Page 77 of Marked

The wooden staircase curved elegantly up to a loftlike space overlooking the lobby. More leather seating formed a cozy waiting area, with tall windows letting in natural light. Through glass doors, I could see what had to be Marcus’ office—all dark wood and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.

I’d barely settled into one of the ridiculously comfortable chairs when my phone buzzed.

“‘I’m alive’ is not an explanation,” Luke said flatly. “Twelve missed calls deserve more than two words, Kai.”

“Fine. The pipes broke, I got whisked away to a mansion by one of the Stone brothers, and—”

“One of the what now?”

“Oh yeah, there’s three of them. Marcus, Derek, and Caleb. They own like half the town or something.”

“Three brothers?” Luke sounded like he was having a stroke. “Threehotbrothers? Who own half the town? Are you living in a Kdrama right now?”

“More like a Gothic romance. You should see their house. It’s all dark wood and hidden passages and—oh, by the way, I got a job at their bookstore.”

“Back up. Hidden passages? And what bookstore? When did—” Luke cut himself off. “Eomma was right. There’s definitely something weird going on there.”

“Imo thinks everything’s weird,” I pointed out, flipping through a magazine. “Speaking of weird, you’ll never believe where I’m sitting right now.”

“Let me guess—some fancy office that looks like it belongs in a drama?”

“All dark wood and leather chairs. Very… brooding billionaire aesthetic.”

“I can’t believe you’re living my romance fantasies right now. But seriously, three brothers? Are they all…”

“Unfairly attractive? Mysteriously intense? Weirdly protective? Check, check, and check.”

“Aigo,” (Oh my goodness) Luke muttered, channeling his mom. “I don’t know whether to be excited or terrified for you.”

“Both is good,” I said, glancing toward Marcus’ office. “But I should probably go actually tell one of said brooding billionaires about getting the job.”

“Fine, but I want actual details later. Not just ‘I’m alive’ texts.”

“Goodbye, Luke.”

“Send pictures! For research purposes!”

I hung up, shaking my head but smiling. Trust Luke to simultaneously make me feel better and more paranoid about everything. After four years of being roommates and best friends, he’d earned the right to be overprotective—even if he didtake after his mom a bit too much in the supernatural suspicion department.

Marcus emerged from his office, suit jacket perfectly pressed despite the morning meetings. Even after just a few days in Cedar Grove, I was starting to recognize the telltale signs of my body’s ridiculous reaction to him—the way my pulse quickened, how my skin prickled with awareness, the strange heat that pooled in my chest. Just the sight of him made something flutter deep inside me—a feeling I’d been trying, and failing miserably, to ignore since I first arrived in Cedar Grove.

He moved with that effortless grace that seemed impossible for someone his size, all controlled power and quiet authority. The afternoon sun streaming through the windows caught the subtle highlights in his dark hair, and I had to physically stop myself from reaching out to touch it. What was wrong with me? I’d never been this affected by anyone before, never felt this overwhelming urge to be closer, to touch, to…

“Ready?” he asked, his deep voice sending another wave of warmth through me. His eyes seemed to see right through me, and I wondered if he could hear how fast my heart was beating.

I managed a nod, not trusting my voice. This attraction, this pull toward him—it wasn’t normal. Couldn’t be normal. But try telling that to my traitorous body, which seemed to gravitate toward him like he had his own magnetic field.

“How did the application go?” Marcus asked as we headed down the stairs. “Jane usually takes a few days to schedule interviews.”

“Actually…” I fell into step beside him, trying to ignore how his hand hovered near my lower back. “Either I’m more charming than I thought, or Cedar Grove is really desperate for bookworms, because she interviewed me on the spot. I start tomorrow.” I aimed for casual, but my voice had that slightlybreathless quality that seemed to emerge whenever Marcus was within arm’s reach.

Marcus’ pleased smile seemed almost… predatory. Like he’d known this would happen all along. But that was ridiculous, right? Still, something about his expression made me think of a chess master seeing his pieces fall exactly where he’d planned.

“That’s wonderful news,” he said smoothly, guiding me toward the parking lot. “Jane must have been impressed. She’s usually quite… selective.”

There was something in his tone I couldn’t quite place. Pride? Satisfaction? Before I could analyze it further, he was opening the car door for me, and all my mental facilities short-circuited at his proximity. From this angle, I could see where his shirt collar parted, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of tanned skin. My mouth went dry as my eyes traced the strong column of his neck, down to where his tie had been loosened just enough to be distracting. I had to physically stop myself from reaching out, from running my fingertips along that exposed skin, from leaning in to taste…

I swallowed hard, forcing my gaze away. Since when did I have these thoughts? These overwhelming urges to touch, to taste, to—nope. Not going there. Definitely not thinking about how his skin would feel under my tongue or how he’d react if I—

---