“Austin?”

I roll to my back, my arm stretched over Austin’s empty side of the bed. I sit up, kicking the sheets back, and do a double take before I realize exactly where I am—Austin’s bedroom. A second later and the memories rush in, images of his naked body flashing in my mind.

My God, now that was tango.

Swinging my legs off the bed, I pick his button up shirt from the floor and put it on. It looks so long on me that I could almost wear it outside as a dress. Sauntering out of the bedroom, I’m immediately hit by the smell of bacon and eggs, my stomach immediately coming alive. I follow the sweet scent of breakfast, actually feeling happier than I expected.

When I get to the kitchen, my bare feet lazily padding across the floor, I’m stunned to see Austin cooking. I thought he would have a chef or something, not that he’d actually wake up early just to cook me breakfast. Maybe he’s doing it just to impress me? Well, if that’s the case, it’s definitely working.

“Did you sleep well?” he asks me, looking back at me over his shoulder. Using his right hand to hold the pan, he wields a wooden fork with the other one, softly folding the scrambled eggs.

“Yeah,” I smile, remembering how it felt to fall asleep with my head against his chest, the warmth of his body on mine.

Finally done with all the cooking, he points toward the balcony, motioning for me to follow him. My breath catches in my throat as I see the carefully set table, the scenario simply too idyllic. On top of the white tablecloth draped over the table, there’s a pitcher of orange juice flanked by two plates of toasts and butter, and there’s a bowl filled with grapes to the side.

“What a gentleman,” I laugh as he pulls my chair back. Sitting down, I let my gaze wander over New York City skyline. No matter how many times I see it, it never gets old. And even though I get the chance to see a view like this every day—I live at Clarendon Tower as well—there’s nothing quite like sharing the moment...especially when it involves Austin.

Yeah, I can’t believe I’m saying it either. But as insufferable as he might be, there’s no denying it—I actually enjoy being around him, even if half the time we’re at each other’s throats. I guess the old trope of enemies to lovers still remains true, right?

“Oh, crap,” I slap my forehead, frowning as I realize that I’m missing something.

“What?”

“I don’t have my probiotic shake,” I groan as I lean back.

I know, what a petty thing to say when you have an actual billionaire cooking you breakfast, but what do you want me to say? You don’t get to have a body like mine if you don’t maintain it. And yes, that means working my butt off at the gym and being careful with what I put inside my mouth. And, also, yes...I know that there’s a dirty joke somewhere there.

“It’s a good thing I pay attention, then,” Austin merely laughs, folding his arms over his chest.

“What do you mean?”

“Whenever I see you leaving Clarendon Tower in the morning you’re always carrying some awful green goo with you. And, most disturbing of all, you’re actually drinking it.”

“It’s my health,” I shrug.

“I know,” he laughs, and then just flashes me a grin when the sound of his doorbell ringing drifts onto the balcony. Without a word, he just gets up from his seat and goes to get the door. When he returns he has a probiotic shake in his hands. And it’s the exact same brand I drink.

“I’m not too sure if I got the brand and flavor right, but I think this’ll do,” he says. “I sent my manservant to get it.”

“You’re unbelievable,” I posit.

“Am I?” he asks. “I thought I was being nice.”

“You trying to throw me off base here?” I ask. “Be nice to me so I won’t see you stabbing me in the back?”

He smirks. Cocky asshole.

“Maybe I’m trying to throw you off by using the word ‘manservant’” he says with a chuckle.

I can’t help myself and I laugh too.

He may be a cocky asshole. But he makes me laugh. And he’s kind.

I pour some orange juice into my glass and tear into breakfast. After the amazing sex we had last night, I feel ravenous. And yeah, I know I told you I was super disciplined when it comes to my diet but screw it. I kinda burned a lot of calories last night, so I guess I get a free pass this morning.

Besides, now I have my probiotic shake to balance things out.

From time to time, I steal a glance at Austin. I still can’t believe he actually sent for his butler or whatever to go get me a probiotic shake. Not exactly a romantic gesture but, at the same time, it makes me feel something.

I guess he isn’t the asshole I thought he was.

Keep your cool, Tess, I hear my own voice inside my head. Don’t fall for this guy, remember what’s at stake.

Right, billions of dollars and enough prestige to get me in the covers of magazines all over the country. Thank you, random disembodied voice inside my head, I remember what’s at stake.

But even though I know exactly what’s at stake, I never think about any of that during breakfast. Somehow, and for the first time in weeks, my mind actually lets go off all the stress...and I just enjoy the moment.

And it feels good, you know?

To sit out here, the early morning sun bathing the whole balcony as we enjoy each other’s company. We talk about nothing and everything, and I laugh over and over again. He should be my sworn enemy, and yet...I simply feel at ease when I’m around him.

“I never thought I’d meet someone like you,” he suddenly says.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“I’ve been working in this industry for ages now. And I love it, you know? I enjoy being given the chance to create something new from scratch, and offer it to the world. Almost everyone else, though, just does it for the money. There’s no—”

“Passion,” I cut him short, finishing his sentence. “I know what you mean. I actually started learning the ropes with my father. He owned a small carpentry shop, and he did every piece of furniture by hand. It was a hard process, but he loved every second of it. For him it was never about the money. It was about the process. I think I always carried that with me, and that’s part of my company’s success. Money is fine, of course. But if money was all I wanted, I would’ve probably ended up in some other industry.”

“We’re not so different then, are we?” he asks me, offering me an honest to goodness smile.

“Seems like it,” I admit. “But it doesn’t matter much, does it? We’ll still have to fight once I leave this apartment.”

He does a slight pause, looking straight into my eyes, and then nods slowly.

“I guess so. There can only be one, right?” he asks.

“Yes.” I know might sound cold right now, but believe me—after last night, I’m not exactly happy about the fact that Austin will remain an enemy. But what can we do? It’s a dog-eat-dog world, after all.

“You live very well, Austin,” I say looking over his balcony.

“So do you, Tess,” he says back to me.

We finish breakfast in silence, and then I head into the bedroom to get dressed. When I’m finally ready to head out, he stops me right before I leave.

“After you step out that door, we’ll be at each other’s throats again,” he tells me, and I can’t help but wonder if that’s a question or a statement.

“Yes,” I nod, my heart tightening as I do it. “Back at each other’s throats.” It shouldn’t be hard for me to say these words, but the truth is that I no longer enjoy the way they sound.

“You think there could ever be a happily ever after for us?” I ask against my better judgment.

“One of us would have to win, and the other would have to lose, Tess,” he says to me. “I don’t know if we could do a happily ever after with that.”

“I thought romance novels usually had to end happy,” I say, a bit glum.

“Who says we’re not in a thriller?” he asks with a grin, and I put dark thoughts out of my mind.

As I finally leave and wait for the elevator to come and get me, I look back over my shoulder at the door to his apartment. I remember the way we stumbled inside after we left the Ritz-Carlton, both our bodies and minds still burning from the show we put on.

God, what’s wrong with me?

To be honest, that’s a question I’ve been asking myself every day. But I can’t escape him. It’s a stupid thing to say, but I don’t know how else to put it. Even now, as we agreed to go back to the way things were, I couldn’t help but feel a note of sadness well up inside of me.

Is this how it’s going to be forever?

Eternal rivals, trying to crush each other?

I should be used to the idea, but somehow I find myself hating it. And, worst of all, I’m anxious about what he feels about the whole thing.

Oh, Tess, what’s happening to you?, that voice inside my head returns once more.

The answer?

I have no idea.