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When I see his hand slide around her waist, settling there like it belongs, something in my chest tightens before I can stop it.

So I don’t look longer.

I turn sharply toward the bar, focusing on my own steps, on the sound of the music, on anything but the image, forcing my thoughts into something reasonable—reminding myself that I knew exactly what I was getting every single time I ended up in his bed.

I knew he didn’t want anything more. I knew he slept with whoever he wanted. I knew there were countless women who would say yes without hesitation. I knew the magazines had crowned him one of the most desirable bachelors alive.

I knew all of that.

And I never expected anything different.

So whatever this is, whatever just crushed my chest, whatever made me look away, it’s not jealousy.

Everything is fine.

I take a deep breath. Once. Twice. Three times. Holding it just enough to compose myself before letting it go.

Starting Monday, I’ll walk into a new office building—new floor, new coworkers—with him as my boss. The same man who can steal my breath and weaken my knees with a single glance.

But no one can ever know that. No one can even suspect it.

I don’t want to imagine what would happen if anyone at work found out I’d slept with my boss. Then again… I wouldn’t be the only one.

There’s Jessica. And Irina—though that’s clearly something else entirely. I’m convinced those two will end up together eventually. She’s letting him have his freedom now, but one day she’ll make him choose. And when she does, he’ll probably realize he can’t live without her.

Or maybe he’ll fall in love with Antonia—the woman he’s pretending to date. That’s how it goes in books and movies, right? The fake relationship that turns real.

God.

I told myself to think about something else, and here I am dissecting Ethan Hardy’s love life.

“You okay?” a voice says behind me.

Startled, I turn to find a stranger watching me with amused curiosity.

“I… uh, sorry,” I say quickly. “Did you say something?”

He chuckles softly, taking a small step closer. “No. I just saw you staring into space for about a minute and thought I should check if you were alright.”

Perfect. So now I officially look like a weirdo, standing motionless in the middle of a club long enough for a stranger to notice.

Drawing in a slow breath, I force a polite smile onto my lips. “I could make up something impressive, but the truth is I got lost in my thoughts for… well, however long you’ve been watching me not blink.”

That earns a real laugh from him, warm and easy, and it pulls my attention fully onto him.

He’s beautiful. Not in the intimidating, untouchable way Ethan is—there’s nothing sharp or dangerous about him—just effortlessly attractive, self-assured. The kind of man who looks like he belongs in a glossy magazine spread about successful men on vacation.

“Can I get you a drink?” he asks.

“Actually,” I reply, my smile turning genuine, “I’d really like one.”

Maybe it’s time to loosen up a little. How else am I supposed to meet new people—maybe even someone I could build a family with—if all I ever do is work and rotate through the same circle of friends?

Besides, I need Ethan out of my head. And maybe the only way to do that is to let another man in.

If I sleep with someone else, I bet everything will change.

Two glasses of tequila later—fine, closer to four shots—and about an hour slips by.