Chapter 3

I own a boutique coffee shop in the city center.

I've been running it for years, and business is pretty good. I don't have extra staff, so I handle everything myself.

Sometimes, when it gets crazy, Lauren comes over to help out.

Lately, business has been great, and I’d saved up enough to upgrade my living situation to a nicer apartment.

That afternoon, I was in the middle of labeling moving boxes when I heard arguing outside my door.

"You made me cancel a business dinner just to help her move? She didn't even hire a moving company..."

"What’s wrong with helping her move? Do you sleep on the streets, Logan? If you keep being a jerk, I’m telling Dad you're a heartless monster!"

"Fine. I’m keeping score," Logan replied, his voice calm, though the threat was clear. "You better pray you don't need a favor from me anytime soon."

Realizing they were about to start a full-blown sibling war, I quickly stepped out.

"It’s fine, really! I don't have that many boxes. I don't need this much help."

I looked up, intending to apologize to Lauren's brother. "I'm so sorry, Logan. Lauren didn't explain things clearly, and she dragged you here. I—"

The words died in my throat.

He was wearing a dark brown overcoat today, looking even more striking in the daylight than he did under the streetlights last night.

His features were sharp, his jawline perfectly chiseled, and his eyes—the exact same eyes that had haunted my dreams again last night—were locked onto me.

My heart skipped a beat.

Even though I’d realized the truth last night, seeing him this close in the broad daylight brought a wave of raw, overwhelming shock. I hadn't even processed the fact that he was Lauren's brother, let alone how to face him.

I forced myself to look away, turning to Lauren. "...I can really do this myself."

"Fine! If you don't want to help, just leave! Nobody's begging you with that grumpy face of yours anyway," Lauren rolled her eyes and linked her arm through mine. "Don't apologize to him, Sophia. He’s been gone for years and has completely lost his manners."

"I never said I wouldn't help," Logan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Where are the boxes?"

"Wait, what?" Lauren blinked.

"The boxes. Where are they?"

Logan took off his overcoat, revealing a perfectly tailored black button-down shirt that subtly showed off the hard lines of his chest and back.

He draped his coat over a chair and rolled his sleeves up to his elbows.

The muscle definition in his forearms was insane—he clearly worked out religiously.

My mind flashed back to the night of our one-night stand, remembering how those strong hands had gripped my waist...

I violently shook my head to clear the thoughts.

With Logan there, Lauren and I were instantly relegated to the sidelines.

Lauren sat by the counter, sipping coffee and scrolling through Snapchat, happily bossing her brother around.

I hid in the bedroom, pretending to be busy packing clothes.

My mind was a complete mess.

*Does he remember me? Probably not. It’s been so long...*

As I was spiraling, a deep voice broke the silence.

"I’ve moved everything from the living room."

"Oh! Thank you!"

My bedroom wasn't huge, and with his massive frame stepping inside, the space suddenly felt incredibly cramped.

I instinctively took half a step back, accidentally knocking over a small storage organizer. Logan reacted instantly, bending down to catch it.

The lid popped open, revealing a piece of neatly folded lace underwear.

The delicate, soft fabric caught on his finger, creating a stark, wicked contrast against his black sleeve.

I froze. I vividly remembered wearing something very similar that night...

My face flushed a violent crimson. Logan stared at me, his eyes darkening.

He leaned in, so close that I could count his eyelashes. His voice dropped to a low, dangerous murmur. "You seem terrified of me, Sophia. Why?"

My breathing hitched, our gazes locking.

Trapped and desperate, my brain completely short-circuited, and I blurted out the first thing that came to mind:

"Lauren told me you hit women!"

Without waiting for his reaction, I ducked under his arm and bolted out of the room.

Outside, Lauren heard the commotion and walked over.

"Hit women? Who the hell is hitting women?!"

With Logan's help, the move went incredibly fast.

An ordeal that should have taken until 8 PM was completely wrapped up by four in the afternoon.

Lauren didn't want to overstay, so she grabbed Logan to leave. But the giant of a man stood firmly in my half-unpacked living room, looking like he had no intention of moving.

"Is Sophia really so stingy that she won't even buy us dinner?" he asked smoothly.

My cheeks burned. "Of course I can. What do you guys want to eat?"

Lauren’s eyes went wide.

"Logan, how do you have the nerve? Asking my friend to buy you dinner? Are you serious?"

Logan’s face remained impassive.

"You guys pick the place. I’ll pay."

"Okay, now we’re talking!" Lauren grinned, linking her arm with mine and whispering, "My brother is loaded, Sophia. It’s rare for him to open his wallet. Don't be polite—pick the most expensive place you can think of!"

I don't know if it was coincidence or fate.

But the restaurant we ended up choosing was right next to the bar where Logan and I had met four years ago.

Neither Logan nor I were big talkers.

Thankfully, Lauren was a chatterbox, keeping the atmosphere from becoming painfully awkward.

Still, I could feel Logan’s gaze lingering on me throughout the meal. It was intense, burning, and completely undisguised.

Suddenly, my phone rang.

Lauren immediately leaned over to sneak a peek at the screen. "Is that Nina? Oh my god, I miss her so much. Put her on FaceTime!"

Across the table, Logan’s expression froze.

As I stood up to take the call outside, I caught his deep, strained voice asking:

"She's... married?"