Chapter 1: The Cookout That Changed Everything
Amber hadn’t planned on attending the cookout that afternoon. Her schedule was relentless—early morning meetings, back-to-back client calls, and a boss who measured commitment in missed lunch breaks. By the time she finally parked her car outside her childhood home, all she wanted was a hot shower and a quiet evening to herself.

Instead, she was greeted by the distinct sizzle of meat on the grill, bursts of laughter floating on the breeze, and the rich, smoky scent of her dad’s famous barbeque sauce.

“Great,” she muttered under her breath, slipping her heels off before walking through the backyard gate.

Her dad, Doug, stood behind the grill like a maestro at his podium, flipping burgers and ribs with an expression of sheer joy. A handful of familiar faces—mostly his coworkers from the local auto shop—scattered the lawn, sipping beers and swapping stories. But one face stood out.

A tall man, broad-shouldered with a neatly trimmed beard and slate-gray eyes, leaned casually against the deck railing, sipping from a bottle of water instead of the typical beer. He looked like he belonged to a different world—calm, grounded, and oddly magnetic.