phone before putting it away.

I stared at his pocket. “Did you just send it?” My heart was roaming somewhere around my throat.

“Mm-hm,” he said again, smiling, his tone mocking. “Don’t worry, I can keep a secret.” He winked.

“There’s no secret to keep,” I insisted.

My phone chimed—a high note notifying me that I had just received a text.

A beat of silence passed between us.

“Mm-hm,” Henry said once more before standing up. “Remember what I told you. Don’t get into this thinking you have the upper hand. Ash is clever—he’ll see you coming a mile away.” He started walking back into the house.

“I’m not getting into anything,” I said again, but he just gave me a look before stepping inside.

Shit.

I pulled out my phone. I had one new text.

Unknown Number

miss me?

Shit.

Shit.

Shit .

I had no idea what to say back. I wanted to sound witty and interesting. I kept looking at the text, rubbing my knuckles softly on the underside of my nose. I opened the chat and stared at it some more. Sebastian knew I had read it, so I had to reply.

Why was he even texting me in the first place? What could I say to that? I didn’t want him to get the wrong idea. It wasn’t as if something could ever happen between us, but at the same time, I didn’t want him to lose interest.

It was just harmless flirting for a little while, and then we would both move past it.

I didn’t even know how you were supposed to flirt with a man—a thirty-four-year-old man at that.

Me

working late?

My heart drummed in my chest as I pressed send. That was casual enough—not acknowledging the implication of his question without killing the conversation.

Unknown Number

always

Now what? I looked down at the screen, wracking my brain for something to ask him.

Unknown Number

want to keep me company?

I blinked, confused.

Me

how?

I looked around, half-expecting to see him standing behind me.

Unknown Number

tell me what you’re doing right now

or about your day

I smiled, biting down on my lip.

Me

I’m texting you

I was out on the terrace smoking with Henry

he was telling me about his relationship woes

Unknown Number

how about earlier?

Me

I went to class and the gym

then straight here

I’m sleeping over

Unknown Number

now I’m really sorry I missed it

I chuckled and shook my head.

Unknown Number

tell me something about you

something I don’t know yet

Heat crept up my neck as I stared at the words. It wasn’t an unreasonable request, but it unsettled me. I wasn’t even sure what I was doing here. And something about me? What could possibly be interesting about my life compared to Sebastian’s?

Me

I like sailing

Unknown Number

really?

see?

we do have something in common

I like sailing too

I bit my lip, stifling a smile. It felt like cheating—I already knew that about him. During my time gossiping with Maya, we had undergone some cyberstalking. There were a bunch of pictures of him on boats. It wasn’t a lie, though. I did actually like it.

Unknown Number

we could sail sometime

we have a boat in the Hamptons

Me

for the wedding?

Unknown Number

hopefully before that

I exhaled loudly. He wasn’t exactly subtle, but it was almost as if he was just trying to be friendly too.

Unknown Number

I have to get back to work darling but I’ll see you soon

thanks for the company

Scratch that, he was definitely flirting. My face was hot, and my heart was hammering in my chest. I saved his number in my phone before replying. Now the screen read Ash Langley .

Me

anytime

* * *

I didn’t expect it to be quite so soon.

The next morning, I hit their home gym with Oliver and his trainer. While doing bench presses with my headphones on—trying to think about anything other than Sebastian Langley and our brief conversation yesterday—he suddenly appeared above me. He smiled down at me, holding the bar to keep it from crushing me. He said something, and I sat up, pulling off my headphones.

“Sorry, what?” I was still catching my breath.

He leaned on the bar, looking entirely out of place in his crisp, white button-down and black trousers. “I said I can spot you if you’d like,” he repeated.

Grateful that my flushed face could be blamed on the workout, I replied, “I’m good, thanks. What are you doing here?” I wiped the sweat from my forehead with a towel.

“Enjoying the view,” he said smoothly.

He smirked, and I suddenly felt exposed in my gym clothes. My sleeveless, thin shirt and shorts that weren’t quite long enough made me self-conscious. Even if his attention was thrilling.

“Funny,” I muttered, not knowing what else to say. I stood up, and he handed me my water bottle. Taking a long sip, I welcomed the distraction.

“Oli and Charlie invited me yesterday. Thought I’d show up for breakfast,” he said with a casual shrug.

He looked even better than I remembered with his neatly styled hair—slightly tousled but definitely intentional. His groomed stubble, pressed sleeves, expensive wristwatch, and that belt accentuating his narrow hips—all of it screamed effortless sophistication. He made me feel incredibly inadequate.

“Don’t you live in DC?”

He nodded. “Drove over this morning. Charlie mentioned you were here.”

I glanced around and realized Oliver was no longer in the room. It was just us.

“I didn’t notice they’d left,” I said, gesturing around the empty gym.

“Loud music will do that to you,” he replied, humor in his voice. He seemed to enjoy catching me off guard.

“I should probably shower.” I looked toward the door, rubbing my hand over my nose, and noticed his smile widen.

“Is that an invitation?”

I chuckled nervously. “It’s not,” I clarified.

He laughed too—a flirty, controlled laugh. “That’s too bad. See you upstairs for breakfast.”

I nodded and practically bolted out of the gym. Being alone with him in a confined space was nerve-wracking, more so than being around him in public.

It took me half an hour to gather the courage to join them. Hearing their laughter, I took a deep breath before stepping into the kitchen. Sebastian leaned against the counter, grinning at Charlotte, while Oliver looked mildly annoyed.

“Want a bite?” Sebastian asked me, his dark eyes locking onto mine instantly.

Oliver reached over and lightly whacked him on the head with a folder.

“Ouch,” Sebastian protested. “What was wrong with that? I just asked if he wanted something to eat.” He held up a bagel as evidence.

I fought the urge to turn around and leave. Catching Charlotte’s eye, I watched as she struggled to stifle a laugh.

“I could eat,” I said, attempting to sound casual.

Charlotte made me a plate, and I sat down at the table. As they chatted, I tried to follow along. Sebastian was discussing some issues they were having with their father, and Oliver was offering solutions. Even Charlotte chimed in.

I had no clue what they were talking about—something about investing in a tech company and their dad resisting new advancements. I thought the Langleys were just into real estate—owning tons of properties and all that.

Once Oliver left the room, Sebastian glanced my way. “Need a ride back to the city?”

“I was planning to take the train,” I told him.

“I’ll drive you. Gotta head in there anyway before going back,” he insisted.

Thinking it over for a minute, I looked at Charlotte before asking, “Are you leaving now?”

He grinned. “Ready when you are.”

“I need to grab my stuff. Give me five minutes.”

He nodded, already looking at his phone.

As I headed to my room, Charlotte followed, giving me a look.

“I’m not an idiot. I get what he’s doing,” I told her.

She sighed, lowering her voice. “I know you’re smart, E. But he’s incredibly charming.”

“Yeah, and he’s also a man,” I pointed out.

She bit her lip, rocking some serious doe eyes, attempting to look innocent.

Coming to a pause, I asked, “What’s that look supposed to mean?”

She clicked her tongue, hands on her hips. “If anyone could make you reconsider, it’d be him. I adore Oliver, but Sebastian is the hottest man I’ve ever seen. Plus, he’s smart and charming.”

I tried not to laugh. “Are you sure you don’t have a crush on him?”

She rolled her eyes, lips twitching. “Maybe I do, and he’s my fiancé’s older brother. Stranger things have happened than the possibility of you two, but he’s so much older than you.”

“I’m not going to hook up with Oliver’s brother, Char. That’s insane.”

“You’re not seeing anyone, and he’s...persistent. Henry said?—”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Henry said?” My cheeks heated with embarrassment. “Have you been talking to Henry about this?”

“No! I told him there’s no way you’d ever…” She trailed off. “But he mentioned Ash is like a dog with a bone and he won’t give up easily. And let’s be honest, we both know he didn’t come here to see us.”

I shrugged, exasperated. “Charlotte, come on. I’m your kid brother, and he’s Sebastian fucking Langley. He’s not seriously interested in me. He’s probably doing it out of boredom, and he’ll move on in a week, if not sooner.” Trust her to turn such a small thing into a big deal. “We have nothing in common. I can’t even hold a conversation with him. If he likes how I look, he’ll get over it soon.”

She still looked skeptical but finally nodded. “Okay, maybe you’re right.”

“Can I go get my stuff now?” I asked, annoyed.

“You’re right. I’m making too much of it.” She waved it off. “Oli must have gotten to me.”

I turned to leave, but she grabbed my arm again. “Wait, wait. We didn’t get to talk about Dad and the tennis thing.”

Not this again.

“Char, I told you—I’m fine. I like it, okay? Maybe it’s not the most fun I’ll ever have, but at least I’m doing something.”

Her expression softened into that hurt puppy dog look, only this time, it was aimed at me. A mix of frustration and something heavier—sadness, maybe—crawled up my spine and settled in my stomach.

“You are doing something, E. Some people take a little longer to figure it out. There’s nothing wrong with that,” she said in that gentle, comforting Charlotte voice. It helped. It just didn’t fix anything.

“I know.”

“Why don’t you tell him you want to take a break?” she pressed.

A break. I’d thought about faking an injury—so fucking dramatic. If I could play less, it would be fine. He sucked all the fun out of it. I used to like it. I just had to find my way back to that.

“I’ll think about it, okay? But right now, I really have to go,” I said firmly.

She gave me that same look but nodded reluctantly.

I shoved thoughts of my dad and my chaotic college life aside as I grabbed my things. By the time I walked out the door, my sole focus was on the tight knot in my stomach as I headed toward him.

Sebastian’s car was impressive—a sleek sports model. I expected he’d have a driver, but he slid behind the wheel himself. As I settled into the passenger seat, he took a work call, and I put on my headphones, letting the music drown everything out as I stared out the window. It smelled nice in there—like him.

After some time passed, a warm hand on my shoulder jolted me.

“Sorry about that,” he said, returning his hand to the gearshift.

I pulled off my headphones, my heart racing. “It’s fine. You didn’t have to stop on my account,” I replied.

His lips curved into a slight smile. “What do you usually do on weekends?”

“Go out.” Realizing how lame that sounded, I bit my tongue, feeling self-conscious, and rubbed my nose.

He chuckled. “Do I make you nervous?”

My heart skipped a beat. I was usually good at hiding that. How did he figure it out? I was probably acting like a nervous wreck.

“A little,” I admitted, trying to sound casual.

“I don’t bite, Ethan.” He paused. “What are your plans for today?”

“I’m playing tennis at three. Later tonight, I’m meeting a friend to go out.”

“A date?” he teased.

I shot him a look. “No, not a date. Just going out tonight.”

“What’s a night out like for you?”

Taking the bait, I smirked. “You mean for us young people ?” I joked.

He laughed—a genuine, hearty laugh that seemed less controlled. I smiled, pleased I’d caught him off guard.

“Fuck you, Ethan, I’m still young,” he said defensively.

“I didn’t say you weren’t. It just feels like you’re interviewing me.”

“I’m trying to picture it: a day in the life of Ethan Bennett,” he said, making me grin.

“Why the interest?”

“I’m trying to get to know you. Isn’t that obvious?”

“But why?” I insisted.

“Well, you’re my brother-in-law, for starters. We’ll see each other quite a bit—assuming Oli’s wedding goes as planned.”

“I bet you have more interesting things to do than get to know me.”

He glanced over. “I don’t know about that. I find you pretty interesting.”

“Why?”

He chuckled. “Why so skeptical?”

“Did I give you the impression that I’m easygoing? A lot of people make that mistake.”

He laughed again, louder this time. I looked out the window, hiding a smile.

“So, what are you like then?”

“Not easygoing, that’s for sure.”

“I didn’t think you were,” he admitted, glancing at me. “I can tell you’re strong-willed. I like that about you.”

I was speechless again. How could he read me so easily? We had barely talked. I rubbed my nose absently, earning another chuckle.

“Do you hate that I have you figured out?”

I scoffed. “You don’t have me figured out, Sebastian.”

“I told you to call me Ash.”

“And I’m just supposed to do as you say?” I shot back.

Leaning slightly toward me, his voice dropped like he needed to share a secret. “Not yet, but you will.” His grin widened, painting Sebastian Langley as the devil he was.

I was about to respond when his phone rang again.

His smile faded as he glanced at the caller ID. “Fucking Warren,” he muttered, clearly annoyed.

“Aren’t you going to take that?”

“No. He can bother me again after I’ve dropped you off.”

“You don’t have to entertain me.”

“Not doing it for you, darling. Just don’t feel like talking to him right now.” My heart raced at the casual “darling.” “Besides, we’re almost there. Am I dropping you at your apartment?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you live alone?”

My stomach tightened. His personal questions had a way of doing that. It’s not that he made me uncomfortable, it was more like he set my nerves on fire. “I have a roommate.”

“Do you ever speak freely, Ethan?” he asked. “Do people have to pry information out of you? Or is this reserved just for me?” His tone was teasing, but there was a challenge there.

“I don’t trust you yet,” I told him.

His grin turned wolfish. “Yet?”

My face warmed as I shrugged. “I’m not usually an open book.”

“We have that in common.” He pulled up to my building as his GPS announced, “You have reached your destination,” marking the end of our ride.

Unbuckling my seatbelt, I said, “Thanks for the ride.”

He reached toward the glove compartment, leaning closer, and his sudden proximity sent a jolt through me.

“Hold on a second,” he murmured, pulling out a sleek black box labeled Barton Perreira . Handing it to me, he stared expectantly. “It’s a gift,” he said when I hesitated.

I frowned. “What for?”

“You liked mine. I got another pair, saw these, and thought they’d suit you. Go on, open it.”

Sliding the box open, I found an elegant black case. Inside were stylish sunglasses—something I’d expect him to wear but never would have picked for myself.

“They’re great,” I admitted.

He took them out, unfolding the gold frames, and placed them on me. His dark eyes scanned my face before he leaned back, satisfied.

“I was right,” he said, pulling down the passenger-side mirror so I could see.

They did look good, but the gesture felt overwhelming. I took them off, carefully placing them back in the case.

“Well, off you go. I have a meeting to get to,” he said, just as I was about to protest accepting the gift.

“Sebastian—”

“Thank you, Ash,” he corrected, tilting his head. “I think that’s what you meant to say.” His smile was both charming and disarming. My heart felt like it was lodged in my throat, and a fluttering sensation stirred in my stomach.

“Thank you, Ash,” I repeated. The air between us seemed charged as we sat there, eyes locked.

Breaking away from his gaze, I snapped the case shut. “I’ll see you around.”

Before I could open the door, he placed a hand on my shoulder, pulling me back slightly. Leaning in, he brushed his cheek against mine—the rough stubble sent a shiver through me—as he kissed the air beside my face. The gesture, though meant as a casual goodbye, threw me off.

“You’re welcome, darling. See you around.”

This time, the endearment didn’t sound like an offhand remark. It felt intimate and intentional, leaving me breathless.

There was something different about him.

I stepped out and watched as he drove away.

Sebastian handled me like something precious, shifting from blunt attraction to treating me like a pet. Like he was caring for me, but, at the same time, trying to assert his dominance. I felt like a mouse staring into a trap, only to realize that escape was impossible.

I was already ensnared.