My heart skips a beat when I see Ares leaning against his car as he waits for me in front of my office building.

I pause for a moment and take him in. His dark hair, that sharp jaw, those green eyes identical to Sierra’s. It isn’t fair that he keeps getting more handsome the older we get. Every time I see him, he feels a little more out of reach.

Ares looks up and straightens when he notices me standing by the entrance, a smile transforming his face.

“Hi!” I tell him as he holds the door open for me.

Ares grins at me, and I smile back at him. There’s a good chance I’ll regret giving in to him later, but until then, I’m going to enjoy every second of this.

“Where are we going?” I ask when he gets in beside me, his hands wrapping around the steering wheel.

Ares leans back against the headrest and tilts his face toward me. “Raven,” he says, sounding almost petulant.

I can’t help the way my heart races when he says my name like that, and I instinctively turn toward him.

“Why don’t I ever see you anymore?”

Ares genuinely looks distraught, as though he’s truly missed me, and that fire I keep trying to douse reignites once more.

“I’ve just been busy.” My voice comes out weak and soft, as though I can’t bring myself to lie to him convincingly. “I’ve been working insane hours. I’ve got so many modeling contracts, and I’m trying to grow my fashion brand at the same time. Honestly, some days I barely have time to eat or sleep.”

He nods and drags his gaze away, concern flickering across his expression as he starts the car.

“Don’t overwork yourself, Rave. Remember to take care of yourself, okay? You can’t always be working. You need to have a social life too. When was the last time you saw your parents?”

I force a smile onto my face and cross my arms. The older I get, the less I see my parents. Their entire world revolves around Hannah, and I hate going where I’m not welcome. I shouldn’t feel excluded in my own home, but I do.

“Sierra was actually just in my office,” I tell him. “I do have friends, you know.”

He glances at me the way he sometimes does, as though he can see straight through my lies and deception, but he nods nonetheless.

“What are you thinking of buying this year?” I ask lightly.

He glances back at me with a smile on his face. “What do you think about some jewelry, maybe?”

I nod. “A new statement piece, perhaps?”

Ares looks at me with such a blank expression that I burst out laughing, and that only makes him smile in return.

“I haven’t heard you laugh in so long, Raven. I missed it.”

My smile fades, and I look down at my lap, my heart aching. I wish he wouldn’t say things like that. He sees me as an old friend and his future sister-in-law, but when he tells me he missed me, it becomes hard to remember that.

I tighten my grip on my handbag and inhale deeply. “A statement piece is basically the opposite of a dainty piece of jewelry.”

Ares grins at me. “How about I just let you pick?”

I throw him a pointed look. “Like you do every year?”

He smirks at me as he parks at one of the Windsor malls, practically jumping out of the car to rush around it so he can open the door for me.

He offers me his hand, and I take it as I step out of the car, my eyes locked on his.

A flash of light startles both of us, and I turn to the side to find a paparazzo who’s been trailing me lately smirking at me.

I grit my teeth and take a step toward him, but he takes off running before I can even say a word.

Ares places a hand on the small of my back, and I look up at him.

“I should’ve known taking you somewhere this public would result in this. I’m sorry, Raven. I’ll handle it. That picture will never see the light of day.”

I shake my head and take a step toward the mall. “It’s fine. I’m used to this. I can’t stop living my life just because I could be photographed at any moment. It used to scare me, you know? Public opinion. Now it’s just an inconvenience I’ve accepted as part of my job.”

Ares stays quiet as we walk into the mall together.

“Maybe I should get you some bodyguards.”

There’s a hint of anger in his tone, and I look up at him in surprise.

“Absolutely not. I’m never in any danger, Ares. I already don’t have as much privacy as I’d like. The last thing I need is someone in my personal space at all times.”

He looks at me as though he wants to argue, but thankfully remains quiet as we walk into one of Hannah’s favorite jewelry stores.

The store manager tenses and rushes over as soon as he spots Ares, a nervous smile on his face.

He’s an older man, and his graying hair gives him a certain charm. If not for his obvious nerves, he’d exude the kind of elegance that suits this store.

“Mr. Windsor,” he says before turning toward me with widened eyes. “Raven.”

His eyes roam over my body the way men’s eyes always do. It used to disgust me, knowing they were probably thinking about one of my lingerie campaigns, but I’ve gotten used to it by now.

“Raven, wow. It’s such an honor to meet you. My name is Andy, and I’ll be assisting you today.”

Ares tenses and wraps his arm around my shoulder.

I glance up at him in surprise, only to find him staring at the store manager with barely concealed annoyance.

“We’ll ask for your assistance when we need it,” he says sharply.

He pulls me toward the glass display counters, his body tense.

“What’s wrong?” I ask the moment we’re out of earshot.

Ares pulls his hand away and shakes his head. “He’s unprofessional. The way he looked at you just now? What was that? First, we get photographed the second we step out of the car, and now this?”

A soft chuckle escapes my lips as I lean back against the counter and look up at him.

“Ares,” I murmur. “I’m not the little girl you used to know anymore. I was named this year’s highest-paid model, and I’m a brand ambassador for many of the products sold in this mall. It’s not surprising that he’d recognize me. If anything, his reaction was actually pretty mild. I’m fairly sure my face is on a huge banner advertising this mall.”

“Mild?” Ares snaps. “Mild? He practically leered at you.”

I wrap my hand around his upper arm and smile up at him.

“How do you deal with being around Hannah? I might be well known, but I’m pretty sure Hannah is even more famous. Models generally aren’t as popular as A-list actresses. How do you deal with the attention she gets if this annoys you so much?”

Ares sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “I think you underestimate your popularity. Besides, your sister has bodyguards around her at all times, so I don’t need to worry about her. You, on the other hand? You’re a stubborn one.”

I huff and turn back to the jewelry on display, my eyes trailing over the engagement rings.

The mere thought of me ever getting engaged feels inconceivable. I can’t imagine ever wanting to marry anyone other than Ares.

One ring catches my eye, and for a single moment, I let myself imagine what it would look like on my finger.

I sigh and pull Ares toward the section displaying necklaces, my gaze settling on a diamond choker.

“How about something like that?”

Ares calls Andy over, and the man hands the necklace to me before pointing toward the mirror behind me.

I hold the choker against my neck, wanting to see what it looks like, and Ares gently lifts my hair, draping it over my shoulder and out of the way.

“Try it on,” he tells me.

I shake my head. “Oh no, I can’t. This is for Hannah. I can already tell she’d love it without even trying it on.”

Ares shakes his head and reaches around me to fasten the necklace around my neck.

The brush of his fingers against my skin sends a shiver racing down my spine, and he doesn’t even realize it.

“If you like it, I’ll buy it for you, Raven. We can find something else for Hannah.”

My eyes widen, and he smiles at me through the mirror.

“Your birthday is coming up soon too, remember?”

“It’s too much,” I tell him, my fingers curling around the clasp at the back of the necklace. “But thank you. She’ll love it. You should definitely get this for her.”

Ares nods and removes the necklace from me, his gaze lingering on my face.

“Hey,” he says softly. “Are we okay, Rave? I feel like you’ve been avoiding me lately, you know? Is it the pressure Hannah’s been putting on you because of the wedding? I know you’ve been doing a lot of the prep she was supposed to handle. Just tell me if it’s too much, okay? You know I hate it when you suddenly go quiet on me.”

I wrap my hand around his arm and smile at him.

“We’re fine, Ares. I’ve just been really busy, that’s all.”

His expression tells me he knows I’m lying, but thankfully, he lets it go.

How do I tell him that the thought of him marrying Hannah makes everything feel so final?

That I’m truly losing him now, every last bit of hope going up in smoke?

How do I tell him that my heart is breaking in a way it never has before, and I’m not sure the pieces can ever be put back together again?