Nicholas Park has the worst reputation in the city. He isn't a man you befriend-trust me, I've tried. No, he's made it crystal clear what he thinks of me. Vain. Spoiled. Undeserving. I could probably continue, but then I'd have to ask Nick for his list, and he'd say no.

Courtesy of my brother, Nick reluctantly offers me a consulting job at his firm. He expects me to turn it down, of course.

I accept out of spite.

Three months of arguments and dark stares. Of sudden, stolen kisses at company parties. The heat between us grows, bursting into a wildfire that threatens to consume me whole. Nick has pushed me away all these years for a reason. For your own good, as he says. I'm not the man for you.

But I refuse to listen. We're done playing it safe.