Page 22 of Falling Again For My Best Friend's Brother

A bark sliced through the air, freezing us both mid-moment. Our eyes locked, a cocktail of hope and fear swirling between us. Please, I sent a silent prayer: let Hero be safe.

We tore down the pathway, taking turns calling out Hero's name in desperation. The barking grew louder and more frequent, and a note of urgency prompted us to pick up our pace.

It came from Mrs. Landry's backyard, where she famously stored an agony of garden gnomes among her tulips. Her little green shed was slightly ajar, and I could hear scratching on the other side of the door.

"Trevor, over there!" I pointed, and we both sprinted towards the shed. Trevor yanked open the jammed door and out bounded Hero, yapping like he'd just won the doggy lottery.

"Hero!" Trevor scooped up the wriggling Chihuahua, hugging him close. Hero's tail wagged a mile a minute, his little body quivering excitedly as he licked Trevor's face.

"Oh, thank goodness," I breathed, stroking Hero's soft fur. He yipped happily, nuzzling into my hand, and I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "Don't you ever scare us like that again, mister."

Trevor chuckled, still cradling Hero like a furry baby. "Hear that, buddy? You're grounded for life." He clipped on Hero's leash, and our eyes met.

Suddenly, the world faded away like we were in our own little bubble—just us and our four-legged escape artist.

"Amelia," Trevor's voice was rougher than sandpaper, "thank you. For everything."

Before my brain could catch up with my heart, I was on my tiptoes, pressing my lips against Trevor's in a kiss that was both tender and urgent.

Trevor's arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer as he deepened the kiss. His lips were soft and warm, moving against mine with a gentle passion that made my knees wobble.

I felt Trevor's thumb gently graze my cheekbone, drawing back slightly only to lean in again, his kiss deepening even further. His touch was electric, and all I cared about was the man standing before me, a man who had shown me a side of…”

Click.

The distinctive sound of a camera shutter broke through our happy little bubble, and we sprang apart like startled rabbits.

There stood Frances, looking like she'd just struck gold. Her camera was aimed at us, and her grin was wider than the Cheshire Cat's.

"Now that's what I call front-page news! Rivermint Cove is going to eat this up!"

Of course, it had to be Frances. The woman had a nose for scandal that would put a bloodhound to shame.

Trevor's face turned redder than a fire truck. "Frances!" He stepped in front of me like a human shield. "Don't you have anything better to do than play paparazzi?"

"Not when there's a scoop this juicy!" Frances's eyes gleamed with mischief. "I came looking for a lost dog story, but this is so much better. The town's most eligible bachelor and the quirky flower shop owner, caught in a passionate embrace!"

"Frances, please," I pleaded, peeking from behind Trevor. "This isn't some trashy tabloid headline. This is my life we're talking about."

Frances shrugged, her excitement undiminished. "All the more reason to share it! This is real life, not some fairytale. And real life isn't always sunshine and daisies." She tapped her camera like it was her prized possession. "Besides, if I only wrote what people wanted to hear, it wouldn't be a gossip blog, now would it?"

Before we could protest further, Frances snapped another picture of our shocked faces and sauntered away, looking like the cat who got the cream.

I couldn't help it. The sheer absurdity of the situation, combined with the lingering buzz from our kiss, sent me into a fit of giggles. Trevor joined in a moment later, his deep chuckles mixing with my laughter until we were both gasping for air like fish out of water.

As we finally caught our breath, reality started to seep back in. We needed to talk about the Liam situation. It wouldn't be a walk in the park, but if we wanted this thing between us to work, we had to face it head-on.

I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. Having a confrontation was about as comfortable as trying to wrangle a cactus into a tutu. "Trevor, about what happened with Liam yesterday..."

He tensed, his jaw tightening. "I know, I know. I was out of line."

"You were," I agreed gently. "I appreciate that you want to help with the shop, but how you spoke to Liam was inappropriate. And trying to make decisions for me about my business? That's not okay."

Trevor nodded, his expression contrite. "You're right. I let my jealousy get the best of me, and I overstepped. I'm sorry, Amelia. Truly."

I reached out, taking his hand in mine. "I know you are. And I know you're trying. But if we're going to make this work, we need to trust each other and respect each other. I need a partner who supports me, not someone who tries to control me."

"I understand," Trevor said softly, his fingers tightening around mine. "I want to be that man for you. The one who stands by your side, not in your way. I promise I'll do better."

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