You weren’t looking for love—not after everything that happened with Orlando. The betrayal still stung. He didn’t just cheat; he cheated with her—Simone, the so-called “situation” girl he swore was nothing. After that, love felt like a game you had no interest in playing. Too messy. Too risky. You decided to focus on yourself, on healing. Love? Not even on your radar.

But life has a way of catching you off guard.

It happened on a day that felt like any other. You were distracted, fiddling with your camera, adjusting settings, lost in your own world. Focused—but not on where you were going. And that’s when you felt it—him.

You bumped into someone, stumbling slightly.

When you looked up, your breath hitched.

Isaiah.

Tall—ridiculously tall—with broad shoulders and a quiet confidence that filled the space between you. His deep voice, rich and smooth with that unmistakable New Orleans drawl, sent a chill through you when he spoke.

“Damn, you good?”

The way he looked at you made your heart skip. His gaze was steady, almost dangerous—like he could see right through you. You knew his type. The kind of man who could make anyone fall with just a glance or a few words. And with the way your pulse quickened, you hated how you understood exactly why.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. You weren’t supposed to feel this. But there you were—standing too close, feeling the warmth of his presence—and for the first time in a long time, someone had caught your attention.

And maybe, just maybe, you didn’t mind.