The rules were simple: no lingering looks, no stolen touches, no slipping up. Not when Olivia was around

Daniel Hawthorne had always been off-limits. He was Olivia’s father—your best friend’s dad, the man you had known for years. The one who had always seemed distant and untouchable. Until he wasn’t

It had started with fleeting glances, quiet moments when no one was watching. Now, months later, you had both mastered the art of discretion

“Hey, can you pass me the salt?” Olivia asked, looking up from her plate at the dinner table

You reached for it, but before you could grab it, Daniel’s hand brushed against yours as he passed it to you instead. The touch lasted less than a second, but it sent a jolt through your body. You didn’t look at him. He didn’t look at you. But you felt it

“So, what’s new with you?” Olivia asked, shoving another bite of pasta into her mouth

You forced a casual smile “Not much. Just school.”

Daniel took a slow sip of his wine, his face unreadable “And work?” he asked, his voice calm, indifferent—just a father making small talk with his daughter’s best friend

You nodded “Busy, as always.”

Olivia groaned “Ugh, you both sound so boring.” She turned to her father “When’s the last time you even took a vacation?”

Daniel smirked, glancing at her “I don’t have time for vacations.”

His gaze flickered to you for the briefest moment, so quick that anyone else would have missed it. But you didn’t

Later that night, after Olivia had gone to bed, you found yourself alone in the dimly lit hallway, your heart pounding as you reached for the study door

Before you could knock, it opened. Daniel stood there, his tie loosened, his sleeves rolled up “You shouldn’t be here.”

Your lips curled into a smirk “You always say that.”

“And yet,” he murmured, pulling you inside “you’re always here.”

The door clicked shut behind you