But he hadn’t.
This was the first time Nathan Edge had ever stepped foot in the home I shared with Kelsey.
And I hated how aware of it I suddenly was.
Our place wasn’t much despite the amount of money the both of us made. It was a stunning, lived-in three-bedroom house with too many throw pillows, candles in every scent Bath & Body Works had ever released, and framed photos from years of friendship. But it was ours. Our safe space. The one place where Kelsey and I could unwind, be ridiculous, and not worry about paparazzi or passive-aggressive emails from entitled artists.
Now he was here. And his presence wasloud. Not in volume since he hadn’t said a word, but in the way he seemed to take up all the oxygen. The second he crossed the threshold, the house felt smaller. Warmer. Like the air shifted just for him.
Nathan shrugged off his jacket and tossed it over the back of the couch like he paid rent.
I blinked. “Make yourself at home, why don’t you?”
He didn’t respond. Just gave the place a slow once-over, like he was cataloging every inch of it and every inch of me by extension.
I started to turn from the front door, wondering where the last place I saw my cell phone so I could call Owen and reschedule our date, when the roar of an engine from the street captured my attention, effectively rooting me in place. A white Audi R8 rolled up in front of the driveway, behind Nathan’s black Maserati.
I barely had time to collect myself before Owen got out of his car and strided up the walkway confidently, eating up the distance in seconds.
He looked even better in person than in his movies. He was tall and broad-shouldered with tan skin and warm brown eyes. In his hands he carried a bouquet of roses. This guy was the total package and here I was, about to cancel on him.
“Wow. Kelsey told me you were beautiful, but that was clearly an understatement. You’re stunning,” Owen said, his smile warm and effortless.
“Thank you,” I smiled, the words coming out a little breathless. “You’re even better looking in person than you are on screen.” The moment the words left my mouth embarrassment rushed over me, and I couldn’t help but smile nervously.
Owen chuckled, and I noticed a cute little dimple appear on his cheek that wasn’t there a second ago. “Thank you. Are you ready to go?”
I hesitated, feeling guilty. “Actually, I was just about to call you to cancel.”
His brow furrowed with concern. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine. I just got called into work at the last minute and I couldn’t say no. I’m so sorry,” I said, my voice tinged with regret.
“I can’t say I’m not disappointed,” Owen replied, his smile staying genuine. “But I get it. Work comes first.”
I felt a wave of relief wash over me at how understanding he was. “Thank you. You’re being so sweet about this.”
“Of course.” He flashed me a grin that made my heart race.Not now, fangirl.“I guess we’ll just have to plan another date soon, huh?”
“I guess so,” I said, returning his grin. “And next time, I’ll make sure work doesn’t get in the way.”
“Elise, are you ready to come back inside?” The voice was low, but it sent a shiver down my spine.
Nathan’s presence was unmistakable. His large frame loomed behind me, just inches away, as if marking his territory. I felt the press of his shirt buttons against the bare skin of my back, and his scent, hazelnut and sandalwood wrapped around me like a familiar yet commanding force.
“Yeah, just give me a second,” I said quickly, my voice almost instinctive in its reply to him. I could feel the heat of his body against mine, and it made it hard to focus on anything else. But I forced myself to keep my gaze locked on Owen, who stood in front of me, his gaze now focused on Nathan. I had to maintain some semblance of professionalism, though I couldn’t shake the heavy weight of Nathan’s presence right behind me. “Owen, this is my boss, Nathan Edge,” I motioned behind me.
“Edge? You wouldn’t happen to be related to the late Xavier Edge, CEO of Edge Records, would you?”
Nathan stepped closer without hesitation, there was a tension in the air that was palpable. I stepped off to the side.
“That was my father. I’m in charge now.”
The words carried a weight that felt like more than just a statement of fact. It was a reminder, an assertion of power.
Instead of backing down, Owen held Nathan’s gaze for a beat longer than necessary. “I didn’t realize the CEO of a multi-million-dollar company had time to make house calls,” he said, a hint of a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. The challenge in his voice was unmistakable, and it clearly wasn’t lost on Nathan.
For a moment, the air between them crackled with a silent rivalry. Nathan’s muscles stiffened, his shoulders squared, but Owen wasn’t backing down. His posture remained relaxed, his hands tucked in his pockets as if he had no care in the world. He seemed completely unbothered by Nathan’s intense presence.
