I had always known Cole Lexington as my brother’s best friend—the quiet, brooding type who never really showed much of anything, especially around me. He had the world wrapped around his finger: wealth, power, charm. But where he easily gave others a glimpse of his emotions, with me, it was like a wall. An unreadable mask that frustrated and intrigued me more than I cared to admit.

At twenty-one, Cole was the type of guy who could walk into a room and instantly own it without saying a word. Dark hair, piercing green eyes, and a jawline sharp enough to cut glass. Everyone knew him as the guy who didn’t mess around, always in control. But that control never slipped—not when it came to me.

I was used to being ignored by him, used to the way he’d act like I didn’t exist whenever we were in the same room. Except now, something had shifted.

I was standing outside my family’s estate after a late night out, the cool breeze brushing my skin as I searched for my keys. That’s when I heard the deep rumble of an engine, and a sleek black car pulled up next to me. The window rolled down, and there he was—Cole, leaning casually against the steering wheel, his gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that made my stomach flip.

“Lost?” he asked, his voice low and smooth, but there was something in his tone—something dark and teasing.