"Hi Uncle, hi Aunt," Lara said as she came down for breakfast with her parents and their guests, throwing a quick side-eye at Zain on the way.
"Good morning, dear," Adam and Mina replied warmly.
"Lara," Ben said, folding his newspaper, "your mom and I are taking Adam and Mina out for golf—like old times. Why don't you show Zain around City A? He's new here."
Lara pressed her lips together.
No way. He's a flirt. And a headache.
She had work—real work—digging into the City B underworld, Dane, loose ends that didn't add up. But instead, she forced out, "Okay, Dad."
Zain leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying this far too much.
"Glad to hear it," he said easily. "Thanks, Lara."
She shot him a look sharp enough to cut glass.
They waved the elders off at the door.
"So," Zain said, stretching slightly, "shall we go, little rabbit?"
"Why don't you go explore by yourself?" Lara replied, folding her arms. "I actually have work to do."
"Oh no," he said dramatically. "New city. No map. No friends. Very dangerous." He leaned closer, grin widening. "Should I call Uncle Ben and tell him his daughter abandoned his guest?"
She groaned. "You're impossible. Ten minutes. If you're late, I'm leaving without you."
She stormed upstairs.
"Every dog has its day," Lara muttered while getting dressed—ripped jeans, off-shoulder denim crop top, white sneakers, cap pulled low. Headphones in hand, she added under her breath, "You'll regret messing with me, Zain."
When she came back down, he was already by the door, phone in hand.
His eyes flicked over her—slow, unapologetic—before meeting hers.
"You don't wear makeup," he said, mildly impressed, "yet you still look like trouble."
She smirked. "And you don't even try, yet still look like someone asking for it."
He raised a brow. "Asking for what?"
She tilted her head, daring. "Keep talking and you'll find out."
Zain chuckled. "Feisty. I like that."
"Like it from a distance," she said coolly, brushing past him.
Inside the car, he leaned in just enough for his voice to drop.
"Careful, little rabbit. The more you run, the more fun the chase gets."
Lara started the engine, glancing at him with a smirk she didn't bother hiding.
"Then keep up, Mr. Casanova. I don't wait for slow ones."
He laughed, shaking his head.
Both of them pretending they were unfazed—
while the tension in the car said otherwise.