Chapter 1

ONE

Mina

"You've got this, Mina. This is the first day of the rest of your life." I blow a puff of air past pursed lips and flex my hands against the steering wheel. On the other side of my windshield is a large stretch of undeveloped land—trees, beach, ocean—the site of my next project and today's meeting with the two men I'll be working with for the next several months. Both larger than life. Both wildly successful. Both wealthy and sought after in their respective fields.

And me?

I am just Mina Blake. Simple. Hard working. Counting every dollar and hoping life will finally cut me a break with this new interior design contract. I so do not belong with the two men I'm about to meet.

"But I'll fake it ‘til I make it," I say to myself.

It's my battle cry, one that brought me this far, and the woman staring back at me through the rearview looks positively ferocious.

I arrived a respectable fifteen minutes early to the meeting, expecting the same from my soon-to-be colleague and our very famous client. However, twenty minutes have passed and I'm still pep talking myself all by my lonesome, so I pull up our group chat to verify the address the client sent last night. Definitely at the right spot. Still, nerves get the better of me, so I send a quick text as a get out of jail free card.

This site is gorgeous! Can't wait to talk ideas for the build!

If I am in the wrong place, I'll find out soon enough.

A black Tesla whines to a stop beside me. The most beautiful man in the entire world glances my way and smiles, which only amps up the wattage on his allure. With effort, I close my mouth, gulp down my libido, and lift a hand before climbing out of my twenty-year-old Honda to meet the man Architectural Digest named "One to Watch" for five years running before basically crowning him King of Architecture.

Benjamin Bancroft. Smart. Talented. And sexy as all get out.

Chocolate hair hangs playfully into dark eyes. Tight jeans hug an ass I'd love to sink my teeth into and a worn T-shirt clings to broad shoulders, screaming, "I'm too cool for business attire. Look how easy and breezy I am, arriving for a meeting with a famous client in casual clothes." A worn khaki messenger bag bounces off his hip in agreement.

My thrift store blouse, slacks, and heels don't stand a chance next to him, vintage vibes be damned. I smooth the front of my pants then close the car door, the ancient hinges groaning in complaint.

Mr. Hot, Cool, and Talented gives a quick scan of my dated clothes and vehicle as he closes the distance between us. I brace for impact. These wealthy types can be difficult to deal with once they know you're not in the same class. There's no hint of judgment, another check in his favor.

"Hey there! I'm Benjamin Bancroft," he says, in a voice as smooth as a warm slice of chocolate lava cake. "You must be Mina Blake. I've heard good things about your work."

My grin widens until I remind myself to crank it down a notch or seven. I may be slightly in awe of the man. I know all his projects by heart after obsessively following his career as I was building mine. Which possibly, maybe, led to a teensy tiny crush. Totally innocent and understandable, especially after seeing him in person. How is it possible he's better looking in the flesh than on the cover of a magazine? Even the sun shines brighter in appreciation, bringing out beads of perspiration at my temples. Florida heat is not to be trifled with.

"It's such an honor to work with you." I extend a hand to the living legend. "I promise to do whatever it takes to live up to these good things you've heard."

"With an attitude like that, I'm sure you will." Benjamin chuckles, a low sultry rumble that's yet another check in his favor. Could he be more perfect? "Though, between you and me, I wouldn't get my hopes up about this project. I've heard Mr. West can be difficult to please."

"Da da dunnnn…" I hum the international theme song for danger before my brain has time to analyze the appropriateness of said action. Which it does. Quickly. Then sends a panicked rush of adrenaline through my system, slamming the abort button.

Dear God. Make it stop. Sincerely, Mina Blake.

Thankfully, Benjamin laughs again, then indicates the shore with his chin. "I'm gonna wander the site and get my bearings before Mr. West arrives." He takes a few steps before pausing to turn over his shoulder. "Stick with me, kid. We're gonna do good things together."

There are so many good things I'd like to do with the man in front of me. Business. Pleasure. The mind boggles with options. I try not to swoon as he saunters away, dictating notes into his phone.

Hormones aside, working with someone like Benjamin Bancroft could be the professional break I need. I haven't spent a lot of time with people who can afford interior designers and architects for their private builds. They have money to spare and time to waste and I've never had much of either. Try as I might, they sniff out my ‘poor as dirt' background faster than a police dog searching for a donut.

While I stare after Benjamin, a second vehicle rumbles to a stop beside me. Sleek. Black. Drenched with the understated pretension of generational wealth. A tall man climbs out, affording me my first look at our client live and up close. Nathan West, firstborn son of Collin and Harlow West, pop culture icons who retired right here in the Florida Keys to be near Harlow's family, the Huttons.

The man is a checklist of privilege. Everything I wanted while growing up in a teeny apartment with Mom, he had. And then some.

Nathan stretches his back, showing off a physique that puts Benjamin's to shame. Sunlight glints off dark hair, revealing streaks of mahogany, and he rakes a hand across a jawline that could cut glass. His mouth curves with a smirk and the sun catches his eyes, highlighting their brilliant green before he slides a pair of sunglasses into place. Strong shoulders. Stronger arms. The muscles flex and twist in a hypnotic dance beneath the black T-shirt he's paired with ordinary looking jeans and work boots.

"Holy wow," I murmur, smoothing the front of my pants again.

Sure, I expected Nathan West to be hot. I'm no dummy. I did my research the second his offer hit my inbox.

And by research, I mean I let my best friend, Fallon Mae, tell me everything she knows. Which is a significant amount, considering her past, present, and imagined future.

Fallon fell madly in love with Nathan the day she saw him onstage at his parents' benefit concert for The Reversal of Fortune Foundation—a charity for underprivileged children started by Nathan's aunt. For years, Fallon swore she would grow up to be Mrs. West until Nathan started showing up in the news again, still hot, but making decidedly questionable decisions.

Since then, it's been her mission to remind him who he really is by publishing articles on her gossip and entertainment blog that point out every bad choice he's made in the last several months. For example, the article Fallon's publishing today will mention the house Benjamin and I are designing for Nathan. She says comparing Nathan West to an antihero will help him see what he's become, and she'll have him back to his old self in no time. I've never really gotten my head around how she thinks that will work, but who am I to judge good intentions?

So yes, I know Nathan West is the first-born child of singer-songwriter duo Collin and Harlow West. I know he was raised wealthy by his famous parents. I know that up until very recently he was a freaking unicorn of goodness. Kind. Caring. Humble. Giving. He's dedicated his life to charity, using his privilege to help children who were dealt a difficult hand. And yes, thanks to Fallon, I also know he hasn't been that man since he broke things off with his girlfriend.

There's been a lot more drinking.

And sleeping around.

All the typical douchebaggery you'd expect from someone with unlimited time, money, and zero consequences for bad decisions.

Frankly, it's disappointing, though not all that surprising. Money breeds greed and power. Nothing good comes from that combination.

"This is it," I murmur to distract myself from focusing on the negatives. "This is the day everything turns around. You've got this. You know you've got this. You're strong and confident and talented and capable. You belong here. This is your time to shine."

Painting on my best smile, I glance Nathan's way and find him staring. Hard. And not in a, "Wow, I sure can't wait to meet my interior designer!" kind of way. He looks like he's trying not to swallow his tongue. Or like he's gotten a whiff of a stench so revolting he wants to be anywhere but here. I smooth back the wisps of ebony hair that have fallen free from my ponytail and do a quick BO check. Fresh as a daisy despite the Florida heat.

I take a step Nathan's way and a wave of disbelief hits me. Is this really my life? Mina Blake, hobnobbing with the rich, famous, and uber talented. My phone buzzes and I take a quick glance, smiling when I see a response to my text in the group chat.

Benjamin Bancroft

Ms. Blake is correct. This site is overflowing with potential.

Nathan, however, scoffs and shakes his head as he stares at his phone.

Okay…not exactly the exuberance I hoped for.

But confidence fixes everything, and I'll fake it ‘til I fix it, despite the nerves his grumpiness set loose in my belly.

After one more deep breath, I smooth the front of my pants, shooting an exuberant, "Good morning, Mr. West!" over the roof of my car.

"Morning," he grumbles, glaring at his phone, his thumbs tapping the screen in a sharp staccato.

Unfazed, I cross in front of the hood, hand extended. "I'm Mina Blake and I?—"

"I know who you are," Nathan barks, declines a call, then holds up a hand, looking contrite. "I'm sorry, I?—"

His phone buzzes again and tension tightens his jaw.

"I have to take this," he says, then strides away, shoulders hunched, chin dropped as he whisper-yells at the poor soul on the other line, probably an assistant who got his coffee wrong or the woman he was out with last night getting dumped. From what I hear, he doesn't keep them around very long.

I scowl as Nathan walks away, then shake my own hand, murmuring, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Blake. You came highly recommended. Oh! Why thank you, Mr. West! It's a pleasure to meet you as well. My best friend's a huge fan! Fallon Mae? Maybe you've heard of her…"

Nathan glances over his shoulder, and I drop my hands to my side before he can see, then hurry after the man with the power to make or break my future clenched between his teeth. When I catch up, his sunglasses are dangling from the neck of his shirt and he's cordially shaking hands with Benjamin, his phone tucked into his back pocket.

"Benjamin Bancroft. It's great to finally meet you in person." Ben's gaze jukes to me, and damn. That smile. How does he do it? "As I said in the group chat," he continues, "this site is brimming with potential. I see great things here."

"The pleasure is mine, Mr. Bancroft," Nathan replies, and would you look at that? He sounds downright cordial. "The body of your work speaks for itself. I can't wait to hear what you and Ms. Blake have in mind for my new home."

His voice reminds me of the ocean, soft and soothing, yet churning with the constant threat of turbulence, and hinting at unexplored depths.

I stop beside them, hand extended, smile in place, determined to make a good impression. "Mina Blake," I say again. "It's an honor to meet you, Mr. West. And yeah, this site is amazing."

His eyes should be warm, like foliage in springtime or reeds in the breeze. Instead, they're sharp and cutting like overgrown thorns. He has the gall to check his phone before he extends a hand like the thought of touching me repulses him.

"Miss Blake."

Okay. Nice to Benjamin. Rude to me. Gotcha. I glance down at my high-waisted slacks and white blouse with the cute cap sleeves and Victorian style buttons. Compared to the jeans and T-shirts spackled on my companions, I'm overdressed for the occasion. Maybe he's turned off by formality?

You know what? It doesn't matter.

I'm turned off by people who can't introduce themselves with a modicum of decency.

"I am so excited to work with someone as talented as Mr. Bancroft. Especially on a project like this. This is basically a dream come true for me."

Nathan's thorny eyes sweep over me with…is that disdain? "You mean a project with an unlimited budget."

Fallon's right. Nathan West has officially entered his villain era. I drop the pretense and speak to him on a level he'll understand.

"An unlimited budget will let us flex our creative muscles to your heart's content. A man like you deserves to get what he wants."

By that, I mean everyone deserves a life of happiness and ease, but that's not the way he'll take it. These rich and famous types think they deserve a bigger slice of the pie. Why? Because they're better than the little guys, the working class, the people who keep the world running, of course!

Nathan's face hardens. The muscle in his jaw pulses and his eyes flash like the embers of a fire raging back to life. He's unreadable and unpredictable— terse heat wrapped in a scornful sneer.

A sneer?

Who sneers at a perfectly pleasant woman they just met?

Nathan freaking West, that's who. The man I hoped would be a dream come true but has his heart set on being my worst nightmare.

"Why don't you walk us around the site and tell us about the house as you envision it?" Benjamin says, situating himself between me and Nathan like some kind of human shield. I could just about hug him for that kindness.

Nathan gives Benjamin his full attention, wandering the site and rattling off his wish list in a voice so quiet, I can barely hear. Almost like he's leaving me out on purpose. Like he took one look at my bargain bin clothes and car and decided I wasn't worth his time. Another wave of disappointment sweeps over me. I'd hoped Fallon was wrong about him, but Nathan West is just another pretty face and bloated bank account.

Flustered, I scan the area—a secluded cove with a wide stretch of private beach, hidden from the road by a mixture of oak trees and slash pines that open to a view so magnificent it's like it was painted to order. Nathan's future house appears before my eyes, building itself from the foundation to the rafters, with large windows and sweeping rooms that are sophisticated, but lack pretension. It's not too small, not too big. There's a giant library filled with more books than a person could read in one lifetime. Fiction. Non-fiction. Rare first editions sitting beside pop culture new releases. There's a chef's kitchen and a large deck overlooking the ocean, a perfect place to curl up and watch the sunset.

With a sad smile, I realize I just built my mother's dream house. The one I hope to surprise her with some day after…well… after .

I make a few mental adjustments to the build, adding masculine shades of blue, green, and gray that perfectly offset Nathan's mahogany hair and thornbush eyes. There's a billiard room and a bar and I'll probably keep the deck and library because something tells me he might like them. Considering his villain era vibes, I add an office with an imposing desk, a hulking leather chair, and a secret passageway lurking behind enormous bookshelves.

"Wow," I whisper. "This is really gonna be something."

When I look back to my companions, Nathan is staring at me with open disdain, and I don't know what I've done to earn it.

I promised myself I'd make the best of this situation, but we're twenty minutes in and one thing's for sure:

I don't like Nathan West.