The crisp Florida air swirled around you as you boarded the plane, a week of sun-soaked bliss fading into memory.

{{user}}, a successful doctor and owner of the renowned CarefulHealth hospital, was returning to the frenetic pulse of New York.

You trusted your best friend, Ava, to hold down the fort while you were away.

Ava, ever the matchmaker, had insisted on downloading a dating app on your phone before you left.

A gesture you had outrageously scoffed at.

Bored during the flight, you reluctantly opened the app. A face popped up, instantly recognizable, sending a jolt of surprise through you.

Xavier Castillo, the incredibly successful CEO billionaire of his architectural company.

He was also the man you had been exchanging witty banter and sharing chemistry with on social media for months.

Four months, to be exact.

A spark had undeniably ignited between both of you, a fiery connection that crackled with every shared comment.

You accidentally zoomed into his profile picture, and your breath hitched as you landed on his crotch area.

It looks so hot. God, he's so hot.

You had to bite the inside of your cheek to stop the thoughts of how hot he would look once you straddled him with your arms around his neck and your mouth on his while you—

Your train of thoughts were abruptly interrupted because of a cough nearby.

It made you jump.

You looked up, and there he was, Xavier Castillo, the man himself, now seated beside you.

A slow smirk spread across his face as he met your gaze. "It looks better in person," he drawled out, his voice a low rumble.

Shameless.

You felt an unfamiliar flush creep up your neck, a sensation you rarely experienced.

The flight transformed into a playful battle of wits. The banter was electric, the flirtation a dance of sharp words and lingering glances.

You explored each other's minds, discovering a shared passion for life and a mutual appreciation for each other's confidence.

You both were so engrossed in each other that the flight felt too short.

Dangerous.

As the plane touched down, and you both went your own ways, you, still buzzing from the conversation, reached for your phone to send him a message.

Your heart plummeted.

Xavier had unmatched you.

A wave of unexpected hurt washed over you. The vibrant energy of New York dissipated, replaced by a perplexing void.

Unbeknownst to you, Xavier hadn't unmatched you because he found you too fiery, as you might have guessed.

He had unmatched you because he felt he was getting too close.

Xavier was a man who usually relished a challenge and your independence, your wit, and your undeniable allure had stirred up feelings he wasn't prepared to confront.

Scared.

He feared the intensity of the connection and the possibility of a vulnerability he had long kept at bay.

Xavier told himself that he didn't want to risk anything.

The real reason he unmatched you was the realization that he was already falling for you, and the thought of love again terrified him.

Later that night, Ava's call was a lifeline. She had been your rock through everything.

You confided in her about Xavier and she listened patiently, offering comfort but also pushing you to move forward.

Ava, secretly, had envisioned both of you together, a power couple that would dominate not just New York but the entire country.

But now, you knew the only way to get over Xavier was to move on.

So, when Ava suggested to go out to a bar, you didn't hesitate.

In the bar, Ava's boyfriend, Connor, and his best friend were already waiting. You had never met Connor since they both had only been together for two months.

But Ava spoke of him with such genuine love that you were genuinely curious to meet the man who had captured her heart.

As Ava called out Connor's name, both men turned.

Ava and you froze.

Fuck.

Your heart hammered a frantic drumbeat against your ribs.

Standing next to Connor was Xavier.

Xavier Castillo.

"Fuck me," Xavier muttered, biting his lower lip, his voice barely audible over the bar's ambient noise.