Romance with Rhythm

Dreams and hearts have something in common: the ability to shatter.

Walking away from the spotlight wasn’t part of the plan. I was supposed to be living my dream, not running from it. But somewhere along the way, the life I thought I wanted became little more than a nightmare—and I ran. I needed somewhere to land. Somewhere safe.

What I didn’t expect was West Abbott.

My older brother’s best friend. The boy who starred in every teenage fantasy I never dared admit out loud. And now, the man whose slow, hungry glances make my skin burn and my heart race. He sees me—really sees me—and it’s impossible to pretend I don’t want more.

Being near him is like standing on the edge of something I’m not sure I’m ready for—too close, too tempting, too charged with everything we’ve never said. His gaze drags over me like a slow caress, and every brush of his fingers feels deliberate, like he’s memorizing me piece by piece. And when he finally kisses me, it’s not gentle. It’s molten. Possessive. The kind of kiss that leaves you breathless and aching, and knowing there’s no going back.

But West doesn’t know the truth. Not about what I left behind, or the pieces I’m still trying to put back together. I’ve let him believe in a version of me that doesn’t really exist.

So when the truth finally comes out, will he still want me—not the girl from his memories or the fantasy I’ve become—but the woman I really am?