Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Casey couldn't help but chuckle instead of stopping him right away. "You're supposed to head to Harvard next month, and you've got four more years to go before you graduate."

mature enough for a relationship, that someday I might be drawn to someone my own age."

"I could skip it. My friends and I have already started investing in a company that's probably going public next year. I don't really need the degree. If I go, by the time I graduate, Aubree will be twenty-nine, and I'll be twenty-two. I know what you're thinking. You think I'm not Casey nodded, picking up a newspaper from the table to skim through. "I'm glad you realize that. Nobody at eighteen can promise they'll never change their mind. Even married folks stray sometimes."

Matthew's eyes sparkled with determination. "Others might not dare, but I do. I'm head over heels for Aubree. Let her be the lead actress."

For years, Casey hadn't tried to dictate his son's life, but now he raised an eyebrow, giving him a second, more serious look. "Have you thought about the seven-year age gap? You might handle it, but Aubree might not."

"Who says I'm just messing around?"

Matthew was handsome in that refined way but without a hint of fragility. He was into strength training every week and often did outdoor activities, his physique both strong and graceful.

"Alright, I agree. Aubree will be the lead."

never thought to steer

a call early the next morning telling her she

she thought of Matthew, right as he texted her. "We start filming next month. How about we head to the American plains to watch lions? It's more breathtaking than

of his offer. She hesitated for a minute before replying, "When do

private jet, just the two of us. Mind that? Everyone else has already

was a catch, exceptional by any standard. Faced with

make a move. Even if you

hesitation vanished. "Okay, I'll

vel

passport. The next morning, as she left, she bumped into workers moving furniture next door, caught off

she had plans, unsure when she'd return or if she would at all. He could only wait, but waiting only seemed to push her

she was leaving, he felt the distance between them growing even more apparent. Aubree