As the crisp morning air nipped at her cheeks, Lily stood outside the inn, wrapped snugly in her thermal jacket. The Finnish landscape stretched out before her, a winter wonderland that took her breath away. Snow-capped mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks disappearing into low-hanging clouds. The nearby lake, partially frozen, reflected the pale morning light like a mirror.
But despite the breathtaking scenery, Lily's mind kept drifting back to last night's encounter with Chris. His words echoed in her head, sending an unwelcome shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the cold.
"Trust me, you would have been splayed like an eagle on my bed a long time ago. But I'm gentle with you for now—"
A thrill ran through her at the memory, followed quickly by a wave of embarrassment and fear. How dare he speak to her like that? And worse, how dare her traitorous body respond to his words?
Lily shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. It was unfair, really. How was she supposed to maintain her anger and suspicion when her enemy insisted on being so infuriatingly charming? Chris, with his ocean-blue eyes and that damned smirk, was like walking temptation. A danger she hadn't prepared for.
Sighing, Lily turned back towards the inn. The warmth inside was a welcome respite from the biting cold, but as she stepped into their shared room, she felt the air leave her lungs for an entirely different reason.
Chris stood there, fresh from the shower, a towel slung low on his hips as he dried his hair with another. Water droplets clung to his chiseled abs, tracing tantalizing paths down his torso. Lily's eyes widened, her mouth suddenly dry. He was... perfect. Unfairly, devastatingly perfect. Edible. Devilishly handsome.
As if sensing her presence, Chris looked up, a slow, knowing smile spreading across his face as he caught her staring. "Like what you see?" he teased, his voice low and husky. "Don't just stand there. Come here and touch it."
Lily felt heat rush to her face, a mix of embarrassment and something else she didn't want to name. Struggling to regain her composure, she forced a scowl on her face. "Jerk," she muttered, turning on her heel and fleeing the room.
Her heart pounded as she practically ran down the stairs, desperate to put some distance between herself and the 'walking temptation,' that was Chris Eaton. She needed air, and space to clear her head and remember why she was here. This was business, nothing more. She couldn't let herself get distracted by a pretty face and a set of abs that looked like they'd been chiseled by Michelangelo himself.
Lily burst through the inn's front door, gulping in the cold air like a drowning woman. She closed her eyes, willing her racing heart to slow down. *Get it together, Lily,* she chided herself. *He's the enemy, remember? No matter how good he looks with his shirt off.*
When she finally opened her eyes, ready to face the world again, Lily found herself frozen in place once more. Standing just a few feet away, framed by the doorway of the inn, was another man. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and wrapped in a blue thermal jacket that matched the color of his eyes. A warm, inviting smile played on his lips as he regarded her.
"Hello there," the stranger said, his voice a rich baritone that seemed to wrap around her like velvet. "Beautiful morning, isn't it?"
Lily blinked, her mind struggling to catch up. First Chris, and now this? Was Finland some kind of secret repository for ridiculously handsome men?
"I... yes," she managed to stammer out, painfully aware of how flustered she must look. "It's lovely."
The man's smile widened, and Lily felt her knees go weak. *Oh no,* she thought. *Not again.* She'd come on this trip to uncover Chris's secrets, not to be constantly knocked off balance by devastatingly attractive men.
As the stranger took a step towards her, hand outstretched in greeting, Lily couldn't help but wonder what she'd gotten herself into.
The handsome stranger's eyes sparkled as he looked at Lily, his smile warm and inviting. "You look lovely," he said, his voice smooth as honey. "No wonder Chris Eaton married you."
Lily felt her cheeks flush, caught off guard by the compliment. "Oh," she stammered. "So you know Chris Eaton." Then, as her brain caught up with his words, she frowned. "Wait a minute. You know I'm married too?"
"Yes, I do," he replied, his smile never wavering.
Lily's mind raced. Chris had assured her that their contract marriage was a secret, known only to his parents. That jerk, she thought bitterly. 'He always lies and manipulates me.'
The stranger leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "It's too bad that Chris Eaton saw you first. Otherwise, I would have pursued you myself."
Lily's eyes widened, shock coursing through her. Before she could formulate a response, a deep, dominant voice cut through the air like a knife.
"No way in hell."
Chris appeared beside Lily, clad in a brown thermal jacket that highlighted the breadth of his shoulders. His arm snaked around her waist, pulling her close in a possessive gesture that sent shivers down her spine.
"Even if you had seen her first," Chris continued, his voice dangerously low, "I would have played my cards and wooed her anyway. Do you understand?"
The stranger's smile turned cold. "I do."
Lily watched, transfixed, as the two men stared each other down. The air crackled with tension, years of rivalry and hatred visible in the set of their jaws and the fire in their eyes. She didn't need to know their history to understand that these men were mortal enemies.
"I'll destroy you, Eaton," the stranger said, his earlier charm replaced by venom. "I'll take away everything you have and dig a grave for you."
Chris's arm tightened around Lily's waist. "Don't you dare play that game," he growled. "Because if you do, you'll lose just like your father did. I'll win, just like my father before me."
The pieces suddenly clicked into place for Lily. This wasn't just about her or even about Chris and this stranger. This was a generational feud, a battle that had begun with their fathers and now continued with the sons.
"Let's go, Lily," Chris said abruptly, his eyes never leaving the stranger's face. "I got a message that there's no more turbulence for our private plane. Will will have a smooth journey now."
As Chris guided her out of the inn, Lily could feel the stranger's eyes boring into their backs. The hatred in that gaze was palpable, sending a chill down her spine despite the warmth of Chris's arm around her.
Once outside, Chris's pace quickened, as if eager to put distance between them and the man in the inn. Lily struggled to keep up, her mind whirling with questions.
She almost thought of asking about that stranger but decided otherwise seeing how grave Chris Eaton looked as if he was planning on murdering the man behind the man.
Maybe it was better to keep quiet for now… maybe some other time…
While Chris Eaton was shocked to see his family's generational rival in such a casual setting. Was he cooking up something he didn't know?!
He must alert his men for future protection.