Prologue Twenty-two-year-old, Alyssa Van Every scowled angrily at her older brother, Alex, determined to fight him and his high-handed attitude. Six years older than her, Alex Van Every was a billionaire restaurateur and considered it his sole mission in life to protect his sister from all the men in the entire universe! So, Alyssa always protested his ways and whenever he was around, the atmosphere was very tense. “You won’t attend the wedding, Alyssa and that’s final.” Alyssa glared at him, her eyes flashing and rebellious. This time it was her close friend, Sienna’s wedding and she refused to bow down to her brother’s wishes. A plan to escape without his permission started forming in her mind. It was no use fighting him as he would never listen. It was different when she was younger but now at twenty-two, she didn’t need his help or permission. “What’s the big deal, Alex? I don’t stop you from doing anything and neither do mom and dad. So why is it always me? What problems could
Sienna, Eva, and Alyssa took a quick tour of the luxurious mansion located inside a gated compound. The main house was a three-story structure handcrafted out of native stone. The interiors were lavishly decorated with an open stairway as well as a glass cubicle elevator that provided easy access to all the floors. Alyssa was totally in love with the entire place and checked everything out minutely, intending to buy a place like this of her own one day. The spacious great room included a professional-grade kitchen and an open terrace attached to a wet bar. The huge dining area could accommodate nearly thirty people with ease with provisions for al fresco dining as well. The whole place opened up to the staircase and elevator with the master bedroom and six bedrooms located upstairs. The ground floor had 2 bedrooms, a banquet hall for gatherings, two swimming pools, and an indoor games area but it was the swimming pools that attracted her like a magnet. “This place is so romantic, Sie
Brushing the feeling away, Alyssa couldn’t help but feel deeply conscious of his piercing gaze, permanently fixed upon her. It unnerved her, a feeling totally new to her since she was used to receiving male attention wherever she went. Annoyed at her own reaction to the handsome devil who looked more like the Donnelly brothers, she swam to the edge of the pool. She realized that he was the one and only Nicholas Donnelly, her brother’s sworn enemy and therefore hers as well. “None of your business!” she said, as she emerged from the pool to make a dash for the house but her skin flushed with color, feeling his intense gaze, checking her out. Feeling totally exposed despite being clad in a turquoise bikini that clung to her like a second skin, Alyssa 3as eager to get away from the man and her reaction to him. “Of course, it is my business! I wouldn’t want our guests to be electrocuted during a storm!” Alyssa noted his husky tone, but strangely his voice didn’t have any warmth in it. O
The moment Nicholas toppled and landed on top of Alyssa, she realized her mistake. Despite the mud splashing around them, all over them, there was no denying the fire crackling between them. With his body molded to hers, his ocean-hued eyes gazing into hers, Alyssa forgot to breathe. “Nice try but you can’t seduce me with your muddy appearance. I prefer them fragrant and clean.” Alyssa’s jaws dropped to the mud and she gaped at his insolence. Did he really think that she was trying to seduce him? Anger boiled inside her and she pushed him off her. “High hopes! I don’t need to seduce anyone. If I ever will, it’ll be a real man.” She struggled to get up as fast as possible but slipped every time. “What are you trying to insinuate? Are you challenging me to prove to you that I’m a real man?” Nicholas’s eyes blazed with fire as if accepting the challenge already.“God! You’re so full of yourself!” She finally got up and stomped away angrily forgetting her mud-splattered appearance. Nic
Marcus’s words penetrated deep inside Nicholas’s heart and it made him determined that this time he would make a lasting impression on Alyssa’s mind. This time she wouldn’t be able to forget him so easily. He and Marcus joined the others and dinner was served. The topic of discussion was Lucas and Sienna’s honeymoon plans in which Nicholas had no interest. His concentration was on Alyssa who sat opposite him and tried her best to ignore him but was it so easy? He wasn’t the wiry, young, unsure teenager anymore and his unwavering gaze upon Alyssa totally unnerved her. What was up with the guy? Why couldn’t he keep his eyes to himself? Reaching her limit, Alyssa glared back at him, muttering curses in her mind but to her immense frustration, Nicholas just grinned at her. It seemed as if he was totally unaffected and enjoyed the ongoing drama instead. Hayley elbowed her from one side while Eva pinched her thigh from the other, both enjoying the clash between the two rivals. “Stop,” she
Scared, Alyssa looked up at the silhouette of the man she collided with and instantly knew he was none other than Nicholas. “Can’t sleep?” said Nicholas’s husky voice that seemed too near for her liking. “Good night.” She wanted to dash off to her bedroom and not face him in her pajamas but with his arm around her waist, escape was almost impossible. “I just came for water.” Nicholas gave her a look of disbelief instead and leaned down closer to her. “Really? Maybe that’s just an excuse. You followed me here, didn’t you?” Alyssa’s jaws dropped at his implication. Was he out of his mind? Why would she follow him? She hardly knew he was here! “Why should I follow you? You’re disgusting!” She wrenched herself free and dashed off only to be caught and pulled back into his hard chest. “Am I disgusting? Then why did you kiss me?” Alyssa’s mouth hung open hearing his low whisper and she stared at him completely at a loss for words. When did she kiss him? Was he hallucinating? Now it was
They were all taken aback by Alexander’s announcement to stay. How did he accept defeat that soon? Was he planning something to create trouble during the wedding? “Fine but if you create any trouble, I’ll do the same to you at your wedding!” threatened Lucas. Sienna curbed the grin that was trying to break free on her face. What sort of threatening was that? Were they really enemies? “Done, give us a room and we’ll stay out of your way,” said Alexander while Alyssa grimaced at her brother’s words. She knew she would feel claustrophobic with him breathing fire down her neck all the time. Eva on the other hand stood a little farther away from them and refused to even look at Alexander. She could feel his gaze upon her every now and then but she knew better. She now knew what exactly he thought about her, how much he hated her. “Or you can enjoy it with us,” said Nicholas. Alexander gritted his teeth and glared at him with hatred.“The lesser you talk to me the better, Nicholas,” he g
“You heard me, Alexander!” taunted Nicholas, looking him straight in the eyes, challenging him to react. He wasn’t the puny little boy anymore and could give Alexander a taste of his own medicine if he tried to harm him. Alexander looked stunned to see this rebellious side to his nature and seemed dumbstruck for the first time in his life. “Stay away from Alyssa, I’m warning you,” hissed Alexander, going closer to threaten him. Nicholas was no less and stood up too, and glared at him angrily. Alyssa clutched at her heart with horror seeing her brother again start the same thing as always. Why couldn’t he mind his own business and stop meddling in her affairs? Couldn’t he realize that she didn’t need his protection? “What if I don’t? You can’t do a thing this time, Alexander. Go get a life!” said Nicholas, making Alexander seethe with fury. Alyssa’s eyes widened with panic and she rushed towards her brother, trying to pull him backward. She hadn’t expected Nicholas to confront him fe