“Not” Engaged to the Grumpy Billionaire (The Billionaire Best Friends of Ocean Bay #1)

1. Liz

Chapter one

Liz

"Thank goodness! I was afraid that you were out of town, too. Hi, it's so good to see you again!"

I stand there with a bright smile, expecting... well, something. A warm welcome, maybe? A friendly smile? But no. Instead, Nate stares at me like I’m speaking a foreign language. His brows knit together, and his mouth opens slightly, but no words come out.

Okay, awkward.

"You don’t recognize me, do you?" I ask, crossing my arms and leaning against the doorframe. I watch as confusion flickers across his face. He is staring at me like I’m some lost tourist asking for directions.

For a second, I question if I showed up at the wrong house. But no, this is Nate Kingston, my big brother’s best friend. Same tall physique, broad shoulders and rugged jawline. The years have been kind to him. He’s filled out more since I last saw him—back when I had a tiny crush on him, well, maybe more than tiny.

And even now, seeing him again, my toes curl as if they have a mind of their own. His scowl, though, is still as prominent as ever, etched deep into his face. This guy is annoyingly handsome. The kind of man who looks better with age, like one of those movie stars who only get more attractive as the years go by.

I realize that I am staring when he blinks, his brows furrowing even more.

"Uh, should I?"

Great. Just great. I give him a tight-lipped smile.

"It’s me. Liz Lawson. Bryan’s sister." I drop the name, hoping it’ll jog his memory.

"You know, the same one who grew up in this town before leaving for college?"

He stares for a moment, and I'm just about to wave my hand in front of his face when his eyes finally widen in recognition.

"Liz? Holy…"

"Yeah, yeah," I mutter, rolling my eyes.

"I know it’s been a while, but I didn’t think I’d changed that much."

Nate rubs the back of his neck, still looking a bit thrown off, but at least he’s not gaping at me like a fish anymore.

"Sorry. You just... it’s been years. And you look—"

"Different?" I finish for him, raising a brow. "Older?"

"Not what I was going to say," he grumbles, finally stepping aside to let me in.

"Come in. Bryan didn't mention you were back in town."

As I step inside, my eyes scan the living room, taking in the sleek, modern furniture. It's all sharp lines and neutral tones. Polished wood floors and a massive fireplace dominate one wall.

Its elegance is clear. But a colorful array of toys scattered across the room softens the space. A toy car, a miniature train set, and a stuffed dinosaur are scattered on the plush grey rug. An open children's book, tattered from use, rests on the coffee table. Nearby, a cozy dog bed sits in the corner, surrounded by scattered chew toys.

The warmth of the room, with its sweet signs of life, feels out of place next to the stoic man beside me.

"Well, let’s say I didn’t give him much notice," I say, maneuvering my suitcases to avoid stepping on a toy car.

"But yeah, I’m back. Surprise!"

Nate frowns.

"Oh, I see…"

I blink.

"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 a magnet. 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.

Because whether I like it or not, Nate Kingston is even more attractive now than he was back in high school. And despite my better judgment, I can’t help but feel a pull toward him. It’s ridiculous. I should be over this by now. I should focus on my own life and problems. But here I am, in his house, feeling things that I shouldn't.

Liz, shake it off. You know you can totally handle this. Right?

I need time to get my feet back under me after that disaster of a relationship I once had.

After all, I didn’t come back to Ocean Bay to find romance. I came back to avoid it.

***

A soft rustle pulls me from the haze of sleep. My eyes flutter open, the light filtering through unfamiliar curtains. I blink, trying to orient myself as I try to sit up. It takes only a few seconds for me to figure out I had slept late. I hear a rustle at the end of the bed.

There stands a little boy, wide-eyed, clutching a stuffed dinosaur to his chest. His sandy blond hair is a tousled mess, and with those deep blue eyes, there's no mistaking whose replica he is - Nate's.

The little boy watches me with a wary expression, his fingers gripping the toy as if it’s his lifeline.

I push myself up on my elbows, offering a sleepy smile.

"Hey there." My voice is gentle, still thick from sleep.

The little boy hesitates for a second. His eyes dart toward the door as though he’s about to flee; then returns his gaze to me.

"Hi." His voice is soft as his beautiful eyes watch me.

"Are you a friend of my dad?"

Smoothing down my hair, I sit up, offering him a nod.

"Something like that. I’m Liz." His striking resemblance to Nate pulls at me, especially the deep blue eyes.

"You must be Max."

He relaxes a little, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"Yeah," he confirms, glancing at a scruffy dog sitting obediently beside him.

"And this is Boomer."

I chuckle at the sight of the dog. Its tail thumps the floor, clearly thrilled to be in the mix.

"Looks like a good dog," I muse, my eyes briefly meeting Boomer’s curious gaze.

Before either of us can say more, a voice floats down the hallway, playful and louder than I expected.

"Max, where are you? I’m coming to find you!"

Max’s eyes widen, and without a word, he presses a finger to his lips, signaling for silence. He scurries behind the heavy curtains, pulling Boomer along with him. The fabric barely hides their obvious hiding spot as the dog’s tail sticks out, wagging excitedly.

I bite back a laugh, adjusting the blanket to cover my amusement as Nate appears in the doorway. His brow furrows as his gaze scans the room, lingering on the ruffled curtains before landing on me.

"Hey," he greets me, his tone casual but slightly suspicious. His eyes flit back to the curtains, obvious to Max’s not-so-hidden hiding spot.

I meet his gaze, keeping my expression neutral.

"Looking for something?"

Nate steps into the room, his movements slow, almost calculated.

"You haven’t seen Max and Boomer, have you?" His voice is playful, but there’s a knowing look in his eyes.

Feigning innocence, I shake my head, keeping my tone light.

"Nope. Haven’t seen a thing."

He narrows his eyes, but a smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth. His attention shifts back to the curtains, and he takes a step closer.

"Is that so?"

I nod, doing my best to keep a straight face.

"Absolutely."

Nate’s smirk grows as he closes the distance to the curtains. Deliberately slow, in fact. His eyes gleaming with amusement. It takes everything for my jaw not to drop in astonishment. The change on his face making him drop dead gorgeous sends flutters to my belly.

"Well, in that case..." He pauses for dramatic effect before whipping the curtain aside.

"Gotcha!"

Max erupts into giggles, doubling over as Nate scoops him up into his arms, holding him upside down. Boomer barks in excitement, bouncing around their feet. The room fills with laughter, the sound infectious, drawing a smile from me.

Max squirms in his dad’s arms, laughing uncontrollably.

"Supernova! Daddy, Supernova!" he shouts through his giggles. I assume it's their safe word.

Nate sets him down, ruffling his hair affectionately. His own laughter fades into a soft chuckle. Max looks up at him, breathless but beaming, while Boomer hops around, tail wagging furiously.

Once the excitement settles, Nate glances back at me, his eyes softer now.

"Sorry for the intrusion," he offers, his voice more composed, though the warmth from earlier still lingers in his expression.

I shake my head, smiling.

"No need to apologize. It was a nice wake-up call."

Max, grinning from ear to ear, looks up at me, his eyes shining with excitement.

"Liz, will you play hide and seek with us later?"

I can't avoid chuckling. "Sure, Max. Sounds like fun."

His eyes light up at my response. But, before he can say more, Nate gently places a hand on his son's shoulder and guides him toward the door.

"Come on, buddy. Let’s leave Liz to rest for now."

Max throws one last excited glance my way before following Nate out of the room, Boomer padding along behind them.

As the door closes, the quiet returns, but the warmth lingers. I sink back into the pillows. A soft smile tugs at my lips as I reflect on the moment that just unfolded. I’ve never seen this side of Nate before, playful, relaxed, so full of life. The contrast between the stoic man who greeted me yesterday and the one who just walked out of the room is startling, and yet... it makes sense.

***

Evening settles around the house as I head towards the kitchen, refreshed and curious after unpacking. The clink of utensils and the savory aroma of dinner draw me in. To my surprise, Nate is at the stove, adeptly maneuvering pots and pans. Max swings his legs from a stool at the island, chattering away.

As I enter, Max catches sight of me and leaps off his stool, bounding into my arms with youthful exuberance.

“Liz! You missed so much today!” His excitement vibrates through me, his arms tightly wound around my neck.

Laughing, I set him down.

“Oh? Tell me everything.”

Max launches into a breathless account of their afternoon, from heroic escapades with Boomer to imagined pirate battles in the backyard. His eyes sparkle with each tale, and I nod. I'm thoroughly entertained by his vivid imagination.

Nate glances over, his eyebrows raised in amusement.

“Sounds like quite the adventure,” he remarks dryly, stirring a pot.

“It was epic!” Max assures, then turns to me,

“Liz, did you have adventures today too?”

“Nothing as exciting as yours,” I admit, smiling down at him. Turning to Nate, I ask,

“Need a hand?”

He shakes his head, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“No, dinner’s almost ready. Have a seat.”

Max chatters on as Nate plates up a fun arrangement of grilled chicken and colorful vegetables. The plate, I realize has cartoon characters. I can't believe how much time it took to do that and what love Nate must put into everything he does for his son. I help myself to the food Nate sets out, impressed by his culinary skills.

“This is really good, Nate. You sure do cook well,” I comment after a few bites.

“Had to learn,” he replies, focusing on serving Max.

“It’s a necessary skill.”

As dinner progresses, the atmosphere shifts subtly. Max’s joyful demeanor fills the room, but it's Nate’s next question that catches me off guard.

“So, what brings you back to town, Liz?”

I pause, a forkful of food halfway to my mouth. His gaze is intense, probing, as if he’s looking for something beneath the surface of my answer.

“I needed a break,” I say, my voice even.

Nate’s gaze doesn’t waver, and I notice a curious heat crawl up my neck. His look is too intense, too focused, as if he can see through the half-truth.

“Does that mean you won’t be staying long?” he asks, a hint of something undefinable in his tone.

His words sting, and my defenses rise.

“If I’m in your way, I can find a motel—”

“That’s not what I meant,” he interjects, his expression tightening as he speaks.

"Well, it doesn't seem like it," I hold his gaze even those his eyes are making every inch of my body tingle I don't back down. Finally, he takes his eyes away and mumbled an almost inaudible sorry.

The rest of the meal passes in an uneasy silence. When dinner ends, I stand to clear the dishes, but Nate stops me.

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

I meet his gaze, my response tinged with sass.

“I insist. You cooked; I can at least clean up. It’s no trouble.”

"And I insist that you're a guest in my house,"

He reaches for the dishes and our hands brush as I gather up a plate. I jump startled as a surprising jolt of electricity shoots through me. Nate withdraws his hand as if burned, his eyes flickering with an unreadable emotion.

Max’s voice breaks the moment.

“Liz, can you read me a bedtime story tonight?”

His request surprises me. I mean he met me only a few hours ago. Instantly my heart warms up to Max. Nate starts to object, but I cut in,

“I’d love to, Max. If it’s okay with your dad.”

Nate looks between us, then stiffly nods.

“I’ll get him ready for bed. We’ll call you.”

“Perfect,” I reply, trying to shake off the complex layers of emotion Nate’s presence stirs in me.

As they head upstairs, I'm left with my thoughts, wondering what’s happening to me and why I'm reacting to Nate the way I am. I hope this arrangement won't be harder than I thought.