Ethan’s hands were tight on the steering wheel, his knuckles pale as sunlight streamed through the windshield. He glanced at her again, unable to help himself. Ava sat beside him in the passenger seat, her soft curls falling over her shoulder, her lips tinted with a shade of pink that looked almost too perfect to be real. She had spent an hour getting ready, though she never admitted it, and the faint scent of her perfume was filling the small car with warmth. She was nervous but tried to hide it, her slender fingers twisting her bracelet as she stared out the window at the long driveway that led up to his family home.

“Relax,” Ethan said, reaching over to take her hand. His voice carried that easy calmness he always had, though the way he rubbed his thumb over her knuckles betrayed his own nerves. “They’re going to love you. Honestly, you’ll probably have them all wrapped around your finger in ten minutes.”

Ava smiled softly, her heart thudding in her chest. Meeting Ethan’s family felt like a big step, and she wanted everything to be perfect. She had fallen for him hard. His quiet strength, his warm laugh, and the way he always made her feel safe. She had never felt so certain about someone, and today felt like the beginning of something permanent.

The house came into view, a sprawling home with polished white pillars and a front porch that looked like it belonged on a magazine cover. Ava’s breath caught as Ethan parked the car. The house was larger than she expected, almost intimidating, with flowerbeds in full bloom and tall trees lining the edges of the yard. She smoothed her skirt nervously, wishing she had chosen a different outfit even though Ethan had told her she looked beautiful a dozen times already.

Ethan stepped out of the car first and came around to open her door, offering his hand. She took it, steadying herself as she stepped onto the driveway. The air smelled faintly of jasmine and freshly cut grass, and somewhere in the distance, she could hear the sound of a fountain.

Inside the house, laughter drifted from the living room. The moment they stepped through the door, they were greeted by Ethan’s mother, Claire. She was elegant, with warm hazel eyes and a smile that could light up a room.

“You must be Ava,” Claire said, pulling her into a gentle hug before Ava could even speak. “I have heard so much about you. Ethan has been smitten for months.”

Ava blushed, glancing shyly at Ethan. He grinned and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, his touch reassuring. Claire ushered them into the living room, where more family members were waiting. Ethan’s younger sister, Emily, jumped up from the couch, her excitement bubbling over as she hugged Ava too. Ava was surprised at how quickly she felt welcomed, the tension in her shoulders easing as Claire offered them drinks and Emily chatted away.

Then she felt it. A presence.

When Ava turned, her eyes met his.

In the corner of the room stood a man who seemed older than Ethan by at least a decade. He had broad shoulders, dark hair touched with streaks of gray at the temples, and eyes so sharp they seemed to see right through her. He wasn’t smiling, just watching with a quiet intensity that made her throat go dry.

“This is my uncle,” Ethan said, oblivious to the way Ava’s pulse quickened. “This is Victor Hayes.”

Victor stepped forward, his presence filling the room. He was dressed casually, but everything about him screamed wealth and power, from the glint of his watch to the way he carried himself with absolute confidence. When he extended his hand, Ava took it, startled by the strength of his grip and the way his eyes lingered on her face.

“Ava,” Victor said, his voice low and smooth, the kind of voice that lingered even after he stopped speaking. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Her lips parted slightly as she murmured a polite greeting, but there was something in his gaze that unsettled her. It was not rude, not obvious, but there was an intensity there that she could not ignore. She felt as if he was memorizing her, taking in every detail, from the curve of her lips to the nervous way she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

Victor’s smile deepened slightly, subtle enough that no one else noticed.

Ethan continued making introductions, but Ava could feel Victor’s attention like heat against her skin. She tried to shake it off, focusing instead on the warmth of the family, on Claire’s soft laugh, and Emily’s excited chatter. Yet every time she dared to glance toward Victor, she found his eyes already on her, calm and steady, as if he were quietly assessing her worth.

Dinner was lively and filled with stories about Ethan’s childhood, laughter echoing off the high ceilings. Ava tried her best to keep up with the conversation, smiling and nodding at every joke, every teasing remark. But every so often she would catch Victor watching her, and her heart would skip a beat. There was a weight in his gaze, a confidence she found both intimidating and alluring. She told herself she was imagining it, that he was simply being polite. Yet when their eyes met again and he offered her the faintest hint of a knowing smile, she felt a warmth in her cheeks that had nothing to do with the wine in her glass.

By the end of the night, Ava was certain of one thing: she had made a good impression on Ethan’s family. Claire hugged her warmly before they left, Emily gushed about how she already adored her, and Ethan held her hand all the way back to the car, his eyes shining with pride.

But as they drove away, Ava could still feel Victor’s gaze on her, as if he had branded her with it. She shivered slightly, though the night air was warm.

She told herself it was nothing. She told herself that she loved Ethan and that was all that mattered.

Yet, deep down, she knew she would not forget that look any time soon.

A week had passed since Ava met Ethan’s family, and the glow of that evening still lingered. Ethan had been overjoyed at how well she fit in, how quickly his mother and sister had taken to her. He had been all smiles since that night, sending her sweet texts during work hours, calling her every evening before bed, and kissing her softly whenever they saw each other. To him, everything was perfect.

And for Ava, it almost was.

The only thing she could not shake was the memory of Victor’s gaze. She had tried to forget the way his eyes had followed her, cool yet deliberate, but it replayed in her mind in the quiet moments when she was alone. She hated herself for even thinking about it. Ethan was kind and good, the man she had always dreamed of. But there was something about Victor that unnerved her, something magnetic that tugged at her attention in ways she could not explain.

That evening, Ava had gone to Ethan’s apartment after work. It had become routine to stop by on Fridays. She loved the comfort of his space, the smell of his cologne lingering on the couch cushions, the warmth of his laughter as he teased her gently while she cooked. The two of them had just finished a simple dinner, candles flickering softly on the dining table, when a knock echoed at the door.

“I will get it,” Ava said, wiping her hands on a dish towel as she walked toward the sound.

When she opened the door, her breath caught.

Victor stood there, leaning casually against the doorframe, dressed in a fitted dark shirt and tailored slacks that hinted at his wealth without flaunting it. He smiled faintly when he saw her, and for a moment, Ava forgot how to speak.

“Victor, please do come in,” she said finally, stepping aside to let him in.

Ethan’s voice carried from the living room. “Uncle Vic! What a surprise.”

Victor stepped inside, his presence filling the small apartment. “Thought I should drop by,” he said smoothly, his eyes flickering to Ava briefly before focusing on Ethan. “Haven’t seen you all week.”

Ava excused herself, heart beating faster than it should, and slipped into the kitchen to finish washing the dishes. She could hear their voices, Victor’s deep and measured, Ethan’s warm and casual. She tried to focus on the clink of plates under running water, tried not to think about Victor’s cologne still lingering faintly in the air from where he stood moments ago.

When she was done, Ava wiped her hands and peeked into the living room. The sight of Ethan laughing with his uncle eased her tension, but only slightly. “I should get going,” she said softly. “You two catch up. I will call a ride.”

Ethan frowned, glancing up. “What? No. I will take you home.”

She smiled. “You don’t have to. Stay with your uncle. I don’t mind.”

Victor was already shaking his head. “No need for that. I will take her,” he said, his tone firm yet polite. “She’s family now. And we take care of family.”

Ava hesitated, glancing between them. Ethan’s face softened, and he gave a small nod. “Uncle Victor’s right. He will get you home safe.”

She kissed Ethan goodnight, whispering that she loved him, before following Victor out of the apartment.

The air outside was cool, and Victor’s sleek car gleamed under the streetlights. He opened the door for her like a gentleman, and she slid into the leather interior, surrounded by soft luxury.

The drive was quiet at first, filled only with the hum of the engine. Ava felt his presence beside her like a physical weight. Every so often, she could feel his eyes flicker toward her, studying her in silence.

Halfway to her apartment, Victor’s phone rang. He answered briefly, his voice sharp and controlled, and after hanging up, he glanced at her.

“I need to make a quick stop,” he said smoothly. “You don’t mind, do you?”

Ava shook her head, though curiosity stirred within her. The car veered off course, eventually pulling up to a restaurant she recognized instantly. It was one of those exclusive places she had always dreamed of visiting, where tables were booked months in advance.

“I can wait in the car,” she offered quickly.

But Victor opened her door, his expression unreadable. “No. Come with me. It might take longer than I thought, and I would hate to leave you sitting out here alone.”

Ava hesitated but stepped out, following him into the restaurant. Inside, the air was warm, rich with the scent of wine and truffle butter, soft music playing in the background. Heads turned when Victor entered. He carried himself like a man who owned the place, and perhaps he did.

They were led straight to a private area, where Victor dealt swiftly with a situation involving a loud, arrogant patron. His calm, cutting words held authority that silenced the man without effort, and Ava found herself watching him in awe. There was something intoxicating about his composure, his effortless control. She could see now why people respected him, maybe even feared him.

Once the matter was resolved, Victor returned to her side. “Shall we?” he said, offering his arm. She slipped her hand through, her pulse quickening at the warmth of his touch.

He dropped her off at her apartment a while later, once again stepping out to open her door and walking her to her front door. The night air felt charged, like electricity clinging to her skin.

“This is me,” she said softly, clutching her keys.

Victor’s gaze lingered on her, intense and unreadable. Then he leaned in, pressing a kiss to her cheek. It was gentle, almost innocent, but it sent a shiver through her.

“Goodnight, Ava,” he murmured.

She stood frozen as he turned and walked away, her body trembling, heart pounding so loudly she thought the neighbors might hear. The warmth of his lips lingered on her skin long after his car disappeared down the street, leaving her confused, rattled, and longing for something she could not admit.

Ava lay in bed, tangled in her sheets, the cool night air doing nothing to ease the heat in her chest. She stared at the ceiling, her mind running in restless circles. The kiss. It was just a kiss on the cheek. Completely normal. She was family now, and the Hayes family seemed like the affectionate type. That was all it was.

She rolled onto her side, pulling the blanket tighter around her. “It wasn’t flirting,” she whispered to herself, as if saying it aloud would make it true. “He didn’t even say anything or act any way that seemed like flirting. I’m definitely seeing things.”

Still, her heart had raced the entire time he stood close to her door. The way he’d looked at her had felt heavy, and she couldn’t shake the memory of his scent, that faint spice and expensive cologne that clung to him. She turned again, pressing her face into her pillow, willing her mind to quiet.

When sleep finally came, it did not bring its usual comfort.

Her dreams were vivid, too vivid, and they did not belong to Ethan. She saw Victor, his dark eyes holding her in place, his large hands on her hips, his voice low in her ear. She felt the heat of his breath against her neck, the weight of his body pressing her back into silk sheets she had never touched in waking life. She heard herself moaning softly, breathlessly, as his lips trailed down her skin with unbearable slowness. The dream was thick with desire, rich and hot and dizzying, and Ava woke with a startled gasp.

Her body was slick with sweat, her pulse thundering in her ears. She sat up in bed, clutching the sheets to her chest, her breath shallow.

“What is wrong with me?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

The morning sun was already bleeding through her curtains, warm and unforgiving when she woke up. Ava dragged herself out of bed and straight into the shower, turning the water as cold as she could stand. She needed to scrub the dream off, needed to erase every image, every sound, every spark of heat. But even as she stood under the icy water, she could still feel him. His voice. His hands.

By the time she was dressed and ready for work, her nerves were frayed. She hurried down the stairs of her apartment building and into a waiting cab, her mind a whirlwind. She had no idea what to do or if she should tell Ethan about the kiss Victor had given her last night. It was innocent, wasn’t it? A family kiss. She was making it bigger in her head than it was. If she told Ethan, it would only hurt him. It would make him suspicious when there was nothing to be suspicious of.

Her phone buzzed in her purse as the cab merged into traffic. She fumbled for it quickly, her heart easing when she saw Ethan’s name glowing across the screen. She answered without hesitation, lifting the phone to her ear as though the sound of his voice might steady her.

“Morning, babe,” Ethan said, his tone warm and playful, carrying the ease of someone who had never once doubted her. “I missed you last night. Did you sleep well? Dream of me?”

Ava froze, her grip tightening around the phone as the dream rushed back in sharp detail. Heat rose to her cheeks, shame twisting low in her stomach. Her lips parted, but nothing came out. She could almost still feel Victor’s hands on her, the weight of his body, the brush of his mouth against her skin.

“Ava? Babe? You there?” Ethan’s voice broke through, gentle but edged with concern.

She forced a laugh, light and hurried. “Sorry. I think I’m still half-asleep. I… I didn’t dream at all last night. Guess I was too tired.”

It was a lie he would never question. Ethan chuckled, his laugh warm and unguarded in her ear. “That’s okay. I dreamed enough for both of us. You were in this gorgeous white dress, and we were getting married. I swear it felt so real, I woke up smiling.”

Ava felt her chest tighten with guilt. She smiled anyway, leaning her head against the cool glass of the cab window. “That sounds perfect,” she whispered softly.

“It was,” Ethan said. “One day, that will be us.”

Her guilt ebbed a little at the warmth in his voice. She could hear the love there, genuine and steady. There was no reason to feel this way. It had just been a dream. Dreams meant nothing. She convinced herself of it, repeating it silently like a mantra.

She decided right then that she would not tell Ethan about Victor’s goodnight kiss. It was too small a thing to mention, and the last thing she wanted was to see doubt or hurt in his eyes. She would take it to her grave if she had to.

By the time the cab reached her office building, she was laughing at Ethan’s jokes, her heart feeling lighter. The sun was bright, traffic buzzed all around, and she was just a woman on her way to work, in love with a man who adored her. The rest could stay buried where it belonged.

Or so she told herself.