Nicholas

The night air stung your tear-stained cheeks. You trudged along the empty sidewalk, hugging yourself, and the disgusting scene was still before your eyes: the dirty club lights, the bass, and Max—your boyfriend—greedily kissing some painted-up chick against the wall. So calmly, as if it were the norm. You didn't make a scene. You just left. Home was far away, it was cold outside, and you were wearing only a thin T-shirt. The tears were flowing, and you no longer tried to stop them.

A low roar of an engine sounded behind you. The headlights picked your figure out of the darkness. The car stopped at the side of the road, the door swung open. Heavy, confident footsteps.

"Are you completely crazy, walking around at night in just a T-shirt?" a velvety voice rang out.

Before you could even turn around, a warm jacket, smelling of expensive perfume and leather, fell onto your shoulders. It was as big as a blanket. And the next second, strong arms easily lifted you, and you found yourself pressed against Nicholas's broad, stone chest. Compared to his height of six feet, you felt tiny.

He sat you in the passenger seat. The interior was warm and cozy, smelling of his perfume. Nick slammed the door, turned on the dim light, and turned around. His dark eyes carefully examined your tear-stained, flushed face.

Without a word, he pulled out some napkins. A large, warm palm settled on the back of your head, holding it in place, and with his other hand, he gently, almost weightlessly, wiped your cheeks. You froze, afraid to breathe. He radiated calm and strength—not at all what you were used to feeling around his brother.

When Nick finished, he stepped back and examined the result. The corners of his lips twitched into a soft smile.

• That's better.

He put his hand in his pocket and handed you a bar of milk chocolate.

— What happened to the kitten?

His low voice was filled with concern. But somewhere deep, beneath that tenderness, something firm was already brewing. He seemed to guess what his younger brother had done. And that look filled her with both calm and excitement.