It started as nothing more than curiosity.

A polite smile across a table.

A brief exchange of words that could have been forgotten as quickly as they were spoken.

But with Teresa, nothing was forgettable.

Not the way she tilted her head when she listened, not the warmth in her eyes that made you believe she saw more than you were willing to show, and certainly not the soft brush of her hand against yours that lingered long enough to feel intentional.

Cole had told himself it would be simple-just conversation, just charm, just the harmless thrill of testing boundaries.

But with each moment that passed, the game shifted.

It wasn't only about what he could make her feel.

It was about what she was making him feel-things sharper, hotter, and far harder to ignore than he'd expected.

By the time he realized it, restraint was no longer a question.

It was already slipping away.