I sprawled on a fuzzy blanket by the fireplace in Ethan's Hamptons mansion.

Flames popped, warming my toes as that helicopter roar replayed in my head.

Who'd guess a snarky 'emotionally bankrupt' jab would get me dragged off to play love coach for this billionaire nutcase?

Worse—he's shoving calculus down my throat.

The kind of brain-melting crap that makes me wanna smash a calculator into someone's smug face.

"Focus," Ethan said, He rubs his temple steps closer. 

wrapped in a fancy Frette bathrobe.

Wet chestnut curls flung droplets down his collarbone, trailing past the silk sash.

His gold-rimmed glasses glinted in the firelight, voice cool like he was bossing around a pet.

I shot him a glare. 

His fingers twitched—like hiding something.

I stabbed at the mess of ∫ and ∂ scribbles on the table, practically snarling.

"Why calculus? I'm not gunning for MIT!"

That little mole by his lip danced in the glow. 

"It sharpens your brain," His lip quirks, "Cuts through the bullshit."

I glared at the equations, itching to yeet the pen at his head.

"Sharpens? I'd rather predict your next trainwreck breakup!"

He leaned in, breath grazing my cheek, warm with a whiskey kick.

"Or we could switch to a... hands-on lesson?"

His voice lingered, low and flirty, that woody cologne screwing with my pulse.

My heart tripped.

damn it!

I sucked in air.

Brain flashes novel snippets.

I blurt, "Your grandpa buried a 1926 Macallan under the oak by the stables!"

His fingers brushed my chin, teasing.

 "Stolen. I blame a messy-haired thief."

I smirked, firing back. "You hate bone-in ribs!"

His thumb pressed my lip, a hunter's chuckle rumbling.

 "Better than the FBI, huh? What else you got?"

"We met yesterday!" 

I shoved his hand off, clinging to what little sanity I had left.

He gripped my waist, eyes flashing dark. 

"Or maybe you've been snooping on me way longer."

His thumb grazed my lip again, fireplace crackling like my frying brain.

I panicked, spitting out, 

"Ten years ago—March Playboy cover girl! Your type, right? That chest mole..."

"Hmm..." 

He slapped a hand over my mouth, breath hot in my ear. 

"One more word, and you're shark bait in Connecticut Bay."

My ears burned, I glare. 

a muffled grunt slipping through his fingers.

He lets go. 

pulled back, strolling to the door.

bathrobe sash swinging loose.

"Numbers don't argue, Sophie," he glances back.

He's gone.

I yelled into the empty room, "Then why haul me here for love coaching?!"

A low mutter drifted from the hall, half to himself. 

"Because some stuff I can't let slip away again."

Okay, creepy much? 

***

At 1 a.m., I cracked those stupid equations.

Head pounds, like a hammer's at it.

Out the window, the night swallowed everything in black.

I flopped on the couch, rubbing my stinging eyes, staring at the stars.

"What's this psycho want?" ,I grumbled. 

In reality, I didn't even have parents

 Is he into weird kinks?

Ethan's shadow stretched by the fire. 

He rubbed his temple, muttering, "Pipe down, Sophie."