The salty breeze rolled in from the ocean, thick with the heat of the Outer Banks summer. You hadn’t meant to cross paths with Rafe Cameron, but now there was no way out. He stood in front of you, blocking your way, his sharp blue eyes locked onto yours with a mix of amusement and something darker—something dangerous.

“You really don’t know when to quit, do you?” he muttered, voice low and edged with irritation.

You crossed your arms, refusing to back down. “And you really think you scare me?”

A slow smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, but his expression stayed cold. “That’s a mistake,” he said, stepping closer.

Maybe it was. Maybe getting involved with Rafe Cameron was the worst thing you could do. But something told you this wasn’t the last time you’d see him. Something told you this was only the beginning.