Page 8 of Crossing Lines

“No.”

“You sure?” I press, still not understanding his sudden interest in Skyrise.

“Why? Do I have to be in trouble to visit you?”

“No, of course not.”

An awkward silence stretches between us. It’s times like these where I wish we were just brothers instead of having this undercurrent of me being like a second father to him.

“Right,” he says, “well, what are you doing that’s so important that you can’t come here?”

“I’m on the way to dinner…”

“On another date?” He cackles. “I’m so glad it’s you and not me.”

“One dayannewill set you up on a date and I’ll be sure to remind you of this moment.”

“Petty, I like it.” I can hear the grin in his voice. “See you soon.”

He disconnects before I can remind him to callanneagain. I sigh and pull up to the valet at Nar, the only Mediterranean restaurant in town. It’s owned by a distant friend of Mom’s and she’s a firm believer in supporting anyone’s business in her friendship circle. It’s how I ended up with her sending me one thousand handmade soaps one random Thursday afternoon. Soaps I promptly donated to multiple shelters since who needs one thousand of them?

The hostess recognizes me immediately and brings me to the private room I insist upon using every time I come. Nate, my head of security, takes his usual post outside the door. He’s the best there is—always keeping me safe, never in the way.

Fifteen minutes later, Deniz finally walks in and I’m already over this date. Being late is a no-go. We’re all busy, and to me, it’s a sign of disrespect.

“Merhaba,” she greets me, air-kissing each of my cheeks.

Her black, figure-hugging dress shows offher lithe body. She’s pretty in a predictable way, her features all perfectly agreeable. But there’s a fakeness to it, like it’s all curated, that I can’t put my finger on.

“Merhaba.” I return the greeting and gesture for Deniz to sit down across from me.

Before she’s even settled into the chair, she’s already launching into her background. After her spiel, she peppers me with questions, and this whole interaction feels like the beginning of a strange business deal rather than a date.

When Deniz smiles with her teeth showing, I can’t help but compare it to Nina’s from last night. Nina’s smile is trouble and challenge entwined. She doesn’t smile with her full mouth, but with just a quirk in the right corner, like she knows a secret and isn’t willing to share. It’s intriguing and mesmerizing, just like the rest of her.

When Deniz runs a hand through her stick-straight, highlighted hair, it barely moves, and it makes me yearn for Nina’s long, thick brown waves instead.

It’s been months since I first met Nina, and I can’t seem to stop thinking about her. And now? Comparing my date to Nina? It’s…pathetic.

Finally, when the dinner ends, we walk to the valet to get our cars.

“Thank you for tonight,” Deniz says. “Maybe we can do this again?”

“Probably not.”

She winces and I regret not filteringthrough my words first to make them more palatable. In business, cutting through the bullshit and making clear my expectations has brought me success, but this habit is starting to bleed into my personal life more and more.

“Sorry,” I say, “that came out wrong. What I meant to say is that I’m swamped with work right now. But maybe I can call you when things settle down?” I don’t mean it, but again, it’s the appropriate thing to say.

“I’d like that.” She gives me a flirty smile before climbing into her Audi.

The second I’m in my car, it’s like I’m right back where I started—alone. The drive home feels longer, the silence heavier, like a weight pressing on my chest. It’s the slow realization that I’m going back to an empty house, a bed that hasn’t been slept in more than three hours at a time, and piles of work I should’ve been doing instead of meeting with Deniz.

The off-season is my time to do a deep dive into every area in the team, clean up any issues Harold left behind, and get every aspect of the business working perfectly. All to entice the right buyer.

Nate pulls in behind my car and talks with one of his men who is in charge of watching my house.

I unlock my front door and step…into water?

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