Page 2 of “Not” Engaged to the Grumpy Billionaire

"Yeah… Bryan said I could crash with you for a few weeks while his beach house gets renovated. He said your company was handling the renovations, and he was going to call you to let you know I’d be here."

Nate’s frown deepens, his arms crossing over his broad chest. He’s staring at me like I just told him the sky’s green.

"Give me a second," he mutters, already pulling out his phone.

Great. This is going well.

While he turns away to call my brother, I take a moment to admire the place again. The floor-to-ceiling windows let in beams of sunlight, giving the space an airy, open feel.

Outside, I see the ocean. Its waves crash rhythmically on the shore reminding me how close we are to the beach. Despite the toys scattered around, the house feels stark, almost too clean for a place with a child. But the view, the light, it’s perfect. It's a house that feels beautiful ... but cold.

"Hey, Bryan," Nate says, keeping his voice low enough that I can only catch parts of the conversation.

"Yeah, Liz is here."

"What do you mean, ‘you forgot to tell me’?"

I roll my eyes and continue scanning the room. On the wall I see a colorful dinosaur scribbled in crayon, pinned there with amagnet. I smile at the sight. That must be Max’s work, Nate’s son. I’ve never met him, but from what Bryan’s told me, the boy is Nate’s whole world.

"It’s not exactly convenient," I hear Nate mutter, and I narrow my eyes at his back.

Not convenient? Seriously? I’m here for a few weeks, not moving in forever.

They talk for a few more minutes before he hangs up and turns to face me, his expression a little colder than before.

"Bryan says he’ll check in later. You’ll be staying here for a few weeks?"

I force a smile, trying not to let his attitude get to me.

"Yeah, but don’t worry. I’ll be out of your hair soon enough."

He looks relieved, and for some reason, that irks me more than anything else. I know Nate’s not exactly a people person. That's something I do remember about him. But I didn’t expect him to be this unwelcoming. I would have preferred to stay with Liam, the third of my brother’s trio of friends who is less grumpy than Nate. But unfortunately, Liam is out of town. And, of course, my brother lives in the city most of the year.

"So, where should I put my stuff?" I ask, gesturing to my suitcase.

He points down the hallway without much enthusiasm.

"Guest room’s the first door on the right. It has everything you will need a personal bathroom and a walk-in closet."

"Great," I say, grabbing the handle of my smaller suitcase and heading toward the guest room.I'll get the others later, I think, not wanting to make it a big deal right now.

"I’ll get settled in."

As I drag my things down the hall, I hear him mutter under his breath,

"Make yourself at home."

I roll my eyes again and push open the door to the guest room. The room is about what I would expect: neat, minimalist, and not particularly cozy. The bed is made up with white linens. A small dresser sits in the corner, and a single framed painting of the ocean hangs on the wall. It’s simple, cold, and impersonal, like Nate’s demeanor. But I’m not here for a five-star hotel experience, and the bed looks comfortable enough.

Dropping my suitcase by the bed, I take a deep breath.Temporary, Liz, I remind myself. This is temporary until they finish the work on Bryan’s beach house. A few weeks, tops. You can handle this.

I take another glance around, trying to settle in. Still, I can’t shake the feeling of Nate’s scowl still lingering in the back of my mind. He was always the serious one, even back in high school. After all these years, seeing him now with all the brooding, rugged good looks he’s gained—it throws me off balance. And not in a good way.

Because while he is becoming annoyingly attractive, he’s also... distant. But damn, those broad shoulders and the jawline that could cut glass. His presence fills the room with raw masculinity. I shake my head, reminding myself to focus. This is not what I came back for.

I’m here to get away from the mess I left behind, not to create a new one by swooning over my brother’s best friend. Still, despite his rudeness, I can’t help but wonder what it would take to get him to crack a smile. Just once.

I need time to figure out how to navigate living in Nate’s house without it becoming a complete disaster. More important, I need to keep my emotions in check around him.

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