The house felt too quiet without Mom and Richard’s constant chatter. I padded barefoot down the stairs in my ratty tank top and sleep shorts, the wooden steps cool under my feet, chasing the faint scent of fresh coffee from the kitchen. Eight whole weeks of this empty nest bliss. No awkward family dinners, no pretending everything was normal since the wedding last year. Just me, my sketchbook, and the air conditioning cranked against the sticky June heat.
I should’ve known better.
The front door slammed like a gunshot. I froze on the bottom step, heart kicking up. Heavy footsteps crossed the foyer, followed by the unmistakable thud of a duffel bag hitting the floor.
Damien.
He stepped into view, all six-foot-three of him, looking like he’d driven straight through the night. Dark hair t
