While Tara stepped out to take a call, Nichs finally had a moment to speak.


    "Dn, you''re on your own," he said, shaking his head.


    Jackson nodded, looking just as resigned. "Anyone who gets mixed up with Taraes out worse for wear."


    Jackson was about to keep going when he caught sight of a mark on Dn''s corbone. He couldn''t resist leaned in, tugged Dn''s cor aside, acting like a total weirdo.


    After his own recent fling with Kaitlyn, Jackson knew exactly what those marks


    were.


    He tried to hold it together for a few seconds, then blurted out, "What, did you do this to yourself?"


    Dn had been zoning out. The question brought him back. He shot Jackson a look-expression unreadable.


    "Let go."


    Jackson let go, making a clicking sound with his tongue. "Wow. So this is how far you''ll go to get Tara off your case? Hate to break it to you, but she didn''t even seem to care."


    Jackson thought Dn would just go quiet again, but Dn said, "ra did it." "Wait, what?" Nichs practically spat out his drink, thinking he must''ve misheard.


    It was already wild enough that Dn had married ra-but now ra kissed him? Kissed?!


    Why would Dn let her? And why just say it like it was no big deal?


    Since when was being kissed by ra something you''d mention like it was an achievement?


    Richard was the first to recover, just nodding. “Well, congrats, I guess.”


    Dn just nodded, eyshes lowered, taking the congrattions in stride.


    Nichs looked from Richard to Dn, frowning as something finally clicked. "So you''re just a regr guy, huh, Dn? You like ra''s looks, don''t you? Honestly, she''s kind of dangerous. And have you seen her eyes? She''s got that sly, fox vibe —always looking like she might flirt, or might not. I mean, I never—”


    He stopped because everyone was staring right at him.


    Nichs swallowed. “Did I say something wrong? Look, I''ve never really liked her type. No way I''d fall for her tricks. I just never thought you would, Dn."


    So Dn was just a normal guy after all.


    Jackson took a long breath. "Maybe you should go handle all the work that''s piled up since the holidays. Isn''t Scarlette back from her trip? I heard she''s been working a lot with that Morgan guy. Someone said they saw her at the university today. You think she went to see Morgan?"


    Nichs''s expression turned icy. He stood up and headed out of the room.


    But the second he closed the door behind him, he spotted Tara leaning against the wall.


    She tipped her chin up and shed him a smile. "Heading out?"


    Nichs nodded, half-suspecting she''d been eavesdropping, but there was no proof.


    Tara hadn''t made it to the top of the socialdder on skill alone.


    She smiled again. "Let''s catch up another time. Oh, and say hi to your sister for me."


    With that, she pushed open the door and slipped back inside.


    Nichs felt unsettled as he got into his car-a feeling he always got around Tara.


    No one really knew what she''d been doing all those years abroad. If it weren''t for the asional viral video of her at some awards show, she''d be a total mystery.


    That trendy international museum made her an instant online celebrity. Tons of rich clients were desperate for her to design their mansions. Getting on her waiting list was basically impossible.


    Tara had connections everywhere, here and overseas.


    Nichs just didn''t like her vibe. There was something off about her that he couldn''t put his finger on.


    He floored the gas, heading to Scarlette''s ce first. She wasn''t home.


    He called her. No answer.


    If she picked up one call out of ten, that was a miracle.


    He was already frustrated, so he drove straight over to Morgan''s university.


    Even at night, the campus was busy.


    He waited outside the gate and called Morgan.


    Morgan had just finished dinner with Scarlette. The light from his phone shed


    across his sses as he saw Nichs''s name pop up.


    Scarlette saw it too, a can of beer in her hand.


    "Sorry, Dr. Morgan," she said.


    Morgan didn''t answer. He hung up and shrugged. "No need to apologize. We both know we''re getting what we want out of this. If you want to end things, I won''t hold it against you."


    l.ne


    Scarlette rubbed her temples. She''d spent a year and a half preparing for this project, and the person who had the final say was Morgan''s grandmother. Meanwhile, Morgan''s family was pushing him to get married. Their arrangement was


    almost too convenient-just keep up


    appearances a bit longer, and


    Scarlette''s project could finally go international.


    But right now, with everything on the line, Nichs had started acting up.


    Scarlette took a sip of beer. She actually got along well with Morgan-he was mature, steady, exactly the kind of guy she respected.


    Morgan took the beer from her, voice calm. "Dealing with a guy like Nichs must be exhausting. Young men always think love is everything. Especially someone like him-Ke''s always had it easy, work just falls into ce. He probably has no idea what it''s like to fight on your own. I''m not trying to interfere, but even if you want to draw a line with me, you and Nichs... you two really aren''t right for each other."