Jessy tied her sneakers, the soft thud of her heartbeat almost syncing with the rhythmic clicks of her leash. Her dog, Rocky, a golden retriever with an ever-present smile, wagged his tail, sensing the routine. The morning air had a crisp edge to it, and the scent of dew on grass lingered in the air as she opened the back gate.
"Come on, boy," Jessy whispered as she clicked the leash into place and stepped out into the garden. The sun had risen just enough to cast a warm glow over the large estate, its ornate iron gates now wide open. The world outside felt endless, peaceful in its early silence.
As they walked down the cobblestone path, Jessy's mind drifted, only half aware of her surroundings. It was one of those mornings where the hum of the world outside felt distant, like a peaceful escape from the expectations that often crowded her thoughts.
Rocky pulled at the leash as they neared the front gate, tugging her toward the sidewalk. Jessy slowed her pace, glancing around. That's when she saw them. The Sebastiano brothers.
Dave was already outside, his tall frame a sharp contrast against the stone backdrop of their garage. He stood by the open door, hands on his hips, eyeing the street as if he owned it. His dark hair fell messily across his forehead, and his eyes—those eyes—caught hers instantly. Jessy's breath caught. There was something in his gaze, something unspoken and powerful.
"Morning," Dave called, his voice low but carrying. His smirk was barely there, yet it made her pulse spike.
Jessy froze for a moment. She wasn't sure what it was about him. Maybe it was the way he carried himself, the arrogance, the mystery. But it was hard to ignore the chemistry simmering in the air. The way he looked at her, with a hint of challenge, of curiosity, made it clear that he was the one who would be impossible to ignore.
"I didn't see you yesterday," he added, his gaze still locked on her. "New in town?"
She nodded, forcing herself to find her voice. "Just moved in."
"I'm Dave. And this is my brother, Petter," he said, gesturing toward the man who had been standing by the garage door, his back to them. Jessy noticed him then, tall and quiet, his movements deliberate as he worked on something in the garage.
She nodded again, offering a polite smile to Petter, but her eyes were drawn back to Dave. His presence was magnetic, compelling in a way that made it hard to think straight.
"We're just getting settled in," Dave continued, taking a step closer. "But you seem to know your way around here already."
"I've lived here my whole life," Jessy said, her lips curving into a soft smile.
As she spoke, Petter finally turned, acknowledging the exchange with a quiet nod. His demeanor was a sharp contrast to his brother's, calmer, more controlled. But there was something about him that Jessy couldn't quite place, something that made him seem... distant. She shook the thought away and turned back to Dave.
"I'll leave you to it," she said, already feeling the pull to escape from the intensity of their gaze.
"Don't be a stranger," Dave called after her, his voice tinged with amusement.
Jessy's heart raced as she walked away, a fluttering sensation in her stomach. As Rocky tugged her further down the path, her thoughts lingered on the Sebastiano brothers, on Dave's smirk, on Petter's calmness. She didn't know what to make of it, but she knew one thing for sure. This wasn't going to be as simple as it seemed.
Jessy walked briskly, the early morning air crisp against her skin. Rocky, her energetic golden retriever, tugged at the leash, eager to continue their routine. Jessy let her thoughts wander, but they kept drifting back to the Sebastiano brothers. After the brief encounter with Dave, something lingered—a pull she couldn't explain. His gaze had been intense, magnetic, leaving her feeling both drawn and unsettled. Why was it so hard to shake the image of his smirk?
As they made their way down the quiet street, she passed familiar houses, all nestled behind their well-maintained lawns. The soft hum of a distant lawnmower filled the air, mixing with the rustling of leaves. The world around her felt calm, almost too calm, compared to the storm she felt brewing inside.
Rocky barked, snapping her from her thoughts. He ran ahead, pulling her toward the street corner, where a large wooden gate stood slightly ajar. Jessy had almost forgotten the sound of the garage door opening. She paused, looking over to the Sebastiano house, where the garage door was now fully open, and both brothers were inside.
Dave's tall, commanding figure loomed near the entrance, his back to her. She couldn't help but stare for a moment, noticing the way the morning sunlight caught his dark hair and the broadness of his shoulders. The casual posture in which he stood, watching the interior of the garage, felt like a challenge—almost as if he was daring her to walk closer.
Rocky barked again, breaking the tension. Jessy shook her head, taking a deep breath. It was just a passing encounter. Yet as she turned, she caught the flash of a grin from Dave, as though he knew exactly what she was thinking. Jessy quickened her pace, trying to ignore the flutter in her chest. She had made her choice.
As she walked past the gate, the sound of the garage door opening behind her echoed through the quiet morning air. Her heart skipped a beat, her instincts telling her to glance back, but she resisted. It wasn't like her to let a fleeting moment affect her so deeply.
But there was something about the way Dave moved—something dangerous yet magnetic. She could feel the weight of his stare even from the corner of her eye. As she continued walking, she tried to push the thought away. She was supposed to be focused on her morning run, her routine.
Rocky tugged at his leash, eager to continue. Jessy tried to steady her breath, concentrating on the steady rhythm of her footsteps. But the image of Dave lingered, like a shadow that followed her.
It wasn't just physical attraction—no, it was something more, something deeper. Jessy couldn't deny the pull between them, even if she didn't fully understand it. She had seen many men in her life, but there was something about the Sebastiano brothers that felt different. Dangerous, even.
She forced herself to focus on Rocky, tugging gently at his leash as they turned down another street. Yet, even as she kept her eyes ahead, she couldn't help but wonder what would happen the next time she crossed paths with Dave. Would he be as confident? Would he try to pull her deeper into his world, or was it just a passing flirtation?
The unanswered questions buzzed in her mind as she continued her walk, the world around her still peaceful, but her heart racing with uncertainty.