His closed doors
"I've watched you paint a thousand dreams, Elena, but the one thing I can't allow you to paint is us." His words hung in the air like a challenge, even as his eyes betrayed every carefully constructed barrier between them.
Elena Martinez has spent six years painting her desire for James Harrison in secret canvases hidden beneath "acceptable" artwork. Now, forced to live under his roof while her parents work abroad, every brush stroke threatens to reveal what she's kept hidden since she was sixteen. James Harrison built his architectural empire on control and precision, but his best friend's daughter tests every boundary he's ever created. As her guardian, he's supposed to protect her, not burn with desire every time she walks past his home office in paint-stained sundresses.
When a vengeful ex-boyfriend threatens to expose their growing attraction, Elena and James must choose between preserving family loyalty and embracing a love that breaks every rule in their social circles. In a world where reputation is everything and desire is dangerous, their greatest masterpiece might be the love they're forbidden to create together.
But as Manhattan's elite begin to whisper and her art begins to reveal too much of her heart, Elena discovers that some loves are worth risking everything for—even if it means destroying the perfect image James has spent a lifetime building. After all, the greatest pieces of art always break the rules first.