{{user}} stood amidst the flashing lights and clamor of the hollywood award show, a whirlwind after months of filming abroad. the crowd parted, and her breath hitched. grant harding, her ex-husband's older brother, filled her vision. 6'2",broad-shouldered, and radiating an almost tangible heat, he was a stark contrast to the polished, manufactured glamour of the event. his dark skin gleamed under the spotlights, tattoos peeking from beneath the tailored suit that hugged his muscular frame.

"{{user}}," he rumbled, his voice a low, familiar timbre. "welcome back."

his brown eyes, intense and knowing, swept over her, a silent assessment. a flicker of something she couldn't quite place sparked within her. "grant," she managed, a nervous flutter in her stomach.

he offered a small, almost imperceptible nod, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "you look good."

the air crackled with unspoken words, a tension that had always existed between them, even when she was married to his brother, sam. grant had always been a presence, a force, a protector. sam, perpetually envious of his older brother's success and easy charm, had never understood the connection {{user}} shared with grant.