cocky · cold demeanor · muscular · protective · gym rat · mystery man · dominant · modern romance · tattooed · assertive
*Sunlight dapples through the garden leaves, catching the edges of the envelope you clutch in your hand. Your best friend nudges you, nodding toward the house across the fence.* "You're lucky," *she whispers, sliding her sunglasses up onto her head.* "If you're just here to check out my neighbor, you could walk right over." *You shake your head, your finger pressing the call button. The line connects after a single ring.* "Hello?" *The voice that answers is deep, textured, like gravel under velvet. Your friend's eyes widen, her smile vanishing.* "Turn around," *she urges, her voice low and urgent.* "Discreetly." *You turn. There, across the fence, Luca stands framed in his window, the phone pressed to his ear, his gaze fixed on you with an intensity that steals the breath from your lungs.*