KARA

“I don’t want to see him again.”

I said it too fast. Too crisp. Like someone yanking their hand off a hot stove.

Eli blinked. His living room suddenly felt too bright, like his lamps had all been tuned to interrogation mode.

“What do you mean?” he asked, brow furrowing as he set his drink down.

I offered a panicked smile. “I mean… I don’t think I’m interested in Cass anymore.”

Eli’s mouth opened, but I beat him to it.

“I’m interested in getting to know you, actually.”

It slipped out smoother than expected. Maybe too smooth. My brain scrambled to catch up to my mouth.

I didn’t expect to react to Cass the way I had. Didn’t expect a kiss, a nearly X-rated bathroom encounter, or the way his gaze had felt like it saw more than I meant to show.

This wasn’t the plan.

But being around Cass was still important. I needed time, access, proximity.

Maybe I couldn’t do it myself. Maybe I could hire someone to play the role of heartbreaker. A plant. A honeytrap.

But to orchestrate that, I needed to stay close. And if that meant pretending to be into his best friend a little longer, well—so be it.

“A woman is allowed to change her mind” I said, folding my legs beneath me on Eli’s couch. “I liked our date yesterday. I think maybe we could try this out. You don’t have a problem with that, do you?”

I smiled—the brilliant one. The one that worked on TSA agents and bank tellers and, once, a courtroom clerk.

Eli paused.

Then, predictably, he caved.

“I guess a couple of dates wouldn’t hurt.”

“Awesome!” I beamed, standing up. “Well, I’ll see you around.”

I leaned down and gave him a quick hug, then headed for the door, casual, cool.

I made it to the hallway before someone grabbed my wrist.

The grip was firm. Familiar.

Cass.

“Oh, what do we have here?” he said, voice a mix of amusement and something else. “I thought after the time we had, you’d stop seeing my best friend and want me instead.”

“Let go of me.”

“Hey, hey—don’t fight this. Is this because I said I recognized you from the bar?”

That comment. Yesterday.

So that’s what he meant.

The panic drained from my body like water from a sink. I exhaled slowly, recalibrating.

This triangle? It might actually work in my favor.

Cass stepped closer. “I think you should come to my place. We could get to know each other better.”

Wow. Eli really did know his best friend. Zero hesitation about swooping in—even if it meant stepping on his toes.

No loyalty. Just conquest.

“Is it Eli you’re worried about?” Cass asked. “Don’t be. We spoke last night. I told him I was interested. I asked for your number. He said he’d give it to me. And here you are.”

His confidence was relentless.

“I was just about to ask you out,” he added, lowering his voice. “Dinner?”

I tilted my head. “Isn’t it going to be weird, since Eli and I just agreed to a second date?”

Cass blinked. The flicker of surprise told me he didn’t know that part.

“Tell you what,” I said sweetly. “I’ll agree to go out with you—under one condition. No sex. We just get to know each other. Like I’m getting to know Eli.”

Cass frowned. “But we almost fucked in a bathroom.”

“Exactly,” I said. “An unfair advantage. Which is why we’ll keep it PG. Unless, of course, you’d rather let your best friend and I keep getting to know each other.”

I said it lightly. But it was a grenade.

His pride detonated on cue.

“You know people call me Cassanova?”

“I’m well aware.”

“I get every woman I want.”

“I’m aware.”

“Matter of fact, I’ve basically already had you.”

I took a step toward the elevator, hand reaching for the button. “Then I guess there’s no need to continue dating, is there?”

He grabbed my hand.

Damn, his hands were warm.

“What do you want to do?” he asked. His voice wasn’t cocky now. It was quieter. Curious. Dangerous.

What did I want?

The truth floated to the surface like a bubble.

If I was going to break his heart, we’d need to form an emotional bond.

Not just physical. Not just the chase.

He’d have to trust me. Want me. Need me.

I turned slowly, eyes locked on his.

“Dinner sounds great,” I said.

But this time, my smile wasn’t brilliant. It was razor-sharp.

“Pick me up Friday.”