Skylar and Joe had made a deal—she had asked him to help handle the Williams family, and in return, she had promised to give him head massages to help relieve his tension headaches.
Between his business trip and her packed schedule, the agreement had slipped her mind entirely.
Feeling guilty, she put down her phone, climbed out of bed, and walked to Joe’s room. She hesitated only briefly before knocking.
To her surprise, the door opened immediately.
Joe stood there, towering above her, as always. He looked at her quietly, his expression unreadable.
Even though they lived under the same roof, this was the first time she had knocked on his door. They respected each other’s space—until now.
Skylar cleared her throat. “Sorry. I got busy and forgot. Is now a good time?”
Joe didn’t say much. He simply nodded and stepped aside to let her in, then made his way toward the bed.
The room reflected Joe’s personality—clean, minimal, and cool-toned—but still perfectly in sync with the villa’s elegant design.
Skylar hesitated at the door. Giving him a massage in his bedroom? It felt strangely intimate.
Still, she reminded herself—Joe had never shown any romantic interest in her. That thought settled her nerves, and she followed him inside.
“You usually fall asleep during these massages,” she said lightly. “So, just lie down. I’ll sit beside you and turn the lights off when I’m done.”
She reached for a chair near the wall, but Joe quietly took it from her.
“I got it,” he said.
“Thanks,” she murmured.
As Joe positioned the chair, he found himself wondering—was she really this comfortable around him? Did she trust him that much? Or was it something else? Did she just not see him as a man?
That last thought stirred something in him, darkening his expression.
Skylar, oblivious to his shift in mood, settled into the chair. Only when she looked up did she notice that Joe hadn’t laid down yet.
He was still staring at her.
“Is something wrong?” she asked, puzzled.
Joe’s gaze was deep, his expression harder to read than usual. After a pause, he shook his head. “Nothing.”
Half an hour later, Joe was fast asleep. His breathing was steady and calm.
Skylar watched him for a moment, unable to look away. He looked so different in sleep—peaceful, almost approachable. The usual sharpness in his expression had softened.
Even as a woman, she had to admit she felt a flicker of envy. His features were so refined, so effortlessly striking.
And yet, despite the attraction she couldn’t fully deny, she knew she couldn’t let herself fall. Not again. Not after Christopher.
Skylar pulled herself away, stretching her arms and back before quietly turning off the lights and slipping out of the room.
But just as the door clicked shut behind her—Joe’s eyes opened.
In the stillness, his gaze was cold and sharp, the darkness in his expression matching the night outside.
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