Loved With Measures is a collection of passionate, heart-stopping one-shot romances that explore love in all its complexities-across age gaps, forbidden desires, dangerous liaisons, and unexpected encounters. From the sun-drenched beaches of the Mal...
In the heart of Manhattan, Marina Furlow balanced life with an expertise that often surprised herself. As a kindergarten teacher at Bright Horizons Academy, she nurtured and guided a classroom of energetic children, and at home, she tended to her two-year-old son, Matthias, whose curiosity and mischief seemed limitless. Every day was a whirlwind of laughter, chaos, and tiny victories, and Marina embraced it all with a patience that became her signature.
One crisp autumn morning, juggling coffee in one hand and her son's leash-like grip on the other, Marina's carefully orchestrated routine unraveled. Matthias, ever the adventurous explorer, darted toward a passing pigeon. In the chaos, hot coffee spilled from her cup, landing squarely on a man in a sharply tailored suit.
Knox Murrow, thirty, CEO of a thriving tech company, froze, staring at the dark stain marring his perfection. Control, order, and precision were his lifeblood, yet here he was, confronted by chaos incarnate.
"What the—" he began, his voice tight.
"I—I'm so sorry!" Marina stammered, her focus split between the now-giggling Matthias and the very angry man in front of her. But before she could intervene further, Matthias wiggled free and scampered toward the street, laughing as if he were playing a game only he understood.
Knox's initial irritation hardened into determination. He could not ignore this disruption. But as he observed Marina chase after her son, her flustered movements softened by patience and genuine care, he noticed something unexpected: warmth, dedication, and a quiet resilience.
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Knox spent the next week navigating Manhattan like a man on a mission—part irritation, part curiosity, and increasingly, part fascination. He wandered the city's labyrinth of streets, ducked into cafes, retraced his steps through parks, and even stopped by boutique shops Marina might frequent, leaving no stone unturned. Every day he returned to his office, soaked from rain or dusted with autumn leaves, his suit wrinkled and his patience stretched thin.
"Dude, you're obsessed," remarked his best friend and business partner, Evan Carter, as Knox slumped into the corner of their glass-walled office. Evan, ever the laid-back foil to Knox's precision, leaned back in his chair, swirling a cup of coffee. "It's just some kindergarten teacher who spilled coffee on you."
Knox ran a hand over his forehead, exasperation and something else—something he wasn't ready to name—flickering across his features. "It's not just that. I can't stop thinking about her. About how... capable she is. How she handled Matthias. She's chaos and order all at once. And I need to understand it."
Evan chuckled. "You? Fascinated by chaos? That's a new one. Should I start taking notes?"
"I'm serious," Knox muttered. "There's something about her. Something... real. And I need to see it for myself before I lose whatever chance I have to... whatever this is."
Evan raised an eyebrow. "Whatever this is? Knox, it's been a week. You're stalking her. You need a plan."
Knox's jaw tightened. "I have a plan." He paused, voice low. "I'm going to find her tomorrow. I just—" He exhaled sharply. "I need to see her world. To understand the woman behind the chaos."
