I woke up later than usual, my body half-buried in the sheets, a lazy hand reaching out to find the woman beside me. My eyes were still closed, but the memory of last night flashed vividly in my mind.
Jesus, that was the best sex I'd ever had. The way she moved—no one would have guessed she was a damn virgin. Her body was so damn flexible, so confident in everything she did. Like she knew exactly how to drive me crazy.
But my hand hit nothing but cold sheets.
My eyes snapped open. The bed was empty, the space beside me already cool. No clothes on the chair. No heels on the floor. No sign she'd ever been here.
I frowned, pushing myself up on one elbow to look around. The room was quiet—eerily so. No sound of the shower running. No soft footsteps coming from the bathroom or the kitchen. She was gone.
Did she just… leave?
I rubbed my hand over my face, my fingers tangling in my hair. What the hell? I didn't even know her name. Shit, I don't think I'd even asked. Did she say it? No, I probably would've remembered.
Is this how women feel when I leave without saying a word?
I'd never brought a woman back to my place before. Ever. I didn't do that. I didn't let anyone into my personal space. But last night—last night had been different. She'd been different.
Damn it.
Before I could dwell on that any longer, my phone buzzed loudly on the nightstand, making me jump. I reached for it, squinting at the screen.
Appointment at nine with Miller.
"Fuck!" I cursed, bolting upright. It was already ten minutes to nine. I scrambled out of bed, grabbing my clothes off the floor and shoving them on.
I swiped my phone and dialed my secretary, practically barking into the receiver. "Why the hell are you calling me just now?"
He sounded exasperated on the other end. "Sir, I've been calling you for the past hour. I was about to call the police and have them break your door down. I thought something had happened to you."
I hung up before he could say another word. Did that woman put a spell on me? I shook my head, stumbling around my room like an idiot, searching for anything—anything—she might've left behind. A note? A phone number? Anything?
Nothing. Not a trace.
Who the hell even was she?
With no time left to think, I bolted out of my place, barely managing to make it to my car. The drive to Miller's office was a blur, my mind split between the mystery woman and the disaster waiting for me at the office. I made it to the lawyer's office twenty minutes late, my head still spinning.
Bryan Miller was already sitting at his desk, looking far too relaxed for someone whose client had just blown off most of a morning meeting. He was sipping tea, his dark eyes watching me with that amused glint he always had. We'd known each other since we were kids, and he never missed a chance to give me hell.
"So," he began, setting his cup down, "you're late. Rough night?"
I slumped into the chair across from him, running my hands through my hair. "You have no idea."
He raised an eyebrow, but didn't push. "Let's get down to it, then. I assume this is about what happened in the boardroom yesterday?"
I nodded. "Yeah. My grandfather's gone off the rails. He's making me jump through hoops, and now I have to compete with my idiot cousins for the CEO position. I need you to tell me what the hell to do."
Bryan gave me a long, hard look before shaking his head. "Caleb, you're an insufferable prick sometimes, you know that?"
I blinked, caught off guard. "What the hell, man?"
"I'm serious," he continued, leaning back in his chair. "Your grandfather and your cousins aren't wrong. You've got an attitude problem. You're arrogant, and you treat people like disposable assets. You make women cry at the drop of a hat. Hell, you'll probably stay single forever at this rate."
I felt my frustration bubbling up, my fists clenching on the armrests. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Bryan smirked, taking another sip of his tea. "One of these days, karma's going to take a shot at you, Caleb. You'll meet a woman who'll bring you to your knees. Mark my words."
I scoffed, irritation flaring. "What, are you a fortune teller now? I thought you were an attorney."
He shrugged. "I call it like I see it. And right now, I see a guy who's got all the business acumen in the world, but none of the emotional intelligence your grandfather's looking for. If you want to win this, you're going to have to show him something more. Something beyond just profit margins and quarterly reports."
I leaned forward, my eyes narrowing. "What can I do to make sure he's on my side?"
Bryan paused, then set his cup down carefully. "You want my honest advice?"
"Obviously."
He sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Give him a grandson."
I blinked. "What?"
"Or better yet," he continued, ignoring my confusion, "get married. You know your grandfather's been pushing you to settle down for years. He wants you to go on those blind dates, right? Maybe now's the time."
I felt my stomach twist at the suggestion. Marriage? Fuck marriage. I'd avoided it like the plague my whole life. The thought of settling down made me want to puke. I opened my mouth to snap something back, but then… I stopped.
Marriage.
Suddenly, the idea didn't seem so insane.
Bryan frowned, clearly noticing the shift in my expression. "A dollar for your thoughts?"
A slow grin spread across my face. "You're a genius, Bryan. You really are."
He stared at me like I'd grown two heads. "What the hell are you talking about?"
I stood up, suddenly energized. The plan was forming in my head, and it was brilliant. Marriage. That was it. That was the key.
If my grandfather wanted me to settle down and show some responsibility, then I'd do it. And I knew exactly who I wanted to marry.
Bryan nearly choked on his tea. "Wait, wait, wait. You—what?"
"I'm going to get married," I said, my grin widening. "It's perfect. My grandfather will have no choice but to back me. And I'll make sure it's a marriage I can enjoy."
Bryan stared at me like I'd lost my mind. "Who the hell are you planning to marry, Caleb?"
The answer was already clear in my head.
The woman from last night. The one who'd left without a trace. The one who'd driven me wild in ways no one else ever had.
I didn't know her name. I didn't know anything about her. But I had to find her.
And when I did, I'd make her my wife.