Page 20 of Falling Again For My Best Friend's Brother

"You know you love it," I countered, my heart skipping a beat at the unintentional slip.

Her eyes softened, and she opened her mouth to respond, but the sharp chime of the shop's bell interrupted her.

I turned to see a tall, impeccably dressed man stride in like he owned the place, his unexpected arrival sending a jolt of unease through me.

He strolled up to the counter with a bouquet of exotic orchids. "Amelia, darling! I brought you a little something to brighten your day."

I watched Amelia's smile falter slightly, a polite mask slipping into place. She graciously accepted the bouquet, but I noticed the way she angled her body away from his overly familiar touch.

"Thank you, Liam. That's very kind of you." Her tone was cordial but lacking the warmth it held moments ago.

Liam's gaze flicked to me, and I saw a flash of something in his eyes—surprise, perhaps, or annoyance at my presence.

"Trevor, I presume." The way he drawled my name grated like nails on a chalkboard.

I offered him a curt nod, keeping my expression neutral. "Liam, I assume. Can we help you? We were discussing some ideas to help Amelia's business."

"Ah, well, I have a few thoughts on that myself." Turning his attention back to Amelia, Liam launched into a stream of ideas and suggestions for the shop, seemingly unaware—or uncaring—that he was dominating the entire conversation. Whenever I tried to interject about the greenhouse plans, he'd smoothly steam ahead, talking over me with that rich baritone voice.

My irritation levels spiked as I watched his perfectly manicured hand come to rest boldly on Amelia's shoulder in a too-casual gesture of familiarity. She flinched almost imperceptibly, and a muscle ticked in my jaw.

My body became ramrod stiff, fists clenching at my sides as I struggled to contain the surge of protectiveness welling up inside me.

“I think what the shop needs is a complete rebranding," Liam declared, his hand now on her arm. "Something sleek and modern to attract a higher-end clientele."

I bristled at his condescending tone. " Amelia and I were discussing ways to showcase the shop's charm and history. It's part of what makes Petals & Blooms so special."

Amelia shot me a grateful look, but Liam waved off my suggestion. “Nonsense. The future is all about innovation and change."

As he continued to speak, I felt my patience wearing thin. I knew I needed to keep my cool, for Amelia's sake, but the urge to put Liam in his place grew stronger with each passing minute.

Liam flashed her a smile with sparkling white teeth. "Amelia, I'd love to discuss this further with you over dinner. Just the two of us, somewhere intimate and quiet."

My blood boiled, and before I could stop myself, the words tumbled out. "I'm sure your intentions are purely professional, right Liam? Because it sure sounds like you're trying to take advantage of Amelia's situation."

Liam's eyes widened, taken aback. Amelia shot me a look, confused and uneasy. "Trevor..." she began, but I didn't let her finish.

"I don't appreciate you manipulating her. She needs help, not some sneak trying to wine and dine her under the guise of ‘business advice’. We both know you're just in this to get her shop. Or maybe you want more than just the shop." My tone was icy, my accusation hanging in the air like a challenge.

Amelia gasped, her eyes widening in shock. The room fell silent, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. I immediately regretted my outburst, seeing the disappointment on Amelia's face.

"Trevor, I can't believe you just said that." Amelia looked between Liam and me, her voice trembling slightly. "Liam is trying to help, and you're acting like a jealous teenager."

Before I could dig myself any deeper, my pager beeped. A three-alarm blaze. Talk about saved by the bell. "Fire," I explained grimly. "A big one."

Amelia's expression morphed from anger to worry, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. The sight twisted my insides into knots. “Go. I’ll take Hero up and put him in the apartment before bed.”

With one last anguished look at Amelia, I turned to leave, promptly smashing my hip into a display table. A potted succulent clattered to the floor, a perfect metaphor for how spectacularly I'd just wrecked things.

I dropped to my knees, frantically gathering the scattered pieces. Amelia was beside me in an instant, our fingers brushing as we reached for the same fallen plant. My pulse skyrocketed at her touch.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean-" The rest of my apology died in my throat as Liam loomed over us, smug satisfaction radiating off him in waves.

I straightened up, meeting Amelia's gaze one last time. The hurt in her eyes felt like a punch to the gut. Swallowing hard, I turned away, forcing myself not to look back as I hurried outside.

As I arrived at the station the acrid scent of smoke hit me. I climbed into the truck. We tore out onto the street, siren wailing, but it couldn't drown out the voice in my head screaming one torturous question:

Had I just committed the ultimate rookie mistake and let the best thing in my life slip through my fingers?

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